Biotextiles and sustainable textiles

Morgan, Laura; Mosse, Aurélie; Dragosavac, Marijana; Kane, Faith

Abstract

The environmental implications of textile practice are a critical consideration for contemporary design and research. As an industry where toxicity, pollution, waste, and resource depletion are devastating problems, alongside exploitative use of resources and people, material choices and their processing play a pivotal role in determining the environmental impact of textiles.

As we begin to see a great focus on mitigating these impacts within industry, the Biotextiles and Sustainable Textiles track at the Textile Intersections Conference 2023, aimed to highlight an emerging wave of researchers, who are developing novel strategies to work with nature, not against it. A principle common to many global cultures and communities, but one that is less common in relation to industrial and R&D strategies.

In this emerging and vital area of research we see many developments that explore the associations between textiles and nature, as well as bioprocesses in connection to textiles. For example, growing textiles, or bioelectronics for medical applications. This track invited papers that address the relationship between organic and inorganic, textile biomimetics, biobased structures and processes for material applications and beyond, towards improving sustainable and circular aspects of textile practices and production.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 13, 2024
• Deposit Date: Sep 11, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Textile Design Research and Practice
• Print ISSN: 2051-1787
• Electronic ISSN: 2051-1795
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: biotextiles, textile design, design, materials research, biomaterials, biotechnology
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/12086256