Related Post: Sea Me – Sea Algae Yarn / Sustainable Ocean Materials / Zebra Glass
Iris Van Herpen’s bioluminescent algae dress, co-created with bio-designer Christopher Bellamy, integrates 125 million living micro-algae into couture through an intricate 35-step encapsulation process. Developed from seawater-grown organisms, the algae are suspended in a nutrient gel and protective coating that allows them to glow in motion and survive for many months. Once encapsulated, they require only regular sunlight to photosynthesize and maintain their circadian rhythm. The material bridges biological resilience with haute couture complexity. The result is a living, reactive garment that glows softly as it moves, illuminating a future of fashion in symbiosis with life itself.
