How are biofabricated materials being used in sustainable fashion and product design?

Biofabricated materials are made with living organisms or biological processes, rather than being cut or molded entirely from conventional raw materials. In design, that can mean growing a material, fermenting it, or using microbes to make a useful pigment or ingredient.

One visible example is mycelium, the root-like network of fungi. Grown on agricultural waste and shaped in molds, it can become a lightweight material for packaging, accessories, and some footwear components. Bacterial cellulose, produced through fermentation, forms flexible sheets that designers are exploring for garments, bags, and surface coverings. Algae and microbes can also supply dyes, foams, and other material ingredients.

These materials are not limited to clothing. Designers are testing them for furniture, interiors, and protective packaging, where a material can be grown into a particular shape or texture. Some work remains experimental; others are appearing in limited products and collaborations.

What makes them sustainable—and what still needs work?

Potential benefits include using agricultural by-products, reducing reliance on fossil-based materials, and making production less dependent on animal hides. But “bio-based” does not automatically mean low-impact or compostable. Energy use, growth inputs, dyes, coatings, durability, and disposal all affect the final footprint. A mycelium material sealed with a synthetic coating, for example, may not break down as expected.

For designers, the practical question is whether a material can meet the product’s needs—strength, water resistance, feel, repairability, and cost—while offering a credible end-of-life route. Biofabrication opens up new options, but careful testing and transparent material claims matter as much as the biological origin.