The fashion industry constantly faces the wrath of environmentalists as a result of their unsustainable production methods, be it the use of animal skin for leather or the waste generated. However, Malai Biomaterials has creatively explored natural products to fabricate innovative designs while challenging the industrial norms.
Malai Biomaterials is the creative visualization of Zuzana Gombosova, a material researcher from Slovakia, and C.S. Susmith, a product designer from Kerala who supply vegan leather using native ingredients and traditional methods. This distinctive ideology has helped the budding entrepreneurs and fashion enthusiasts to win the Circular Design Challenge (CDC) at Lakme Fashion Week 2020.
The goal of the brand is to continue to evolve its designs and create a more holistic environment for fashion enthusiasts. At a recent event, Susmith perfectly explained the ideology of Malai Biomaterials, “We have to constantly remind ourselves that we are borrowing from nature and we are bound to return it to nature in a form that nature can use.” He further describes the work at Malai Biomaterials as a mix of art, craft, design, science and engineering.
The composite material created is known as ‘Malai’ which aims to replace traditional animal skin leather. The material is an amalgamation of bacterial cellulose collected from the popular South Indian drink coconut water, mixed with banana stems, sisal and hemp fibres. The process involves fermentation of the bacterial cellulose until a jelly-like texture is formed before the addition of the other fibers. Later, resin is added to create a sturdy texture and natural dyes derived from flowers to create vibrant designs.
The unique material generated by the designers allows them to create fashion apparel, accessories and shoes. The material produced is both breathable and sustainable emphasizing the ethos of the brand. Malai Biomaterials will continue to explore more sustainable methodologies and are eager to venture into other domains like industrial and furniture design with their Malai prototype.
