Designer Elissa Brunato has created the Bio Iridescent Sequin, a shimmering embellishment made from trees that is more sustainable than regular plastic sequins.
Instead of using petroleum-based plastic, Brunato has developed a way of making glittering sequins from the cellulose extracted from trees.

The cellulose's crystalline form refracts light and makes the sequins naturally shimmery, without the need for chemical treatment.
"Making a Bio Iridescent Sequin starts with the growing of cellulose, which can take anything from a couple of weeks to a number of years," explained Brunato to Dezeen.
"Cellulose is one of the most abundant polymers available on earth. It is one of the main ingredients plants are constructed from and you can extract it from any type of tree," she added.
At the moment it takes about a day to make the sequins in a laboratory by putting the liquid cellulose material into a mould using a pipette. They can be made in a variety of shapes and then sewn onto fabric like a traditional sequin or bead.

"As the material forms very strong bonds, the sequins are light and use very little cellulose per sequin," explained Brunato.
"In the future, the cellulose could originate from anything from fruit peels, or algae to used denim and waste paper."

Brunato developed the Bio Iridescent Sequin after talking to sequin suppliers and realising there was a growing demand for more sustainable materials from fashion brands such a...