New York streetwear label Public School has collaborated with material scientist Theanne Schiros to create a pair of biofabricated trainers using a leather alternative grown by microbes.
Almost the entire trainer, including the upper, midsole and laces, was produced from a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), which is a key ingredient in making kombucha tea.
Through fermentation, the SCOBY creates a leather substitute that has up to a 97 per cent lower carbon footprint than synthetic polyurethane (PU) leather, according to Schiros.
The trainers are made from a microbial bio-leather
The material scientist also found that while the bio-leather has a lifespan of several years, it remains "backyard compostable" and will break down over a couple of months in a domestic compost heap. "After 60 days outdoors in soil, the bio-leather samples lost over 70 per cent of their mass, broken down by naturally occurring microorganisms to return as nutrients for a healthy ecosystem," Schiros told Dezeen.
"Enzymes produced by soil microbes break down the nanocellulose. Unless buried in a microbe-rich environment, the bio-leather maintains its durability and performance aside from normal wear and tear, comparable to canvas and leather."
This includes everything from the laces down to the midsoles
Schiros originally created the leather substitute in scientific partnership with researchers from Columbia University's Materials Research Science and Engin...