Micro.colours
Abigail Goodwin, Boram Park
Bachelor Graduation Project within the framework of Greenlab Project GreenDesign 8.0; Circular City – Mapping Berlin`s Material Streams
Supervision: Prof. Dr. Zane Berzina, Prof. Susanne Schwarz-Raacke,
Prof. Barbara Schmidt, Prof. Dr. Lucy Norris,
Essi Johanna Glomb, Julia Wolf
Cooperation partner: Prof. Dr. Vera Meyer (TU Berlin, Institut für Biotechnologie, Fachgebiet Angewandte und Molekulare Mikrobiologie)
Masha Bulatova, Lisa Stelzer, Kustrim Cerimi (TU Berlin, Institut für Biotechnologie, Fachgebiet Angewandte und Molekulare Mikrobiologie)
Can pigments and dyes be created from microorganisms for a more sustainable future?
Micro.colour investigates the potential of using pigmented microorganisms to create sustainable dyes, liquid pigments and printing methods. In collaboration with TU Berlin, Institut für Biotechnologie, colourfast fabric dyes and pigments have been developed, which need very little water, low temperatures and no chemicals in the process. These dyes can be applied in the textiles and fashion industry. Design techniques such as origami, shibori, monoprinting, and painting were experimented onto fabric surfaces using microorganisms sourced in Berlin. They produce salmon pink, turquoise blue and bright yellow pigments. Growing directly onto the fabric surface creates an organic, unique print. Utilising natural fibres, the fabrics can be upcycled and recycled to extend their lifespan, and composted at the product’s end of life.