At first glance, Nina Edwards sconces and chandeliers look like old scrolls of parchment or caramels wrapped around an LED lightbulb.
Get closer - or ask any designer/architect in New York - and you'll find that they are actually made of algae.
While working on a PhD research project on materials and lighting at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design, she got the idea and has now designed a range of fireplaces, lamps and even chandeliers called Chlorophyta.
Anker chose not to cover the dried seaweed - its hues retain all the imperfections of their natural state, and the colors are honey, translucent.
"Right from the start, we wanted to preserve the integrity of the material and show its unique properties," says Anker.
She is one of many designers looking for ways to go beyond traditional materials and combine design with sustainable production and manufacturing processes.
Anker and his team at NEA Studios are also experimenting with other natural materials.
"For the lighting, we need red/orange algae, waterproof feathers, horseshoe crab shells and crushed shells, and tires made from corn waste," she explains. "There are organic materials like lentils, buckwheat and other upholstery fillers for furniture, as well as natural rattan, cork and bamboo."
Great strides have been made in converting recycled plastic bottles and wood and plant fibers into usable materials for the home and fashion industries to avoid the negative environmental impacts of cotton production, plastic pollution and more.
Opening this week in Frankfurt, Germany, the Hemtextile trade fair is dedicated to the world's latest textile designs and developments, with a focus on recycling to create new products in a more sustainable way.
"We're looking at companies that are showing how inorganic materials like nylon, plastic and metal can be recycled - like carpet tiles that are taken apart at the end of their life and used as raw material for new tiles," says Olaf Schmidt. , Vice President Textile and Textile Technology at Heimtextil.
Others recycle organic materials such as linen and raffia.
"And there's algae that's used to make carpets and acoustic panels, which provide good insulation, fire resistance and good moisture control," Schmidt said. "At the end of their useful life, the panels can be cut and reused."
Innovative materials at last summer's fair included cork and fibers made from recycled PET (plastic) bottles.
"Cork is breathable, hypoallergenic, antibacterial, protective and durable," says Schmitt, and it can be harvested more sustainably than many other materials.
Cork interiors include trays, tables, wall panels and lights. For example, you can buy Portuguese themed cork paper rolls on Etsy.com.
Some designers grind cork and apply it to fabric to make soft vegan leather used to upholster chairs and sofas, while others fashion it into jackets, trousers, hats, bags and umbrellas. For example, Svala makes bags and pouches from cork-based materials.
“The biggest trend is sustainability,” says Veronika Lipar, a fashion industry analyst. "Industry is trying to reduce its impact on the environment and prevent the greatest pollution."
Companies using natural materials from renewable sources include Patagonia, North Face and Timberland.
The recycled PET bottles Schmidt mentions are used to make hydroknit in Canada's Cobble Native shoes, as well as lightweight shoes and boots, which the company calls "shoes."
Italian brand Campos offers soft, quick-drying swimwear and waterproof clothing made from PET bottle yarn.
The yarn itself is sold in bundles at Specialty Yarns on Etsy. Lightweight, stretchy, and durable, it can be crocheted, sewn, and crocheted into things like handbags or fiber arts.
Other companies are:
♻ An Italian company called Frumat has developed plant-based leather from apple juice production waste.
♻ Two Mexican inventors, Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cazares, made a leather from the leaves of the nopal cactus, which they called "soft". Cacti are attractive to developers of new materials because they are resistant to drought, heat, and poor soil.
♻ Pinatex supports farming communities in the Philippines by using pineapple harvest waste to create materials that are sold to shoe, accessory, apparel and apparel makers.
♻ California-based company Bolt Threads has developed a mycelium-based leather called Mylo, which is used by brands such as Adidas, Lululemon and Stella McCartney.
♻ Eventually, some of the glass wall tiles used in the home began to live in the car. Companies shred windshields and then cook the mixture. The powder slurry becomes a solid oploid material of sintered glass.
“Clear glass is now one of our four core tile lines. There's an impressive range of colors and great durability, says Ted Acworth, co-founder of the Boston-based mosaic tile manufacturer.
Annie Hall, a designer from Cambridge, Massachusetts, used a combination of Clementine, Sky and Robin's Egg colored glass tiles in a recent backyard project.
"I'm always excited to find sustainable products for my design projects and I'm glad frosted glass is the way to go," she says.
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