Development of sustainable design practices and textiles by formation of bacterial cellulose

Abstract

This study begins with realizing the negative environmental impacts caused by the humanity activities and the imbalanced industrial development, and acknowledging the fact that a narrow range of textile fibers is dominating the fashion industry. In order to sustain our fashion and textile industry together with the environment, this study aimed at incorporating the newly introduced concept of 'textile material diversity' based on the theory of 'biodiversity' to the present industrial situation to provide solution. Textile material diversity accentuates not only the usage and manufacturing of a diverse range of sustainable textiles, but also the diverse sources of textile crops to prevent monoculture. The results of this study are first a theoretical concept of textile material diversity to develop feasible solutions and suggestions for the fashion fields, and secondly an introduction of a new sustainable textile material (i.e. bacterial cellulose) to broaden the textile material diversity. To begin with, the sustainability issues influenced by textile materials, figures of fiber consumption and the current status of textile material diversity in the fashion industry are investigated. An extensive literature review is done to identify the gamut of environmental impacts with further implication on the negative impacts of monoculture on biodiversity. This study also presents the general characteristics and case studies of bacterial cellulose exploration for textile development in the literature review. Introduction of bacterial cellulose is then to fulfill the concept of textile material diversity and enrich the spectrum of textile materials. The study further introduces different methods of tailor-shaped cultivation of bacterial cellulose. It is to develop different cultivation methods for the production of bacterial cellulose in order to cater different usage and shape of bacterial cellulose textiles. It improves the environmental values of bacterial cellulose textile production and further promotes it as a sustainable practice. These techniques allow bacterial cellulose to be cultivated into a desirable garment panel shape without cutting or producing extra textile wastes. Different methods of tailor-shaped cultivation can be applied in different shape requirements. With these self-synthesizing and tailor-shaped properties, the biodegradable and natural bacterial cellulose has great potential to be a new sustainable textile material for the fashion and textile industry. All in all, this study provides practical solutions including suggestions of alternative sustainable textile materials to lower the risk of monoculture and more options to the manufacturing and design sectors to tackle the industrial challenges.