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Bio-Inspired Textiles

Close up image of textiles with a logo over the top
Close up image of textiles with a logo over the top
Image courtesy of UAL

Can biology help us design more sustainable textiles?

Project duration: 1 September 2020 - 31 August 2022
Funded by: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

Project summary

Bio-inspired Textiles (BIT) is a research project that helps textile designers to create more sustainable designs because they are informed by biology. This research explores 7 biological structural design elements found in the natural world that can be applied to combat resource efficiency, longevity, and recovery.

A textile designer’s toolbox is already full of creative methods such as knitting, weaving, stitching, pleating and many more. If we already hold the tools, we now need to be informed and inspired by nature to find circular design solutions.

Project overview

Bio-Inspired Textiles project is:

  • an interdisciplinary research project combining biology, materials science, and textile design disciplines
  • exploring the potential of applying seven biological design structures to textile design practices
  • working with students, practitioners, and industry to explore how bio-informed textiles can be used for circular design

Project team