2017 | Biofabricate: Growing the Future
Above – Photo of James Carnes, Adidas // Image Credit – Wendy W Fok
Category: Conference Review
Industry: Bio Materials / Technology / Fabrication
Location: United states – New York, NY
Related to: Biology / technology / Fashion /Wearable materials / Urban strategies / Biomedical
Reviewer: Wendy W Fok, Assistant Professor of Integrated Design, Parsons School of Design Strategies
Company: Biofabricate 2016
Website: Biofabricate
About:
“BIOFABRICATE is the annual summit for the emerging world of grown materials. We’re excited to be hosted this year by Parsons School of Design on 5th Avenue, NYC.
From yeast and bacteria to mushrooms and mammalian cells, international attendees will discover disruptive research, and companies, literally growing the materials of the future. From architecture to apparel, BIOFABRICATE is THE event to experience how biotechnology is facilitating a new material revolution.” – Biofabricate 2016 Website
The highlight of the evening came through the discussions between the panelists from Ecovative, BioBrick, AlgaeInk, amongst the launch of the new sneaker by Adidas, by James Carnes, on their new crossover project between Biosteel x Adidas, on their bio-polymer biodegradable upper material. The concept and direction of an ecological shoe isn’t new for Adidas, in terms of the ecological material, as Adidas has previously partnered with Parlay last year on their ocean plastic sneaker. However, in terms of the “FutureCraft” Campaign, the Biosteel partnership is to further the research and development of a fiber that is nature-based and developed by German biotech company AMSilk. The material is 15% lighter than conventional synthetic fibers.
Products such as Adidas x Biosteel is to showcase the future of biological material research partnerships in design, and more importantly the future of technological spotlights that are highlighting our field of design that progresses further into the design and creative strategies that are beyond product distribution. Biofabricate 2016 truly embraces the emerging world of material research and design futures of contenders in the revolutionary world of technology.
