The Textifood exhibition originated from the project Futurotextiles and was dedicated to innovative fabrics.
The exhibition originated from the project Futurotextiles and was dedicated to innovative fabrics. It is a French contribution to the Expo Milan 2015 a global event which was themed Feed the Planet, Energy for Life.
Textifood exhibition offers the opportunity to discover the world of textiles and its future with its incredible diversity, sustainability, and potentials. Orange, lemon, pineapple, banana, coconut, nettle, coffee, rice, soy, corn, beet, flax, lotus, algae, mushrooms, wines, beers, shellfish … all at the service of fashion!
Could it mean that in the future there will be no synthetic fabrics? such as polyester, acrylic, nylon, acetate, spandex, lastex all massively sold by high street stores. The sources of toxins which affect our health and the health of the planet – all produced with chemicals. I do hope we keep making general progress by taking care of ourselves and nature.
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Bananas have already been used in Japan in 13th-century to make a fabric similar to cotton. In 2014 banana silk fiber came to the general public with a dress made entirely of dried banana leaves creation of Ditta Sandico.
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Nettle has been used by the Germans to produced their uniforms during The WWII as the textile trade at the time was mainly run in England. Nettle is one of the most sustainable material as it does not need fertilizer and it needs very little amount of water.
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Citrus fiber is the first fiber made of citrus fruit, silky in appearance and biodegradable.

CitrusFruits
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Fermented alcohol. There is also a new fabric created from the fermentation of alcoholic beverages. The fabric is red for the red wine, translucent to white and amber colour for beer.

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Coffee is used by S.Café® company which does not only recycles coffee grounds for fabric but also extracts a high concentration of essential coffee oil which is re-used in textiles and also can be used in cosmetics. The brand claims that one day there will be no waste made out of coffee.
coffee dress at Textifood in Milano
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Strawberry Lace
Fashion designers have been experimenting with other organic sources to produce clothing. Suzanne Lee was inspired to design from bacteria which grows on Kombucha a healthy drink, a mixture of bacteria and yeast, originated in China in 220 BC. In 90s Kombuchastarted to sold commercially in Europe and US. I do remember buying it in Dunnes Stores and Tesco here in Ireland, but unfortunately due to low demands the product did not last more than few years on the shelves.

Bio culture clothing designed by Suzanne Lee
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Source: Walkowska.com and Textifood the future of textiles