Post Carbon Lab
Post Carbon Lab, founded by Dian-Jen Lin and Hannes Hulstaert, is a transdisciplinary design research studio focusing on regenerative sustainability and dignity. To push the perception of sustainable fashion further, they offer service pilots of pioneering microbiological processes for textile applications to designers and brands — Microbial Pigmentation & Photosynthetic Coating — as proactive and regenerative pathways to climate-positive fashion.
OLIVIA RUBENS x POST CARBON LAB
Just imagine for a second: What if you can suck out carbon dioxide, the major cause of global warming, from the air and replace it with fresh oxygen by simply wearing a T-shirt?
Post Carbon Lab proposes innovative biotechnology for textile applications — Photosynthetic Coating — which transforms textiles into carbon capture and oxygen generation surfaces.
Photosynthetic Coating is a living layer that can be applied to a wide variety of textiles, fashion items or products to enable active photosynthesis during both the production and user phase. Though coated textiles require a unique care routine similar to an air plant, our research suggests positive results: Treating 1 large-sized T-shirt generates as much oxygen as a young tree under optimal conditions. Through applying Photosynthetic Coating to second-hand textiles and fashion items, we create beautifully coloured pieces that are climate positive.
The garment featured in the exhibition also below is a collaboration with Olivia Rubens, a Canadian designer and London College of Fashion MA grad. This piece is from her ‘21 collection. A fitted Tencel/linen corset, hand machine knitted by the skilled hands at Manusa. Draped, crinkled, sheer organic cotton detail in front of the corset, with knit lacing at the back, finished in Canada. 40% Organic Cotton 44% Organic Linen 16% Tencel.
Image files courtesy of Digital Village, Helsinki Fashion Week, and Scotomalab
