Creative Design: Graduate
Author: Armine Ghalachyan (Iowa State University)
The purpose of this work was to explore bacterial cellulose as a novel sustainable leather-like material for handbag design. This exploration was carried out in two parts. In the first part, bacterial cellulose material was developed through fermentation process of Kombucha tea, using common household ingredients such as tea, sugar and vinegar, and bacterial cultures. In the second part, a saddle bag style handbag was constructed using the cellulose mats. Regular construction and sewing techniques as well as laser cutting technology were successfully utilized to create an intricate handbag design using bacterial cellulose.
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How to Cite: Ghalachyan, A. (2017) “Made from Scratch. A Sustainable Handbag Made of Bacterial Cellulose Grown in Fermenting Tea”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings. 74(1).