As you can imagine, we love nothing more than a new material. So when we spotted the Sea Me project, by Nienke Hoogvliet, we couldn’t resist sharing.
Made from sea algae yarn, and a repurposed fishing net, Sea Me is an innovative rug that captures “the contrast between the polluting plastic waste issues, and the beautiful things the sea has to offer”.
For Hoogvliet, the process of using seaweed in her work came from a desire to offer a solution to the sustainability issues in the textile industry – as sea algae is much faster growing and less maintenance than cotton, for example.
Extending the project further, Hoogvliet investigated the plant’s potential for creating natural dyes, and in response designed a table and chair to illustrate how the new fabric might be used. “The seating of the chair is made of seaweed yarn and has been dyed naturally with seaweed. This was woven by hand into soft seating. The leftovers of this process are used to create a regular paint for the table top. The waste was used to make the bio-plastic bowls.”
The designer’s findings on the potential of seaweed have been collated into a book entitled Seaweed Re-search . We’re big fans – Hoogvliet is certainly one to watch.
All images copyright of Nienke Hoogvliet
