Healthy Materials Lab BioWorks Recipes

HOW TO GROW

KOMBUCHA
PREP TIME: 30 MINS + BOILING/COOLING TIME

GROW TIME: 3 – 4 WEEKS

“LEATHER”
DRY TIME: 1-2 WEEKS

YIELD: 1 PIECE, 5 x 7 INCHES

Potential Outcomes Current Material Challenges/ Questions This flexible bio-material INGREDIENTS EQUIPMENT
alternative to leather is made
• http://sv-vivi.com/a-figure-returning-from-dust/ • How can we increase the material’s durability and water from cellulose nanofibrils spun by This recipe will produce enough for a 5"x7"
resistance while keeping it 100% biodegradable? container 2–3 inches deep.
• http://thisisalive.com/biocouture/ bacteria and yeast. This material
Multiply recipe for larger containers.
• http://news.fitnyc.edu/2017/06/19/team-growapair-to- • How can we increase the speed of growth? grows thicker over time and can 1 Pair Rubber Spray Bottle of 1 Duct Tape Roll
present-at-biodesign-challenge-summit/ become paper thin or leather Gloves Rubbing Alcohol
Share Your Work! like. This material can be treated
Additional Resources like a traditional textile and dried
This is an evolving body of research, and we’re excited
into sheet form, or can be molded
• For images of molding into 3D forms: https://www. to hear from you. Want to connect? Shoot us an
around a form during the drying 1 Kombucha 200 Milliliters 200 Grams 1 Seedling Heat Mat 1 Non-porous 4” x 4” (approx)
designboom.com/design/suzanne-lee-eco-textile- email at [email protected], or share your Culture Apple Cider Granulated Sugar (ideally covers the Container Tightly Woven
fashion/ process. This material has the
#HMLBioWorks creations with @HealthyMaterialsLab Vinegar entire footprint of with Lid Breathable
potential to be an alternative to container) Cloth Patch
• Growing Materials Google Plus Community: https:// on Instagram! (Medical Gauze
animal sourced textiles and their
www.designboom.com/design/suzanne-lee-eco-textile- works well)

fashion/ harmful environmental impacts.

• Biocouture on Biodegradable Fabric: https://www. Image Credits 2 Black or Green 2 Liters of Water 1 Wooden or 1 Measuring Cup
designboom.com/design/suzanne-lee-eco-textile- Tea Bags Absorbent Board
1 Closeup shot of dried cellulose sheets. Photo by Christopher Gannon. (for drying leather)
fashion/
news.iastate.edu/news/2016/04/26/sustainableclothing
• TED Talk by Suzanne Lee – Grow Your Own Clothes:
2 Suzanne Lee, BioCouture jacket details. http://www.ecouterre.com/u-k-
https://www.ted.com/talks/suzanne_lee_grow_your_
designer-grows-an-entire-wardrobe-from-tea-fermenting-bacteria/
own_clothes
• For more recipes or additional resources, visit 3 Harvest: A biotextile future. Handbag and clutch designed by Dean
Brough, Alice Payne, and Peter Musk. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/93547/
www.healthymaterialslab.org.
SETUP
Cut small rectangle out of the lid
and adhere the fine breathable
Container with mixture
cloth patch to provide air flow.
sealed with lid

Placed on top
of Heating Mat
(turned on)

Healthy Materials Lab

HOW TO GROW

KOMBUCHA “LEATHER”

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• Cut a 3” x 3” hole in container lid. • Sterilize container. Rinse container with water. • Wash with soapy water. Dish soap works well. • Lay sheet out to dry on a porous surface like wood,
• Adhere breathable cloth patch with duct tape. (This is Spray 70% alcohol in the interior and let air dry. wire mesh, felt, etc. Drying can take 1-2 weeks.
to let oxygen in, keep heat in, and keep insects out.) • Place heating mat under container. (Do not turn • Experiment with drying into a 3D form by draping
mat on.) around an absorptive mold.

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BEST PRACTICES EXPERIMENTAL FABRICATION TECHNIQUES

Avoiding Contamination During Growth

• Spray the inside of the lid and container with 70% • Create holes in the sheet by adding objects in the
alcohol and let air dry. container before growth. These objects should be taller
• Wear gloves and sterilize with alcohol when handling than the surface of liquid.
• Make tea/sugar mixture. Bring water to a boil. Remove • Let liquid cool to room temperature (below 86° F)
ingredients or interior of container. • Submerge a tube of wet kombucha “leather” upright
from heat. Add tea bags and then remove after 15 • Add organic cider vinegar.
• Breathe away from the container to prevent bacteria in kombucha culture liquid and new material will grow
minutes. Add sugar and dissolve.
• Add live Kombucha culture. It will sink to the bottom from entering. around tube’s opening.
• Pour liquid into sterilized container. of container. Fermentation begins after 48–­72 hours,
• When handling SCOBY, always wear gloves that have
thin skin and bubbles will appear and culture will rise After Growth
been cleaned with alcohol.
to the surface.
• Fruit flies will be attracted to sugar and could • Drape wet pieces on top of each other, and they will
contaminate the experiment. Ensure airflow through

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grow together while drying, instead of joining by sewing.
fine mesh properly sealed around the growth container.
• Seal material with natural waterproofers to prolong
• SCOBY should never come into contact with metal biodegradation. Material will easily absorb water.
(rulers, tongs, containers, etc) while in the process of
• Dye like traditional textiles.
growing.
• Create texture on material by using textured surface for
drying.
Warning Signs…
• Experiment with heat to expedite the drying process.
• Pungent fermented, rotting, foul odors. • Drape and dry over 3D form. (Porous materials work
• Cover container with lid with breathable cloth, • Check weekly under lid with sterilized gloves to • Mold and bubbling dark splotches indicate best) The “leather” will remain in 3D form after removal.
after combining ingredients. make sure there is no contamination. (See Avoiding The material has high water content and will mold if
contamination. (Time to start over)
• Turn on heating mat. Contamination) water cannot evaporate.
• In about 4 weeks product will become about 1/2–3/4" • The wet “leather” is heavy and will need to be held
thick. Remove sheet from container. around 3D forms where it would otherwise hang off.
Use wire mesh, wire, or string to support the material.

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