In the near future, it may be possible for those who exercise running, or just like exercise clothes in general, to buy biodegradable exercise garments that you order on demand. The global sports company Puma, in collaboration with Guringo Designstudio, is launching a prototype collection called Fade to Waste, with garments that return to the natural cycle after 48 hours. The collaboration has been initiated by Science Park Borås and the School of Textiles.

When Jonas Larsson, project manager at Science Park Borås, as well as researcher and university lecturer at Textil University, visited a conference in Copenhagen in the spring of 2019, he had little idea that this trip would result in a collaboration with the world’s third largest manufacturer of sportswear.

During the conference, Jonas Larsson met one of Puma’s employees and presented a selection of the research and projects he is involved in and runs at the University of Borås. The representative of Puma got stuck directly with Streamateria, the concept that works on developing biodegradable garments, and the discussion about how Puma and Streamateria could possibly work together started.

Half a year later, there are ready-made prototypes of training linen and shorts for men and women, ready to be showcased at the digital fashion festival Virtual Design festival which runs between April and June 2020.

Fully degradable garments

The basic construction of the garment can be likened to a leaf. First, a membrane is created via a 3D printer whose structure is then filled with a bio plastic and a fully compostable garment is created. The garments break down after 48 hours, to fully return to the natural cycle. This Guringo worked intensively with, among other things, during Big Do – a week-long design hack in the context of Textile and Fashion 2030. Orders for the garments are intended to be made on demand.

After the number of successful meetings and meetings with, among others, Erik Lindvall at Guringo Designstudio, the work started and the collection will be presented in its entirety sometime in August. But that it would become reality was not a matter of course. Interest in Streamateria is great, but few dare to invest in the project, says Erik Lindvall. According to Lindvall, Puma goes against the current. He likes to see the company show great courage and action in faith at Fade to Waste.

– It means a lot to us that we get the opportunity to continue working with Streamateria in this form of collaboration. The desire to get a Puma logo on the garments is almost inconceivable. This is a long step closer to realization and that it will be real right now, says Erik Lindvall.

The role of Science Park Borås in collaboration and developing the collection has been pervasive and decisive, from the initiation to the enabling in Science Park Borås’s innovation environment DO-tank Center.

– Everyone who works at Science Park Borås and at the DO-tank Center , who develop the technology and conduct hypothesis testing, plays a huge role in this collaboration. Those who work in the DO-tank Center are innovative, courageous and disruptive in a way that is unique in Sweden. It has been crucial for the collaboration with Puma, ”says Erik Lindvall.

-For me, the city of Borås is also an oasis in a linear desert – a lighthouse in the storm in a super-reactionary industrial thinking. There, Science Park Borås, Textilhögskolan and Borås shine just like Puma does in the sports fashion industry. In addition, Jonas Larsson is a “spin doctor” of rank and one of Guringo’s strongest ambassadors, says Erik Lindvall.

Compostable Art Nouveau

The pattern of the garments can be described as Art Nouveau-like and has been developed together with Puma’s design department. Puma hopes the collection can help create a change in how sportswear is made, and in turn help “lead the way to a future with zero waste”.

– We have completely passed sustainability – we want to be renewable, concludes Erik Lindvall.

Source: sciencepark