A vegan alternative to wool made from discarded pineapple leaves
WOOL: RE-CRAFTED
As part of her MA thesis project in 2018, London based researcher and designer Nathalie Spencer presented a vegan alternative to wool, using the discarded leaves of pineapples in a collaborative project entitled WOOL: RE-CRAFTED.
The aim of the project was to raise awareness of the pollution caused by wool production, which includes using harmful chemical pollutants, methane emissions and faecal contamination. The designer works with a more sustainable and biodegradable option for wool, designed within the circular economy framework. By using what is known as byproducts for a design opportunity, Nathalie reframes our concept of waste and creates a new life cycle for the typically discarded pineapple leaves.
Creating new vegan and greener alternatives to wool has been pushed aside, while many creators are focused on researching possibilities to replace animal products like leather and silk. According to research by Nathalie, sheep are amongst the most polluting animals that we consume; which emphasizes the importance of working towards finding a better alternative to animal wool. Besides the clear benefit for the environment, utilizing a vegan alternative is also a more compassionate way to work with materials, leaving behind the animal exploitation that has been considered normal for so long.
‘Wool: Re Crafted’ presents a vegan alternative to wool by utilising the discarded waste leaves of pineapples from markets.
When assessing the new meanings of unusual material choices we automatically begin to reevaluate the value of what we wear. The designer believes that by looking at the materials around us, and the crafts of local people, it is possible to collaborate and reassess the value of the material. By doing so, we can revive the connection of the making process and question the environmental and ethical concerns of the use of animal products.
Pineapple Wool: The project was a client brief set by Stella McCartney for the MA Material Futures course.
Pineapple Wool: The project was a client brief set by Stella McCartney for the MA Material Futures course.