Fernando Laposse is a designer who works with traditional materials in his home country of Mexico to make furniture and objects. This "hairy" furniture is made with sisal, derived from the leaves of the agave (tequila) plant.
Nonwoven textile made up of sisal mixed with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester fibres. With heat and pressure, the polyester melts and so, when cool, bonds the sisal fibres in place.
Malai coconut textile is made up of nonwoven fibres (banana, sisal and hemp), combined with bacterial cellulose (BC). The acetobacter microorganisms are fed on coconut waste water. Through a process of fermentation, the sugars in the water are converted into micro fibrillated cellulose (MFC). This produces sheets of material that are converted into textiles, providing an alternative to leather. The sheets are coloured with plant-based mordant-free dyes.
Spot Material is a database of materials for sustainable design, curated by Rob Thompson. Compare properties, carbon and end of life, find better alternatives and discover new material innovations. Browse all materials