1365%
Can shape-shifting textiles offer novelty through transformation?
Unlike most shape-memory polymers, which are typically petroleum-derived, 1365% is based on a biodegradable SMP derived from pullulan, a polysaccharide produced by a yeast-like fungus (Feng et al., 2022). When triggered by water, the material can be stretched by 1365% and reconfigured into new forms; as it dries, the configuration stabilises, and when reactivated, it returns to its original form.
In an age defined by mass production and consumerism, 1365% explores the application of this material within fashion: what if a single garment could stretch to inhabit multiple silhouettes?
Through continual user engagement, the garment shifts from a passive commodity into an active partner, fostering deeper material intimacy. Transformation replaces endless acquisition, generating greater utility from fewer material outputs and delaying disposability. 1365% advocates for a circular, bio-based future for fashion, challenging today’s transient relationships with our garments.
With thanks to the National Collection of Yeast Cultures for providing the A. pullulans strain used in scientific experimentation.
Marieta Papazyan
mariettapapazyan2@gmail.com