What is Bacterial Cellulose?
Bacterial cellulose, also known as SCOBY is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast formed by the making of fermented tea- Kombucha. The fermentation process begins after a few simple ingredients- black tea, sugar, and an unflavored kombucha bottle- are mixed together and left to sit for several weeks. Because SCOBY is a living entity, it needs a proper environment and food to grow and survive. The sugar acts as food for this symbiotic culture, and the container acts as a vessel to which it can grow [1]. This process yields a thick cellulose membrane that when dried, takes on similar properties to natural leather.
Because bacterial cellulose mimics leather’s properties and the material is something not experimented with before, sampling on faux leather is a perfect way to test fabric manipulations, engravings, and prints.
Pictured below is an original pattern used for laser engraving on faux leather and for swatches 1 and 2 in the collection.
[1] Cultures For, Health. “What’s in My Kombucha?” Cultures for Health, 10 Mar. 2022, https://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/kombucha/kombucha-bacteria-yeast/.
SCOBY: Swatch Collection
SCOBY is a swatch collection of dried bacterial cellulose. This collection is not only a material exploration of the properties of bacterial cellulose, but also of a variety of techniques that manipulate the material in unique ways.
With the use of laser engraving, weaving, debossing, and other techniques that will be incorporated into this collection, the materials transform into antiquities; artifacts that have just been excavated from ruins, but with what purpose other than to sit and be watched as its delicacy and beauty decays.
SWATCH 2
Swatch 2
Pictured is Swatch 2 using opposing light sources. On the left, the color variations and warm tone is emphasized by the light source. On the right, the sample has no light source, remains more dense and uniform in color, but has stronger visibility of the laser engravings.
An original pattern laser engraved in scoby leather, swatch 1 aims to look at the transparencies of scoby as well as the decorative qualities of pattern design. Pictured (left) shows how light moving through the material can change its appearance.
Pictured (right) is Swatch 1 displayed in environments with opposing lighting conditions. On the left, Swatch 1 is illuminated from behind, showcasing the intricate details in color and of the pattern design laser engravings. On the right, Swatch 1 has no light source illuminating the material and therefore takes on a more dense and uniform look, with the laser engravings blending in seamlessly to the material.
SWATCH 1
SWATCH 3
An original pattern laser engraved in scoby leather, swatch 1 aims to look at the transparencies of scoby as well as the decorative qualities of pattern design. Pictured (left) shows how light moving through the material can change its appearance when compared to the same scoby (right) pictured behind a solid background.
An original pattern laser engraved in scoby leather, swatch 1 aims to look at the transparencies of scoby as well as the decorative qualities of pattern design. Pictured (left) shows how light moving through the material can change its appearance when compared to the same scoby (right) pictured behind a solid background.
SWATCH 4
An original pattern laser engraved in scoby leather, swatch 1 aims to look at the transparencies of scoby as well as the decorative qualities of pattern design. Pictured (left) shows how light moving through the material can change its appearance when compared to the same scoby (right) pictured behind a solid background.
An original pattern laser engraved in scoby leather, swatch 1 aims to look at the transparencies of scoby as well as the decorative qualities of pattern design. Pictured (left) shows how light moving through the material can change its appearance when compared to the same scoby (right) pictured behind a solid background.
