Tômtex by vietnamese designer Uyen Tran (Credit: Dezeen.com)
Vietnamese designer Uyen Tran has developed a flexible bio-material made from waste seafood shells and coffee grounds that can be embossed with a variety of patterns to replicate animal leathers. According to an article by Jennifer Hahn on Dezeen.com, “Tômtex” is dyed by using natural pigments such as charcoal, coffee and ochre to create a variety of colour options. The biodegradable material is said to be durable while remaining soft enough to be hand-stitched or machine-sewn.
The resulting material is also naturally water-resistant, a feature that can be enhanced by adding a coating of beeswax on top.
