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Home » City specials » Qingdao
Seaweed clothing: Soft, stronger than cotton, fire-resistant and eco-friendly
By Michelle Zhang |
September 25, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FASHION from the sea is likely to debut next year thanks to the development of kelp fiber -- really environmentally friendly -- by a Qingdao researcher and textile company. Michelle Zhang reports.
It is soft, bright, and it looks just like a piece of fine quality cotton, however, when you put a lighter near it, it doesn't burn.
This is a new fabric developed by Professor Xia Yanzhi and his team from Qingdao University using natural seaweed. They call it "kelp fiber." And it is flame-retardant.
Kelp fiber, as the name suggests, is made out of kelp, a brown algae rich in seaweed fibers. Those fibers have considerable strength and the cloth made out of kelp fiber is said to be sturdier than cotton.
Most people know that kelp can be used to produce medicines, but never clothes. Professor Xia has spent nearly four years on research and laboratory tests.
The seaweed clothing is expected to enter the market next year.
He is very proud.
According to Professor Xia, the clothes we wear today are made out of either synthetics from petroleum or natural fibers from land resources such as cotton, linen and wool -- and producing natural fibers takes a lot of resources (cotton, for example, needs a lot of water).
As the two resources, land and oil, have been over-exploited, it's time to look for an alternative -- something that is natural, environmentally friendly and economical at the same time.
"Kelp fiber comes directly from the sea, which makes use of an otherwise untapped resource," Xia said. "It is also biodegradable -- all its waste can be dissolved in water. Most important, no chemical ingredient is added during the manufacturing process. So it is all natural."
The nature of seaweed also provides some unexpected advantages to the new fiber. For example, it is inherently flame-retardant. Thus, apart from being made into daily fashion pieces, it can also be used to produce fire protective clothing and medical clothing.
At the same time, it contains a great number of metallic ions that have anti-bacterial properties; it can also protect from electromagnetic radiation.
The calcium ions in kelp fabric also help to heal wounds.
Sounds magical.
China is the world's largest producer of seaweed in the world, turning out more than 60 percent of the natural seaweed product.
The scenic seaside city Qingdao itself accounts for two thirds of the country's seaweed resources. A great boom in city business is expected if the kelp fiber catches on.
According to Li Xiaochuan, director of the China Seaweed Industry Association, the industry will develop to a higher level because of breakthrough technologies such as kelp fiber. Seaweed isn't a just tasty and nutritious food resource.
The Qingdao Xi Ying Men Textile Group has already invested more than 1 million yuan (US$147,000) in the research for Xia's kelp fiber project. The next step is to mass produce seaweed fabrics and the company plans to introduce the "fashion from the sea" to the market next year.
It is soft, bright, and it looks just like a piece of fine quality cotton, however, when you put a lighter near it, it doesn't burn.
This is a new fabric developed by Professor Xia Yanzhi and his team from Qingdao University using natural seaweed. They call it "kelp fiber." And it is flame-retardant.
Kelp fiber, as the name suggests, is made out of kelp, a brown algae rich in seaweed fibers. Those fibers have considerable strength and the cloth made out of kelp fiber is said to be sturdier than cotton.
Most people know that kelp can be used to produce medicines, but never clothes. Professor Xia has spent nearly four years on research and laboratory tests.
The seaweed clothing is expected to enter the market next year.
He is very proud.
According to Professor Xia, the clothes we wear today are made out of either synthetics from petroleum or natural fibers from land resources such as cotton, linen and wool -- and producing natural fibers takes a lot of resources (cotton, for example, needs a lot of water).
As the two resources, land and oil, have been over-exploited, it's time to look for an alternative -- something that is natural, environmentally friendly and economical at the same time.
"Kelp fiber comes directly from the sea, which makes use of an otherwise untapped resource," Xia said. "It is also biodegradable -- all its waste can be dissolved in water. Most important, no chemical ingredient is added during the manufacturing process. So it is all natural."
The nature of seaweed also provides some unexpected advantages to the new fiber. For example, it is inherently flame-retardant. Thus, apart from being made into daily fashion pieces, it can also be used to produce fire protective clothing and medical clothing.
At the same time, it contains a great number of metallic ions that have anti-bacterial properties; it can also protect from electromagnetic radiation.
The calcium ions in kelp fabric also help to heal wounds.
Sounds magical.
China is the world's largest producer of seaweed in the world, turning out more than 60 percent of the natural seaweed product.
The scenic seaside city Qingdao itself accounts for two thirds of the country's seaweed resources. A great boom in city business is expected if the kelp fiber catches on.
According to Li Xiaochuan, director of the China Seaweed Industry Association, the industry will develop to a higher level because of breakthrough technologies such as kelp fiber. Seaweed isn't a just tasty and nutritious food resource.
The Qingdao Xi Ying Men Textile Group has already invested more than 1 million yuan (US$147,000) in the research for Xia's kelp fiber project. The next step is to mass produce seaweed fabrics and the company plans to introduce the "fashion from the sea" to the market next year.
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