The New Sea Food: Fashion, Waste, and Microplastics

Abstract: This article delves into the ecological and human impacts of microplastics originating from textile waste, examining their infiltration into marine ecosystems and the food chain—in particular fish caught in Southern waters and enjoyed on Southern tables. Through a futurist lens influenced by Lynn Margulis’s theories of symbiosis and evolution, Cullen’s essay explores how marine organisms adapt to synthetic fiber pollution and considers the potential for biomimicry and bioengineering as solutions. By highlighting the global repercussions of fast fashion, Cullen’s narrative opens space for a productive critique of waste colonialism, proposing a deeper ecological and cultural reflection on textile production, consumption, and identity. Insights from visits to Ghana’s Kantamanto Market and discussions with textile artist and engineer Emmanuel Aggrey of the Noldor Residency in Accra, Ghana, offer a call to reimagine sustainable practices in art, landscape and industry.