At World's End : An exploration into seaweed as a textile material

This degree project in textile design explores the potential of seaweed as a textile material within knit design. Through the material choice, the project merges the fields of textile design and bio design. Within the project, the seaweed has been worked in various ways: as a singular material on its own; spun in combination with conventional materials within knit design; and as embellishment. This exploration is motivated by the constant search for sustainable materials and processes within textile materials. Using a material like seaweed within textile design brings the underwater world of the ocean to the surface, encouraging investigation and innovation in utilizing underused materials in the search for sustainable material. The resulting textile art pieces highlight the origin of the material, and each piece showcases different aspects of the seaweed. Overarching throughout all the pieces is a focus on texture, transparency, and the natural abundance of shades within the seaweed’s natural color palette. The pieces highlight the rich potential of seaweed as a material within textile design.