The fashion industry around the world is at a critical point right now because its effects on the environment, such as cotton fields full of pesticides, microplastic pollution and textile waste, are making people look for other ways to do things. A remarkable homegrown movement is answering the call in Australia, a country that is uniquely aware of both the fragility of the environment and the need for new ways to farm. Australian scientists, entrepreneurs and designers are not only using organic cotton; they are also creating the next generation of materials: biofabrics. These textiles are made from living things, fermented waste streams, or engineered from natural polymers. They are very different from synthetics made from petrochemicals and natural fibers that take many resources to make.
The goal isn’t just sustainability; it’s design that makes things better. Innovators in Australia are using the country’s rich biodiversity, cutting-edge biotechnology research and growing demand for circularity to make materials that are not only low-impact but can also help ecosystems. These innovators are transforming our perception of the materials we can use for clothing. For example, they are making silk from microbes and leather from mushrooms grown in labs. This guide focuses on five of the most important Australian organizations that are leading the way in this material revolution, turning local research and waste into the beautiful, useful and responsible fabrics of the future.
The Top 5 Australian Innovators in Biofabric and Sustainable Fashion
These pioneers were chosen because of their groundbreaking work in material science, their ability to make money, their commitment to circular principles and their role in making Australia a leader in the global sustainable textiles industry.
- Natasha Fijn & Natuur Studio (Mycelium Leather & Bio-textiles)
- Nanollose & Nullarbor Yarn (Microbial Cellulose)
- The Very Good Bra (Compostable Elastic & Circular Design)
- S!CK (Regenerative Wool & Indigenous Collaboration)
- S-parim (Algae & Plant-Based Biopolymers)
Detailed Profiles of Innovators
This is a thorough look at each innovator, including their unique process, the things they make and their ideas for the future of fashion.
1. Natasha Fijn and Natuur Studio
Dr. Natasha Fijn, an artist and researcher, is working with her Natuur Studio to use mycelium, the complex root network of fungi, as a local, ethical and viable alternative to animal leather and synthetic plastics. Canberra serves as the base for Fijn’s work, which has a strong connection to the local environment. It is at the intersection of science, art and material design. She doesn’t just grow things; she cultivates them. She cultivates unique, biodegradable textiles and composite materials using native fungi, which she grows to shape and requires minimal processing.
The Main Innovation: Mycelium Materials
- Process: Uses by-products from local agriculture and forestry, like sawdust, as a growth medium. It gives it a specific type of fungal mycelium, which then grows through the substrate in a controlled setting, making a solid mat. After drying, this mat becomes a strong, leather-like material.
- Material Properties: Can be designed to have different levels of flexibility, thickness and water resistance. It doesn’t catch fire easily, breaks down naturally and doesn’t need any harmful tanning processes.
- Philosophy: Emphasizes a “more-than-human” collaborative approach, seeing fungi as an active partner in the design process and putting local, low-energy production first. The collaborative approach views fungi as an active partner in their uses and effects, prioritizing local, low-energy production.
Applications & Impact
- Fashion Uses: Create prototypes for unworn bags, shoes and fashion accessories.
- Beyond Fashion: Looks at how to use it in product design and interior design (tiles, lampshades).
- Environmental Impact: Turns waste streams into a biodegradable product, which is a carbon-neutral alternative to making plastics and industrial leather from petroleum.
The Innovator said this:
“We are changing our relationship with materials from one that takes things to one that creates them. Mycelium shows that we can grow what we need with nature’s help without harming it or depleting its resources. It’s a plan for a real local and circular material economy.
Profile Link
https://mongoliainstitute.anu.edu.au/node/89828
2. Nanollose & Nullarbor Yarn
Nanollose is an Australian biotech company that has figured out how to make rayon, a silky fiber that usually comes from wood pulp, without using trees. They turned waste from the coconut industry into a high-quality fiber called Nullarbor™. This is a groundbreaking achievement. They use a patented microbial fermentation process to turn the liquid waste from coconut processing (which would otherwise pollute waterways) into bacterial cellulose, which is then spun into yarn. This method doesn’t need any fertile land, pesticides, or a lot of water, which makes it one of the most environmentally friendly ways to make rayon in the world.
The main new idea: microbial cellulose fiber
- Process: Microbes eat coconut waste and turn it into pure cellulose strands through fermentation. This microbial mat is picked, cleaned and spun into a long strand of yarn that can be used for weaving or knitting.
- Material Properties: It makes a strong, soft, silky fiber that is biodegradable and can be mixed with other materials. It can copy the drape and feel of regular viscose in many different ways.
- Philosophy: The goal is to separate textile production from deforestation and heavy chemical use, making a high-volume, low-impact alternative for the fashion industry.
Uses and Effects
- Fashion Uses: Can be used instead of regular rayon/viscose in dresses, blouses, linings and knitwear.
- Commercial Scale: One of the few biofabric innovators in the world moving toward large-scale commercial production and forming partnerships with big brands.
- Environmental Impact: Uses a waste product that is hard to deal with as its input, saves thousands of trees for every tonne of fiber produced and cuts down on the use of water and chemicals by a huge amount.
The Innovator said this:
“Our goal is to give the fashion industry a sustainable “drop-in” option that doesn’t require them to give up quality or style. We’re turning trash into clothes without hurting the earth.
3. The Very Good Bra
The Very Good Bra is a revolutionary Australian fashion brand that has tackled elastane, which is probably the biggest problem with fully compostable clothing. Stephanie Devine, the founder, has created the world’s first fully compostable bra by carefully choosing and combining certified organic materials to make a product that can safely return to the earth when it is no longer needed. Every part, from the GOTS-certified organic cotton and natural rubber elastic to the plant-based dyes and non-toxic hooks, is carefully chosen for its ability to break down naturally.
The main idea behind the innovation is to design clothes that are circular and compostable.
- Process: A comprehensive design-for-disassembly methodology. The bra is made up of more than a dozen certified compostable parts, each of which is made to break down in a home or industrial compost system in a set amount of time.
- Material Properties: This item is made of organic cotton, natural rubber (for stretch), cellulose-based bias binding and corozo nut buttons. The end result is a comfortable, supportive piece of clothing that works like a regular bra.
- Philosophy: Champions a true circular model, proving that even complex intimate apparel can be designed within planetary boundaries, eliminating synthetic microplastic pollution and landfill waste.
Uses and Effects
- Systemic Impact: Shows that circularity is technically possible and gives other brands a model to follow. Runs a program that certifies that products can be composted when they are no longer useful.
- Environmental Impact: Directly addresses the issue of synthetic microfibre shedding from laundry and prevents garments from persisting in landfills for centuries.
The Innovator said this:
We asked, “If a fruit can package and protect itself in a skin that safely breaks down, why can’t a bra do the same?” “We’re not just making something; we’re showing that a fully circular model for fashion is possible right now.
Official Website
https://www.theverygoodbra.com
4. S!CK (Studio Indigenous Circular Knowledge)
S!CK is a big step toward using fashion to help cultures and the environment grow again. Julie Shaw, a designer from the Gunditjmara Kirrae Whurrong tribe, started S!CK. It is an Indigenous-led brand that works with Aboriginal artists and regenerative wool growers. The innovation is not in a new type of synthetic biology but in looking at systems that fix things. S!CK uses ZQ-certified Merino wool from farms that actively restore land. They also work with Indigenous artists to turn cultural stories into prints, making sure that the stories are true and that the artists get a fair amount of money. They are an example of a supply chain that is both ethical and regenerative, from soil to story.
The Main Idea: Regenerative Systems and Cultural IP
- How it works: It gets wool from farms that use holistic grazing, which is good for the soil’s carbon and biodiversity. It collaborates with artists to secure appropriate cultural intellectual property agreements for the use of their designs. It employs environmentally friendly dyes and methods to manufacture its products in Australia.
- Material Properties: Uses the natural, renewable benefits of high-quality Merino wool, which is long-lasting, biodegradable, breathable and keeps you warm.
- Fashion as a way to heal the country and honor the world’s oldest living culture. Every choice is about “caring for the country.”
Applications & Impact
- Fashion Applications: Luxury knitwear, tailored jackets and accessories that feature stunning, culturally significant prints.
- Cultural & Economic Impact: Creates a new, respectful economic model for Indigenous art in fashion, ensuring artists are recognized and compensated as co-creators and owners.
- Environmental Impact: Supports agricultural practices that draw down carbon, improve watersheds and enhance ecosystem health, making wool a truly climate-positive material.
The Innovator said this:
“True sustainability is not possible without Indigenous leadership. We are bringing wearers back to the story of the artist and the land. The outcome is fashion that cares about the country, respects culture and makes everything it touches better.
5. S-parim
S-parim is a cutting-edge research and development company that makes plant-based alternatives to synthetic polymers like polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Their technology is mostly about making biopolymers that are safe for the environment, break down naturally and work well. They do this by using algae and other plant starches. These materials are meant to take the place of the plastic-based synthetic coatings, binders and layers that are often used in “vegan leather” and performance wear.
The Main Innovation: Biopolymers Made from Algae and Plants
- Process: Makes its own bio-based polymer resins from feedstocks that are beneficial for the environment. You can use these resins to coat fabrics, hold together composite materials, or make flexible films.
- Material Properties: It can be designed to be waterproof, strong and flexible, but it will still break down in certain conditions. It avoids the use of petrochemicals and provides a safer alternative to PVC and PU.
- Philosophy: It looks at the “chemistry” of sustainability by replacing the hidden plastic parts in many “eco” materials with real biological solutions that work at a business level.
Applications & Impact
- Fashion Applications: Coatings for plant-based leather alternatives (e.g., on pineapple or apple leather), biodegradable water-resistant layers for outerwear and binders for non-woven textiles.
- Beyond Fashion: Applications in packaging, automotive interiors and consumer goods, demonstrating cross-industry potential.
- Environmental Impact: Reduces reliance on fossil fuels for polymer production, avoids toxic plasticizers and creates materials that can re-enter biological cycles.
The Innovator said this:
“The details of the chemicals are crucial.” We’re trying to get rid of the last bits of plastic from innovative materials that are beneficial for the environment. We want to help brands make effective, eco-friendly products at all levels.
The Australian biofabric landscape is a wonderful example of how the country can think creatively and in a way that helps the environment. These innovators are charting different but connected paths toward a new material reality. For example, Natuur Studio and Nanollose are working together to make fungi work together and The Very Good Bra is working on circular engineering, S!CK is working on systems regeneration and S-parim is making molecular breakthroughs.
They all show that the future of fashion isn’t about doing less harm; it’s about doing more good. This means storing carbon, cleaning up waste streams, restoring land, respecting culture and designing for safe biological cycles from the start. Purchasing clothing from these pioneers contributes to a healthier planet for both consumers and the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is “vegan leather” the same thing as biofabrics?
Not always. A lot of “vegan leathers” are made from plastics like polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which come from fossil fuels. Mycelium and microbial cellulose are examples of true biofabrics. They are made from living things and can break down naturally. Always look at the base material.
2. How durable are these bio-based materials compared to conventional ones?
Durability varies. High-quality mycelium leather and microbial cellulose can match the durability of mid-grade animal leather for many applications. Materials like the compostable elastic in The Very Good Bra are designed for the functional lifespan of the garment (typically 2+ years of regular wear). They prioritize end-of-life safety alongside use-phase performance.
3. Can I throw these clothes in the compost pile at home?
It depends on the exact mix of materials. The Very Good Bra is meant to be composted at home. Pure mycelium or plant-based fibers will break down in compost, but clothes with natural rubber or certain dyes may need to be composted in a factory. Always follow the brand’s care and end-of-life instructions.
4. Are these things cheap?
Most of them are currently very expensive because of the small batches, the cost of advanced research and development and the real cost of ethical sourcing. For instance, S!CK’s collaborations with regenerative wool and art lead to high prices. As production grows (as Nanollose wants), costs should go down and become more competitive with traditional materials.
5. Where can I get clothes made from these Australian biofabrics?
You can get them directly from the innovators’ websites (The Very Good Bra, S!CK) or from certain retailers and brands that work together. Other brands buy Nanollose’s Nullarbor Yarn and use it in their products. The best way to find out about new products and partnerships is to follow these companies on social media.
6. What is the most difficult thing these innovators are up against?
One of the biggest problems is scaling production to meet mainstream demand while still being environmentally and ethically sound. Additionally, navigating supply chain infrastructure designed for traditional materials and educating both brands and consumers about the benefits of these new materials is challenging.
