The Shimmering Wood Crystals

Shimmering Wood Crystals: Eco-Friendly Fashion Sparkle Redefined with Nanocellulose and 3D-Printed Wood, Crafted for a Sustainable Future

This project is now archived and was part of DDW24

This project is part of
Fostering Bioinnovations

Juho Huttunen

Delving into the ecological concerns of modern fashion, the project addresses the environmental impact of fashion embroidery, tainted by their origin in plastic and metallic effect pigments. This collaborative project redefines fashion sparkle with premium renewable materials.

Sustainable color from wood

Shimmering, glittering hues are created using a sustainable wood innovation. The environmental impact of traditional embroidery is addressed through a new concept: Shimmering Wood Crystals. These innovative "crystals" are crafted exclusively from renewable materials and are ethically produced in Finland. Their brilliance is celebrated with a step towards a more sustainable and ethical future for fashion. Throughout history, nature’s shiny materials, such as seashells and jewel beetle elytra, have been used by humans for adornment. Inspired by this tradition, the "shimmering wood crystal" concept has been developed by combining materials science with design and fashion. A wood crystal is crafted using 3D printing technology on silk organza with a biodegradable wood filament, then adorned with a nanocellulose-based structural color. This wood-derived color does not fade like pigments, and the final product is fully biodegradable and non-toxic, offering a revolutionary, sustainable alternative in fashion.