April 22nd, 2022 – By Promostyl

The seaweed becomes textiles 

VIOLAINE BUET seaweed design® was created in bretain by Violaine Buet who is graduated in industrial design from ENSCI and also trained in block-printing in India where she worked for 7 years. The designer began her research and her creative work with the National School of Decorative Arts in 2016 (continuing education in “textile design and materials”). Based in Morbihan, VIOLAINE BUET does not work with seaweed microparticles but with whole seaweed that will be woven, she harvests brown seaweed by hand.

After picking, these algae will be soaked, washed, dried, colored, smoothed, before being woven with linen, wool or lurex thread for unique creations. Having started with brown algae, she gradually widened the scope of this research with different species of algae. Once combined, the aquatic plants will indeed allow them to be applied in the fields of ready-to-wear, accessories and decoration.

This artisanal innovation has an ecological advantage since it saves water in addition to being biodegradable. Seaweed-based textiles also have seaweed-specific properties: anti-odor, protection against bacteria and wicking away moisture. In addition, this new material is practical on a daily basis since it is wrinkle-resistant. This raw material offers a wide range of possibilities because seaweed can be woven, colored, sewn, printed, embossed, tufted, engraved, braided, embroidered. Presented in particular at the Première Vision and Interfilière fair, the objective is to develop this unique know-how in the finishing of raw algae and thus offer new artistic and industrial applications for this plant.