We eat yoghurt to maintain and nurture the bacteria in our gut but we often neglect to consider the bacteria on our skin with which we symbiotically function. It’s this that fascinates Rosie Broadhead, founder of underwear start-up SKIN SERIES™, who are exploring how our garments interact with the body and whether this can be harnessed for good.
“Our bodies are home to hundreds of thousands of microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, viruses which our cells interact with closely. Understanding the symbiotic relationship we have with these things made me think about the concept of ‘self’ and has totally changed the way I approach design,” says Rosie, highlighting the body’s intimate relationship with the skin as a permeable membrane between our inner self and the outer world.
The human skin is primarily an organ of excretion; it almost behaves like a gland, secreting sweat and sebum through the epidermis which is continuously renewed. That being said, the skin, being permeable, will also absorb properties from our surrounding environment including chemicals like organic solvents, pesticides et cetera.
Now, most of us don’t walk around naked (not all the time, at least), we wear clothes. Some of which have been found to contain harmful chemicals such as BPA, PFAS and phthalates. Studies have found that such chemicals can mimic hormones, interfering with the endocrine system causing a cascade of health effects, yet to be fully understood, from weight fluctuations and fatigue to infertility and chronic disease. What we put on our skin can have a direct impact on our health.
SKIN SERIES was inspired by an exploration into protecting and promoting what already exists on the body or in nature, and how we can start to develop clothing with performance benefits that work with this in mind, positively influencing and interacting with the human body. Rosie’s undergarments, made from materials such as responsibly sourced bamboo viscose, Seacell and elastane, are a re-route back to what is natural, made responsibly while maintaining functionality – even introducing new functions all together.
By developing materials that offer health benefits to the skin, alternative to ones saturated with toxic chemicals or antibacterial finishes, SKIN SERIES introduces the prospect of a future where the body and the materials we put it in are considered simultaneously.
“At SKIN SERIES, our textiles are embedded with bioactive ingredients with known therapeutic benefits to the skin and body,” says Rosie. “Their properties have the potential to improve the immune system of your skin, encourage cell renewal, and they even hold antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.” Her new collection really hones in on the vitamins, minerals and amino acids found in seaweed. Materials might then be coated with textile finishes that are made of probiotics. “These native skin bacteria are activated when they come into contact with moisture on the skin,” she tells me, continuing: “We have collected clinical data that shows how efficient these bacteria are in fighting body odour making them a good replacement for bactericidal and antimicrobial ingredients.”
The textile and garment industry is a mammoth contributor to the pollution of clean water sources through manufacturing processes containing chemicals such as dyeing and finishing. Chemicals don’t just leach into surrounding water and soil, chemical content remains in the garments we buy and wear, thus leaching into our skin. “Many textiles contain toxic chemicals such as heavy metals, antimicrobials, chlorine or bleach, and formaldehyde in every stage of the production process,” she says. “Not only are these chemicals a serious health risk to humans but they are also harmful to the environment and to natural ecosystems. So, what we’re doing is develop therapeutic and bioactive textiles from sustainably sourced ingredients that are rooted in science. The platform focuses on supplying alternatives to synthetic or chemical functional fabric finishes.”
Fascinated by the sheer potential that biology provides, Rosie is optimistic. SKIN SERIES is using biodesign to fathom alternative modes of design for a cleaner, greener fashion future.“There are many different answers or solutions to the current problems the fashion industry is facing in terms of overproduction, sustainability, and circular design, and biodesign is one tool which I believe will define the future and become interwoven within our everyday lives trans-industry, incorporating living organisms into the built environment or consumer products, food and clothes.”