Germinating

Germinating aims to use biodegradable fabrics and recyclable accessories to address the issue of landfill in the fashion industry. In this ready-to-wear jacket prototype, traditional down fillings are replaced by crop seeds. When the end-user decides to throw the jacket away, he or she can simply bury it in the backyard or throw it in a foam box of soil. The outer fabric shell is 100% biodegradable. As it degrades, it becomes a natural fertilizer for the inner seeds. Even if the jacket still goes to the landfill, the complete degradation of the fabric will lead to no contamination to the environment. In this case, landfill is no longer landfill, but a kind of seeding – and thus germinating.

This project collaborates with the local agriculture bureau. With biodegradable fabrics being costly, Germinating strives to make the design accessible. After harvest, many farmers are left with surplus or unwanted crop seeds, often discarded, contributing to waste and inefficiency. Germinating purchases these seeds in bulk and repurpose them into raw materials of the “seed jacket” production. This initiative not only reduces costs but also supports my community. Farmers grade their seeds, and the lowest quality ones are typically discarded. Meanwhile, the project only require seeds that can germinate, allowing the farmers to receive extra income, approximately a 12% increase to their annual income.