Normal Phenomena of Life, a new lifestyle brand that uses the natural byproducts of biological agents such as bacteria and algae in its manufacturing process, has launched a silk jacket dyed with ink produced by bacteria. The Exploring Jacket, as the item is called, was developed in collaboration with biotech company Mbeu, designer Louise Bennetts and manufacturer Fabrika.

Natsai Audrey Chieza and Christina Agapakis founded Normal Phenomena of Life (NPOL) after years of experimentation with biotech-driven design. The duo believes that inks, yarns, plastic fibers, and other standard petroleum-derived materials could be replaced with carbon-neutral and resource-efficient alternatives derived from fermentation or other biological processes.

NPOL also started selling a series of letterpress prints called “Lessons from the Living World: Breathe In”, made by algal ink manufacturers Living Ink and designer and printmaker Kelvyn Smith. The carbon-negative black ink used for the prints symbolizes the plant’s role in converting CO2 to oxygen. 

The products are available on NPOL’s online platform, which will also offer products from other companies. While not all are biotech-based, like books and cosmetics, Chieza and Agapakis hope they'll amplify the brand’s narrative in a world where genuine biodesign is still uncommon.

All images courtesy NPOL