Bio Nylon Is Now A Thing! But…What Is It?

Of course, it’s a great idea to rescue plastics and upcycle them. I mean, the oceans are in a terrible state, with islands of plastic so huge, they actually block sunlight from entering the water! But using those materials to make clothing isn’t the solution. It’s a better idea to recycle ocean and other plastics into hard, solid things like furniture.

That’s because when washed, clothing make out of polyester, nylon and other plasticky materials creates microplastics. These get into our food and water supply and are tough to filter out. In fact, each of us apparently ingests enough microplastic each year to make a whole credit card!

In addition, we’ve written many articles in the past about why using recycled nylon and polyester isn’t a great idea, for the same reasons mentioned above. So when we heard about bio nylon, we were a bit skeptical. But it’s actually a wonderful fabric!

What Is Bio Nylon?

Bio-nylon is produced using plants which undergo fermentation. This helps to end our reliance on raw fossil materials in favour of renewable materials. Bio nylon has a much higher biodegradability when compared to synthetic alternatives. In fact, it naturally degrades in the right conditions in just 5 years. That’s 10 to 20 times quicker than traditional nylon!

But don’t worry – there’s no negative impact on the performance of whatever clothing it’s made with. It only decomposes into organic matter when it’s deprived of oxygen. Of course, the textile is 100% vegan friendly, too.

You might be wondering how you can find bio nylon products. And the truth is, it’s a new fabric, so it’s not all that ubiquitous quite yet.

That being said, Lululemon (as seen in our main image) was keen to be one of the first to try it out. But they weren’t focused on using AMNI Soul Eco. Instead, they formed a partnership with technology company Genomatica to create leggings and other athletic wear based on Genomatica’s bio-nylon.

Their polymer is made from natural sources, such as castor oil. The acids contained within this oil can be converted, from simple reactions, into monomers useful for the production of polyamides. In this way, the same chemical compound (nylon) is obtained, but from natural sources.

Meet Shone

Another brand using bio nylon is Shone. This is a statement knitwear brand that aims to challenge the misconception of boring and itchy knitwear! Putting sustainability at the forefront, Shone uses bio nylon to beautiful effect.

The combination of Shone’s fun, colourful designs and a production process that challenges the traditionally negative effects of the fashion industry on animals and the planet has been a recipe for success. Founder of Shone, Shonagh Murray, who started knitting as a coping mechanism, has seen the brand go from strength to strength:

“I started knitting in 2017 during a difficult time in my life. I needed something to keep me occupied, so I decided to teach myself the craft. Soon, it became a central coping mechanism and I haven’t stopped knitting since. My designs have been on a journey… After lots of practicing and experimenting, I came up with a technique that has evolved into the classic Shone Designs you can see today.”

Shone’s success continues to grow, and it has now received The Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark. Great news, but we hope more and more eco friendly brands will follow their lead, and start using bio nylon in their designs, too.