TEXTILES.ORG
Design lab OXMAN has unveiled the O° Shoe, a 100 percent biodegradable shoe made without petrochemicals, and which produces no microplastics. The company, headquartered in New York, N.Y., says its mission is to create and deliver nature-centric products and environments to its clients and the natural world.
The O° collection is made using patent pending OXMAN technology that integrates digital, biological, and robotic technology and uses a single organic material to create 100 percent bio-based consumer products. As they are made entirely of organic material, the company’s textiles and wearables are 100 percent biodegradable at end-of-life. However, just like traditional biodegradable materials used for apparel such as cotton, wool, and silk, PHA will not biodegrade while being worn, washed, or stored.
O° (pronounced “O-Zero”) removes the complexity inherent in conventional fabrication processes, enabling the creation of consumer products from one material, under one roof, with minimal human intervention — through a nearly zero-waste process. The first product to be created using O° platform is its collection of shoes made entirely of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a class of organic material known for its versatility and biodegradability.
“PHAs have long been recognized as a promising alternative to petroleum-based plastics,” noted Neri Oxman, CEO and founder of OXMAN. “We have successfully elevated the potential of PHA through the development of O°, a new technology for the design and fabrication of products that seeks to minimize harm in its conception and nourish the environment in its afterlife.”
OXMAN is now initiating discussions with potential partners, investors, and brand collaborators to bring the production of O° shoes and textiles to scale and to market.