marc wijkmans - Wetlands

Wetlands

The rainwear industry is dominated mainly by synthetic and non-biodegradable materials, which significantly contribute to plastic pollution. To combat this issue, Wetlands has developed a water-resistant, 100% biodegradable, and renewable composite material, and transformed it into a warm and stylish outdoor jacket. This innovative material is made from wool, linen, linseed oil, and seaweed derivatives, and it is dyed using waste materials from landscape maintenance and ecosystem conservation. As a result, the material is not only environmentally friendly but also regenerative by nature.

Project Vision

The 1950s marked the beginning of the plastic era. Before this decade, only about 4 to 8 metric tons of plastic existed. However, since then, plastic production has surged to a staggering 300 million tons per year worldwide. Today, every piece of plastic that hasn’t been burned still exists, often in the form of microplastics. Plastic pollution has become a serious global issue, harming people, animals, and the environment.

The clothing industry is a significant contributor to this problem, accounting for 4% to 35% of all microplastic pollution across various sectors. One contributing factor is the leakage of macro plastics during the disposal of synthetic apparel waste, which occurs when plastic escapes from human-controlled environments. To address this issue of macro plastic leakage, Wetlands sought to find an alternative to outdoor clothing made from plastics.

Project Goals

1. Further develop material from the more-than-materiality project

2. Translate the material into a wearable

3. explore if the production process of the material/wearable could improve a landscape/ecosystem

Context

The project focused on developing a novel material while also regenerating the landscape of the Hemelrijkse Waard. Once primarily used for agriculture, this area has transformed into a flourishing nature reserve since 2014. This transformation allows the Maas River to spread out during periods of high water, reducing the water level by 4 to 7 centimetres and greatly enhancing the safety of residents living behind the dikes.

To effectively manage high water, the areas directly adjacent to the Maas require regular maintenance to keep vegetation short. If left unmaintained, the landscape could evolve into a riparian forest within a few years, which would significantly hinder its capacity to retain water and manage flood risks. Regular upkeep is crucial for preserving the ecological balance and functionality of the reserve.

1st phase: empathising with the ecosystem while testing first prototype

Wearing wool on inside

Wearing wool on outside

Trampled grass

crawling through grass

lying in the grass like large grazers do

By noticing non-humans in the landscape and mimicking their activity, I uncovered an important relationship between animals and plants. Seeds stick to fur. Building on this, I came up with the idea to give the material a fur-like surface.

PHASE 2: Designing material based on outcomes of previous phase

Improving the material with new bioplast and jude. By felting wool through a cloth of jude, the material becomes stronger and more flexible. By using sodium alginate instead of PLA, the material becomes more flexible and less prone to breakage. Also, by adding coloured water to the sodium alginate, the material can be coloured.

Fur-like surface of the material. Wool is needle felted through a cloth of jude. Next, sodium alginate is applied to the jude. Because the sodium alginate shrinks when it dries out, the wool gets exposed. By applying linseed oil, the material becomes water resistant.

Making 2nd prototype with sodium alginate

creating new shape

testing new shape

Phase 3: Improving the landscape through landscape maintenance

The Floating Pennywort are invasive species that needs to be removed. Brambles and willows growing on the banks of the Maas need to be removed to make sure water can flow into the landscape during periods of high water, ensuring the safety of people living behind the dikes

Experiments if it is possible to extract colour from the bramble, willow, and floating pennywort