Fashion Institute of Technology
Projects | 2019
Flora Fur
Isabella Bruski, Noah Silva
Flora Fur is a sustainable, biodegradable, fauna-free fur made from milkweed. Derived from hollow cellulosic fibers which surround the seed, furs are both insulative and hydrophobic. By using linen as the binder, the project utilizes native flax and milkweed plants, which grow together naturally to create biodiverse permaculture farms and provide refuges for monarch butterflies.
Stella McCartney Prize for the Sustainable Fashion Winner
Ecolastane
Mitchell Henderson, Daniella Koller, Monica Palucci
Though used in 80% of clothing in the US, Spandex cannot be recycled. EcoLastane creates a biodegradable replacement fiber derived from elastin found in post-consumer oysters collected from local restaurants. After removing the elastin, shells are returned to the harbor to benefit New York’s shoreline and estuary.
Top 6 Team
Instructor
Evelyn Rynkiewicz
Evelyn Rynkiewicz (PhD) is an Assistant Professor of Ecology at FIT. Before coming to FIT, she earned her PhD from Indiana University and subsequently conducted research as a postdoctoral research scientist at the University of Edinburgh (National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow) and Columbia University. At FIT, Evie teaches classes in ecology and biology. Her overall goal is to increase science literacy among non-science majors.