A key breakthrough was the discovery that it is possible to make materials from algae, fast-growing organisms.

Quinn worked to develop non-toxic, water-resistant and biodegradable fabrics using algae polymers with properties similar to petroleum-based environmentally impacting plastics, and natural dyes before spinning the yarn. Incorporated to reduce water usage and production. – Associated toxicity. “Whenever I see a new material, there is no waste in my eyes. ?”

Another unlikely rediscovery and material re-examination is flax, a plant stem bast fiber that has been used to make linen hypoallergenic, moisture-resistant and breathable for over 30,000 years. was. “Flax used to be a big industry in Ireland. [Quinn grew up in Belfast], but practically used only for the manufacture of linen. Also, the unique properties of linen, that it wrinkles and sags, limit its use in the fashion industry. ’” Quinn sees only the positives that linen is biodegradable, breaking down in just a few weeks when buried in the soil. At CQ Studio, flax can be used to make eco-friendly faux leather and furs using a combination of traditional craft techniques and modern and innovative processes.

“Biomaterials (such as flax fibers) are very important because they are non-invasive to the planet and the environment,” says Quinn. “I think we sometimes forget that his polyester t-shirt is suffocating the earth. And when dealing with biodegradable materials, that means we don’t have increase [such] negative impact on earth.