Living Thread – Materia Nova: Material Experiments at the Intersection of Biology, Technology, and Fashion
Session
Integrated Design
Description
This paper examines two contemporary fashion research projects from Kosovo — Living Thread by Hana Zeqa and Materia Nova by Rita Hasani — that explore the intersection of fashion design, biology, and technology through experimental material practices. Both projects challenge conventional paradigms of fashion production by investigating biofabrication processes and the aesthetic potential of living and biodegradable materials. Living Thread reimagines the relationship between the organic and the technological, merging bio-textiles, bioplastics, and 3D-printed structures into wearable installations that question the boundaries between human, nature, and machine. In parallel, Materia Nova engages in a systematic exploration of natural and recyclable components such as agar, sodium alginate, coffee waste, and starch, generating a series of bio-fabricated textile prototypes presented alongside a video installation that documents their process and material transformation. By placing process and experimentation at the center of creation, both projects articulate a critical reflection on the environmental and cultural implications of materiality in contemporary fashion. They propose an alternative framework for sustainable design—one that merges artistic research with ecological awareness and positions the designer as both maker and investigator in the evolving dialogue between biology, technology, and aesthetics.
Keywords:
bio-textiles, sustainable fashion, artistic research, material design, technology
Proceedings Editor
Edmond Hajrizi
ISBN
978-9951-982-41-2
Location
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Start Date
25-10-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
26-10-2025 6:00 PM
DOI
10.33107/ubt-ic.2025.200
Recommended Citation
Zeqa, Hana and Hasani, Rita, "Living Thread – Materia Nova: Material Experiments at the Intersection of Biology, Technology, and Fashion" (2025). UBT International Conference. 13.
https://knowledgecenter.ubt-uni.net/conference/2025UBTIC/ID/13
Living Thread – Materia Nova: Material Experiments at the Intersection of Biology, Technology, and Fashion
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
This paper examines two contemporary fashion research projects from Kosovo — Living Thread by Hana Zeqa and Materia Nova by Rita Hasani — that explore the intersection of fashion design, biology, and technology through experimental material practices. Both projects challenge conventional paradigms of fashion production by investigating biofabrication processes and the aesthetic potential of living and biodegradable materials. Living Thread reimagines the relationship between the organic and the technological, merging bio-textiles, bioplastics, and 3D-printed structures into wearable installations that question the boundaries between human, nature, and machine. In parallel, Materia Nova engages in a systematic exploration of natural and recyclable components such as agar, sodium alginate, coffee waste, and starch, generating a series of bio-fabricated textile prototypes presented alongside a video installation that documents their process and material transformation. By placing process and experimentation at the center of creation, both projects articulate a critical reflection on the environmental and cultural implications of materiality in contemporary fashion. They propose an alternative framework for sustainable design—one that merges artistic research with ecological awareness and positions the designer as both maker and investigator in the evolving dialogue between biology, technology, and aesthetics.