We seek nature for movement, recovery, and well-being. Yet we experience it wrapped in fossil-based synthetic materials. While modern activewear protects us from rain and wind, dries quickly, and stays light, it continuously releases microplastics during wear and washing. Thus, the very garments that enable us to experience nature contribute to its degradation. In contrast, bio-based fibres such as regenerated cellulosic fibres are renewable and biodegradable but lack the intrinsic hydrophobicity required for many functional textile applications.

 

BarkSkin sits at the intersection of fibre engineering and design, asking whether functional performance can be reimagined through the intelligence of natural systems. Tree bark serves as the project’s central inspiration. Acting as a living protective skin, it shields trees from moisture and environmental stress through naturally occurring compounds such as tannins. What if textile fibres could be inspired by bark?

 

The research explores the hydrophobisation of regenerated cellulosic Ioncell fibres through the incorporation of tree-derived tannins. The aim is to develop a bio-based, biodegradable, and circular alternative to synthetic hydrophobic fibres. Structured through the triad of Activism, Actuation, and Activities, the project moves from identifying the environmental challenges of contemporary performance textiles (Activism), to developing and evaluating the novel fibre, yarn, and textile (Actuation), and finally envisioning the material’s future application potential within activewear (Activities).

 

The project culminates in an immersive film installation that translates the research into a sensory experience. Through visual storytelling, it communicates the environmental urgency behind the research, the material innovation process, and a possible future for regenerative functional textiles.

Activism introduces the motivation behind BarkSkin. The textile industry has become deeply dependent on fossil-based materials. While synthetic fibres offer outstanding performance, they also contribute to microplastic pollution and rely on finite resources. At the same time, many bio-based alternatives still struggle to meet the functional requirements of sportswear and outdoor apparel. The film reflects on our relationship with nature while wearing fossil-based synthetic activewear and concludes with the speculative question that initiated this research: What if we built textile fibres inspired by bark?

 

Written, Filmed & Edited by
Juni Neyenhuys

 

Narration by
Ariane Carde

 

Featuring (Trail Runners)
Greta Ballschuh, Omid Fröhlich & Minchen Stenersen

Actuation brings the speculative question into the laboratory. Inspired by the protective function of tree bark, it investigates whether tree-derived tannins can be integrated into regenerated cellulosic Ioncell fibres to create a bio-based alternative to synthetic hydrophobic fibres. The research follows the journey of a textile: from spinning dope and fibre development to yarn production, fibre and yarn testing, textile manufacturing, and hydrophobicity testing. Each stage builds on the previous one, gradually transforming a material concept into a functional textile. The film visualises this otherwise invisible process, making fibre innovation accessible beyond the laboratory.

 

Written, Filmed & Edited 
Juni Neyenhuys

 

Music 
Kilian Schneider, Tom Schneider

Activities explores what BarkSkin could become. Building on the material research, it combines literature, market analysis, and interviews with researchers and industry experts to identify future opportunities for bio-based functional textiles.

 

Among the application areas investigated, activewear emerged as the most promising starting point. It brings together the material’s technical and experiential properties with the growing demand for sustainable performance textiles driven by consumer expectations, emerging regulations, and the environmental impact of conventional sportswear. 

 

The film shifts the focus from scientific research to speculation. Rather than presenting a finished product, the material itself becomes the protagonist. A figure composed of BarkSkin fibres moves through different sports before transforming back into a tree, illustrating a continuous cycle between biological resources, materials, use, and biodegradation.

 

Concept, Creative Direction & Production

Juni Neyenhuys

 

Visual Programming & Animation (TouchDesigner)
Calvin Suarez, Julia Zambrzycki 

 

Music
Kilian Schneider, Tom Schneider