Discover Your Inner Mermaid And Knit With Seaweed Yarn

When you think of seaweed, it’s often the thought of that slimy algae that gets caught between your toes when you walk on the beach. Never would the thought of wearing seaweed have crossed your mind. Now, with consumers increasingly seeking natural and sustainable yarn, seaweed has become an ideal alternative to traditional yarns.

In Asia, seaweed is known for its essential health benefits; including iodine, amino acids, and Vitamin E. This nutrient density of the algae is also what makes it such a fantastic yarn. Not only is yarn made from seaweed incredibly soft, its natural biology protects the skin against sun damage, helping to slow the aging process of the skin.

Brown seaweed is used to make yarn.

One company, called SeaCell, specialises in seaweed yarn. They source their seaweed from the fjords of Iceland, where the lack of pollution ensures the final product is the best quality. The geothermal activity beneath the water also helps the microcosm to absorb as many nutrients as possible, creating the perfect environment to produce the finest quality yarn.

Seaweed yarn couldn’t have come around at a better time with alternatives being sought to help drive down the demand for cotton. The problem with cotton is it’s a thirsty crop that has a negative impact on soil fertility and increases soil salinisation. In addition, the use of pesticides and fertilisers damage the environment and have serious consequences for the native fauna.

Seaweed yarn.

Sports companies, such as Lululemon, use seaweed yarn due to its breathable properties; perfect for high-intensity exercise. It’s this ability to breath that helps seaweed yarn bring further medical advantages, particularly for people who suffer with allergies or skin conditions such as dermatitus.

With all these advantages, it’s not surprising the popularity of fibre made from seaweed is increasing. Indeed, research at the New York City Fashion Institute of Technology has gone with the tide and created a new organic compound called alginate. With this material, the team hopes to develop further sustainability to the textile industry and address the harmful impact it has had on the environment.

Choice of yarn is ever increasing, with alternatives arising regularly. It has never been a better time to experiment with different yarns and make the change to sustainable products. Seaweed yarn might appear peculiar, but beyond its slimy persona, there’s something truly special that is currently resonating with the knitting world.

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