Sargassum Turned into Biotextile by Mexican Students

SAN PEDRO GARZA GARCÍA, Nuevo León — Turning an environmental problem into a creative solution led the Herencia project to win first place in the Inédito Universitario Award 2024, one of the most important recognitions for emerging talent in Mexican design. The distinction was presented on December 5 in Mexico City as part of Design Week Mexico.

The project, created by students from the Fashion Design and Industrial Design programs at the University of Monterrey, transformed sargassum—a marine residue that severely affects the country’s coasts—into a sustainable biotextile with functional applications. The proposal includes a dress and a folding chair made with this biomaterial and will be exhibited at Espacio CDMX.

Daniela Estrada, director of the Industrial Design program, received the recognition on behalf of UDEM and highlighted that Herencia represents an unprecedented collaboration between two disciplines, demonstrating the potential of design to promote circular economy models.

A Biomaterial Born from an Environmental Problem

The biotextile research was developed by Fashion Design student Marcela Kristel López Ouzande, who created a dress with the material. Her work began as an academic task but soon evolved into a quest to transform waste into a viable alternative for the industry.

Originally from Honduras, López Ouzande noted that her proximity to the sargassum problem motivated her to experiment with the algae, despite the challenges of disinfection and sanitization, as it arrives on beaches in an advanced state of decomposition. The designer emphasized that the most valuable aspect of the proposal is “using an unwanted organic material,” revaluing waste with high environmental impact.

The student thanked the institutional support and her teachers, who encouraged her to continue researching. Her message to other young creators was direct: “If you have an idea, even if it sounds crazy, research it and make it possible.”

Industrial Design and Fashion in Dialogue

Isabella Bolaños Caballero, Dalia Sofía Valdez Martínez, and Carolina Quintero Flores, students of Industrial Design, collaborated in the development of the folding chair that complements the project. The furniture, made with oak wood from the northeast, incorporates sections covered with the biotextile, imitating a bio-leather.

Valdez Martínez explained that one of the main challenges was ensuring the material’s resistance for use in furniture, so the team conducted multiple tests to improve its formula. The student highlighted that the interdisciplinary work flowed naturally thanks to constant communication: “Each career is essential in the design of absolutely everything.”

The award given at Design Week Mexico opens the door to new professional opportunities for the students and drives further exploration around biomaterials and sustainable design.

A Material with Potential to Transform Industries

The project advisor, Mónica Garza Chapa, stated that the biomaterial was developed in the Conceptual Design and Experimental Fashion Design courses and that the process required special care due to the complexity of working with sargassum. She affirmed that the material “can go very far and create a very positive change” both in the industry and in the environmental context.

For his part, professor Edgar Morejón emphasized that the biotextile is resistant, durable, and completely biodegradable, as it only needs to be submerged in water to disintegrate without harming the environment. He also stressed that no chemical ingredients were used in the formula.

Daniela Estrada added that the project emerged from identifying the potential of Marcela López’s previous research and the opportunity to turn waste into valuable raw material. She also confirmed that the team is working on patenting the biomaterial to secure its intellectual property.

This is the third consecutive year that UDEM has received this recognition, strengthening its profile as a reference institution in interdisciplinary and sustainable design.