The lead image by [Oliver Kellhammer](http://www.oliverk.org/) is of kumbucha leather, a biomaterial. * **kombucha** is a symbiotic community of bacteria and yeast * **kombucha leather** is the dried form of the thickened layer that forms over fermenting liquid kombucha * kombucha leather is a **biomaterial**, a regenerative material created by living organisms, as contrasted with materials that must be mined or extracted. ## Design goals * to grow microbial leather that can be sewn or moulded in ways analogous to leather, parchment or homemade paper * to improve control of the thickness and evenness of the dried material * to test enhancements of the microbial leather such as coloring or waterproofing ## Project background Artists and designers, including the designer Suzanne Lee (see [link to her TED talk](https://www.ted.com/talks/suzanne_lee_grow_your_own_clothes)) have recently been exploring the potential of microbial leather as a sustainable alternative to the ethically and environmentally problematic use of animal-sourced leather. [Parsons Sustainable Systems](https://courses.newschool.edu/courses/PUFY1100) is advancing this research. ## Questions Questions can be either frequently asked questions, or "next step" challenges we're looking to solve. [questions:kombucha-leather] ## Activities Activities show how to use this project, step by step. [activities:kombucha-leather]