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]