Can Seaweed Really Be Used to Make Clothing? What Are the Benefits of Seaweed-Based Apparel?

After two decades of research and development, current technology allows for the extraction of alginate from seaweed to produce seaweed fiber. One acre of seaweed farm can yield 4 to 8 tons of dried seaweed, which can be processed into 1 to 2 tons of seaweed fiber—a yield three to six times higher than that of an acre of cotton field.

In 2015, Hengni Zhizao collaborated with Qingdao University through a university-industry partnership, successfully overcoming the technical barrier of dyeing seaweed fiber. Their dyeing technology was granted a national invention patent, and they led the formulation of the industry standard for "Seaweed Fiber Blended Knitted Apparel," becoming the first enterprise in China to apply seaweed fiber to knitted garments.

Today, seaweed fiber is not only used as a flame-retardant material in firefighting suits but can also be dyed and made into ready-to-wear clothing. Qingdao now hosts the world's largest production line for seaweed fiber used in textiles and apparel, with an annual capacity of 5,000 tons.

What Are the Benefits of Seaweed-Based Apparel?

Bio-based and Renewable:
Sourced from seaweed in the ocean, it grows rapidly and is abundant and renewable, reducing dependence on petroleum resources.

Biodegradable:
Naturally degrades in specific microbial environments (such as soil, seawater, and activated sludge), eventually breaking down into water and carbon dioxide. It is environmentally friendly and aligns with sustainable development principles.

Excellent Biocompatibility:
Highly compatible with human tissues, non-toxic, non-irritating, and unlikely to cause allergic reactions. This forms the basis for its widespread use in medical applications.

High Moisture Absorption and Retention:
The molecular structure of alginate contains numerous hydrophilic groups (carboxyl and hydroxyl), endowing the fiber with strong moisture absorption (capable of absorbing 10–20 times its weight in water) and water-locking capabilities, helping to maintain a moist microenvironment for the skin.

Natural Antibacterial and Odor-Resistant Properties:
Alginate itself and the trace metal ions released by the fiber exhibit antibacterial effects, inhibiting the growth of common bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli), thereby reducing odor formation.

Good Flame Retardancy:
Seaweed fiber inherently possesses excellent flame-retardant properties, self-extinguishing quickly when removed from a flame. It produces low smoke density and minimal toxicity when burned.

Hemostatic and Wound Healing Promotion:
When calcium alginate fiber comes into contact with wound exudate, calcium ions exchange with sodium ions in bodily fluids, forming a hydrophilic gel. This gel can:

Absorb exudate: Maintain appropriate wound moisture and promote granulation tissue growth.

Physically stop bleeding: Form a physical barrier and activate platelet aggregation.

Provide a moist healing environment: Accelerate epithelial cell migration and reduce scar formation.

Good Comfort:
The fiber is soft and smooth, resulting in fabrics that are skin-friendly and breathable.

Functional Metal Ions:
During the spinning process, different divalent metal ions (such as zinc or copper ions) can be introduced, imparting additional functions to the fiber, such as enhanced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties or promotion of collagen synthesis.