BIOMIMICRY DESIGN CONCEPT

from BIOMIMICRY DESIGN CONCEPT - SPOCS

Yara Alabrash - Maryam Al Shamsi - Noah Franco

Saving our earth, one sock at a time.

DEFINITION

Have you ever found yourself buying a new pack of socks only to have to go and buy some more a month later? The lack of durability and strength in socks was a problem we found to be shared by many, and is something we as a brand wish to resolve.

"According to a recent study, the average person loses 1,264 socks in the wash in their lifetime. That works out to 16 pairs a year, or about $3,200 worth of socks by the time you die. Keep doing the math and you find Americans are losing up to $10 billion in socks every year." (Potts)

Throwing away socks when they are worn out and not recycling them affects the environment greatly. Socks contain silver nanoparticles that kill bacteria, but in return, wreak havoc on our environment and waterways (Arnold, 2021). According to the most recent data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 10 million tons of textiles were discarded into landfills (Dohms, 2019).

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Promoting sustainable industries, and finding innovative solutions to reach technological progress are crucial in overcoming environmental and economic obstacles we face nowadays. By using new technologies, our socks brand aims to give people the best quality/ experience of socks that are innovative and produced in a sustainable industry. When people start purchasing socks that are eco-friendly, the risk on the environment will be reduced. Since the environmental risks are reduced, this will lead to less economic challenges in the long term. Secondly, this project aims to provide people with socks that are inspired from nature and are good for the environment( eco-friendly). In order to achieve economic growth and sustainable development we need to reduce our ecological footprint by finding sustainable ways to produce our products. The use of spider silk is a sustainable option since it is compostable and biodegradable (UNDP, 2021).

INSPIRATION

The inspiration for our idea came from the inconvenience we faced of having our socks lost in the wash, or getting them filled with holes only after a month of use. The organism that helped inform our design was the spider, in specific the Darwins bark spider. We used the information of the spider web along with the individual threads or strings the spider weaves into the web in order to create the very strong fabric found in SPOCS. We as a brand are not re-designing the sock but are simply making an improvement to a problem we all face. The source of innovation found in our product is new knowledge which comes from synthetic spider silk created through the fermentation process of sugar, water, and yeast. (Bowe, 2018)

IDEA & CONCEPTS

The big idea we wish to implement with SPOCS is through utilizing spider silk to create a line of socks that are strong, durable, and Eco-friendly. SPOCS will create its fabric through replicating the process in which spiders create their strong webs. A spider webs frame is made of a different type of silk than the one connected to the frame. A web is made of two distinctive types: the frame silk or rigid type, and the spiral silk. Rigid spider silk adds the aspect of toughness while the spiral silk brings in the aspect of flexibility and elasticity (Wood-Black, 2018). Furthermore, our company will utilize the technology developed by bolt threads in the production of our synthetic spider silk. Our company’s target audience ranged from children to the elderly as we wish to provide this amazing and harwearing product to people of all ages. SPOCS socks are for everyone!

DESIGN CONCEPT IMAGES

IMPACT

The waste of socks harms our environment, so creating durable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly socks that benefit the environment is the standard that our brand sets. SPOCS guarantees that the users of this brand are provided with high-quality socks that are produced sustainably and would last long with them. Moreover, SPOCS ensures environmental protection while supporting the UAE economy through the implementation of the standards under ESMA.

According to the UAE government, a patent protection is granted for any new invention resulting from an innovative idea or innovative improvement. SPOCS will be registered in the International Centre for Patent Registration (ICPR) under the Ministry of Economy in the UAE.

TRADEMARK

Saving our earth, one sock at a time. the spider web icon

the name “SPOCS”

the tagline

PATENT

ETHOS

Our design is safer and more compatible with the surrounding environment because the materials we use (Spider silk) are biodegradable or biodegrade faster than some other market alternatives (Like some grip socks that use rubber, plastic, or synthetic fibers) making it more sustainable. Without introducing many new materials the characteristics (durability, comfort, grip) of the sock can be changed by changing the composition of thread/silk used and its pattern just like a spider's web. Moreover, our socks are more sustainable than their counterparts on the market as they are made from fermented sugar, water, and yeast (Bowe, 2018).

RECONNECT

Participating in this challenge was refreshing because it allowed us to open up to nature, observe and learn from it. Our study of spiders and spider webs made us appreciate the intricate nature of spider webs; we were able to learn from the structure and process used to make a spider web and implement that in our sock designs. Connecting with nature opened our eyes to a world of natural solutions that we so often miss.

PATTERNS & PRINCIPLES

Nature provides mutual benefits

In nature organisms interact together to provide mutual benefits. With SPOCS, the socks will provide users with the benefit of wearing eco-friendly socks and after consumption, the socks can be composted and benefit the environment.

Nature recycles all materials

Ecosystems of organisms in nature break down organic materials to new materials. The socks produced by SPOCS are made up of spider silk, which means that they are biodegradable, that can be composted naturally and would break down into new materials.

TEAM BIO

Yara Alabrash Maryam Al Shamsi Noah Franco

Since we started working on this assignment , our team has been very cooperative, attentive, and creative. We started by tackling various issues that needed solutions in the UAE like waste management and water scarcity. However, we decided to think outside the box and try to find a concept that is inspired by nature and is sustainable. We thought of a Eco-friendly clothing brand at first, and then we thought about socks! Losing socks and having them wear out is an issue that not many people realize. So, we made socks our focus and we decided to come up with a brand that gives people socks that are durable and sustainable. SPOCS’ ability to succeed is highly attainable because we all want to wear socks that are strong enough to last with us and if one was lost.. you have the option to compost it. This will make people feel good about wearing socks that are good for the environment and lasts with them!

REFERENCES

Arnold, R. (2021). Those Christmas socks in your stocking are harming the environment • Earth.com. Retrieved 2 April 2021, from https://www.earth.com/news/christmas-socks-harming-environment/

Dohms, E. (2019). Expert: Throwing Away Clothing Does Serious Damage To Environment. Retrieved 2 April 2021, from https://www.wpr.org/expert-throwing-away-clothing-does-serious-damage-environment

Goal 9: Industrial innovation and infrastructure | UNDP. (2021). Retrieved 1 April 2021, from https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-9-industry-innovation-and-infrastructure.html

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production | UNDP. (2021). Retrieved 1 April 2021, from https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-12-responsible-consumption-and-production.html

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