Human Material Loop is a Dutch startup that hopes to transform the fashion industry by turning human hair into a textile.
Human Material Loop is a Dutch startup that hopes to transform the fashion industry by turning human hair into a textile.
Kwadwo Amfo/Human Material Loop
It has made prototypes of human hair coats, jumpers, and blazers. Pictured is its first prototype, a sweater with a wool-like feel. "I needed to make a product that people can relate to, and the jumper was one of the most feasible prototypes we could make, but also the most relatable," said co-founder Zsofia Kollar.
It has made prototypes of human hair coats, jumpers, and blazers. Pictured is its first prototype, a sweater with a wool-like feel. "I needed to make a product that people can relate to, and the jumper was one of the most feasible prototypes we could make, but also the most relatable," said co-founder Zsofia Kollar.
David can Woerden/Human Material Loop
The company hopes clothing manufacturers will buy rolls of its alternative material for their own designs.  According to Human Material Loop, 72 million kilograms of human hair waste ends up in European landfills every year. "It's a big abundant waste stream that currently has no scalable solution," Kollar said.
The company hopes clothing manufacturers will buy rolls of its alternative material for their own designs.  According to Human Material Loop, 72 million kilograms of human hair waste ends up in European landfills every year. "It's a big abundant waste stream that currently has no scalable solution," Kollar said.
Medina Resic/Human Material Loop
Kollar explains that using its material is not that different from knitting a sweater with wool. Short hairs are spun together and transformed into a continuous thread to make a yarn, and then dyed with pure pigments. Pictured are some dyed samples of the human hair textile.
Kollar explains that using its material is not that different from knitting a sweater with wool. Short hairs are spun together and transformed into a continuous thread to make a yarn, and then dyed with pure pigments. Pictured are some dyed samples of the human hair textile.
Medina Resic/Human Material Loop
A prototype blazer made from human hair.
A prototype blazer made from human hair.
Nikola Lamburov/Human Material Loop
Human Material Loop sources its hair from salons in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, specifically using hair that is cut or broken off because it says that does not contain nuclear DNA that could identify an individual.
Human Material Loop sources its hair from salons in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, specifically using hair that is cut or broken off because it says that does not contain nuclear DNA that could identify an individual.
Nikola Lamburov/Human Material Loop
Human Material Loop has tested other prototypes, including an outdoor coat stuffed with hair to provide thermal insulation.
Human Material Loop has tested other prototypes, including an outdoor coat stuffed with hair to provide thermal insulation.
Pablo Betancourt/Human Material Loop
The startup tried out the coat in harsh conditions during an expedition to Aconcagua, the highest mountain in Argentina.
The startup tried out the coat in harsh conditions during an expedition to Aconcagua, the highest mountain in Argentina.
Pablo Betancourt/Human Material Loop