Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Bacterial cooperative weaves sustainable rainbow materials

Several microbial strains working together in a ‘one pot’ production process could provide an environmentally friendly route to clothing.
Shelves full of rolls of colourful fabrics, a man’s hand holds a purple glittery tulle.

Making colourful fabrics often involves petroleum-based chemicals and toxic dyes. Credit: Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle/Getty

Researchers have found a way to use bacteria to produce a rainbow of sustainable fabrics1.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 647, 825 (2025)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03698-x

References

  1. Zhou, H., Lin, P., Jeong, K. J. & Lee, S. Y. Trends Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.09.019 (2025).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Subjects

Latest on:

Nature Careers

Jobs

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing

Search

Advanced search

Quick links