In the United Kingdom, textile brand Kirkby Design has created an interior drapery fabric made from aloe vera. Dubbed Aloe, the sheer material is a 60-40 mix of aloe vera and organic cotton. Aloe is more sustainable than 100% cotton because aloe vera requires comparably small amounts of water, pesticides, and fertilizer. Kirby Design also can source waste leaves from the personal care industry.
“Aloe Vera’s natural structure allows the yarn to create fabrics that have a lightweight, airy quality,” Kirkby Design director Jordan Mould told design publication Dezeen. “Aloe fabric allows light to filter through gently, creating soft, diffused lighting within a room. This gives spaces an ethereal, contemporary glow without sacrificing privacy. It’s ideal for creating sheer or semi-sheer fabrics that maintain a balance between openness and privacy.”
Kirkby Design’s Aloe is a shortlisted entrant for Dezeen’s 2024 Awards, in the textile design and sustainable consumer design categories.