Biosmocking

Biosmocking is a new technique developed by Japanese haute couture brand Yuima Nakazato.

Spider silk is a material that contracts strongly when it is wet. Inspired by this property, the company has developed a new technique to reproduce it, using a synthetic protein that is made from a fermented microbial process. That means the protein is neither made from plastics or animal products. When the protein comes into contact with heat and water it contracts and by shaping cloth made with the protein, different shapes can be dried into it. 

Prewashing though, if the fabric is printed with ink, those areas do not shrink, reacting differently to the washing process. This means that some areas of the cloth react strongly while others do not. The possibilities are clear as the video below shows.