In April 2026, @isseymiyakeofficial’s Milan store presents The Paper Log: Shell and Core, an experimental exhibition that turns industrial paper waste into design objects. Satoshi Kondo of MIYAKE DESIGN STUDIO developed the project in collaboration with Spanish architecture practice Ensamble Studio. Together, they explore circular material reuse across fashion, product design, and spatial installation. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #MaterialInnovation #CircularDesign #PaperWaste #SustainableMaterials #DesignResearch #ProductDesign #MaterialExperimentation #RecycledMaterials

Collaborating with agriculture and food industry, discarded materials like eggshells, straw ash, and broken ceramics gain new value, reducing the need for newly mined resources. Unwasted by @annamaria.sandjensen / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #Ceramics #BiobasedMaterials #RecycledMaterials #MadeFromWaste #InteriorDesign #ProductDesign

Microorganisms may play an unexpected yet crucial role in the future of sustainable material sourcing—both in space and on Earth. A recent experiment conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS) demonstrates how bacteria and fungi can extract valuable metals from meteorites in microgravity, offering insights into resource systems relevant to design and material innovation. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #Biomining #MaterialInnovation #Biobased #SpaceResearch #FutureMaterials #ResourceRecovery #Microbiology #DesignInnovation

A prototype shoe made entirely from pure mycelium will debut at Milan Design Week, marking a major step in bio-based material innovation. The project brings together @vubrussel researcher and designer Lars Dittrich and master shoemaker Marie De Ryck from @lamonnaie.demunt . It shows how living materials can move beyond experimentation and into functional design. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #Mycelium #BioMaterials #SustainableDesign #CircularDesign #MaterialInnovation #MilanDesignWeek #Biobased #FutureMaterials #DesignInnovation #EcoDesign

The textile’s woven structure, wide colour palette, and soft texture contribute to its visual and sensory qualities. Ondo by @casalis.be / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #Acoustics #InteriorDesign #SenseandSensibility

Across Europe, more than 70% of textile waste still ends up in incineration or landfill. This is not because the material lacks value, but because recycling technologies struggle with complex waste streams. Post-consumer textiles often combine cotton, polyester and elastane. They also contain dyes, flame retardants, buttons and zips. Dutch research organisation @TNO_innovation has developed a thermochemical recycling technology that tackles this issue. The process converts mixed textile waste into valuable chemical building blocks. It opens up a new circular route for materials that previously had no high-value destination. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #TextileRecycling #CircularMaterials #MaterialInnovation #SustainableDesign #ThermochemicalRecycling #CircularEconomy #WasteToResource #RecycledMaterials #DesignInnovation #FutureMaterials

Located at Bay Area Book City in Shenzhen, Astral Ascent by Zhe Wai Yue Fei Architecture Studio is a site-specific installation that combines traditional timber joinery with contemporary design methods. The project uses wood-based panels and applies mortise-and-tenon principles within a modular system. The installation examines the relationship between geometry, structural logic and spatial perception. Instead of representing natural forms, it focuses on how structures are assembled. Repetition of star-shaped modules forms the basis of the spatial composition. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #Wood #Geometry #Architecture #ModularDesign

A material solution derived from food by-products, specifically banana peels and nutshells. Kuori by @kuori.materials / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #ProductDesign #BiobasedMaterials #FashionDesign