Substanz at the Deutsches museum

Substanz was honoured to present one of its prototypes, Mother of Pearl, at the Deutsches Museum as part of the Bio Living Lab exhibition curated by NIMA Studio.

The exhibition invited visitors to explore some of the latest innovations in bio-based materials — spanning packaging, construction, and next-generation leather and textile alternatives. It also featured a rich educational programme including guided tours, workshops, and live experiments, offering a unique opportunity to experience these emerging materials hands-on. The Bio Living Lab is supported by the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.

Mother of Pearl was created in collaboration with the German material innovation company Revoltech, which provided its pioneering material MATTR™ for the piece.

MATTR™ is an algal polymer — soft, tactile, and naturally pearlescent, with a distinctive inner glow. Fully biodegradable and petroleum-free, the material was still in its development phase at the time of the exhibition.

Algae are an exceptionally promising raw material: fast-growing, carbon-absorbing, and incredibly versatile. Unsurprisingly, they became one of the stars of the Bio Living Lab exhibition.

The design of Mother of Pearl was inspired by origami folding techniques. Following a zero-waste concept, the piece was folded from a single sheet of material, with its cut-outs transformed into small accessories such as a card holder, charm, and bracelet.

During the exhibition, the founder of Substanz hosted workshops on next-generation leather alternatives — discussing their history, classifications, and unique material qualities.