Substanz for Peel Sphere — From Material to Product

Our collaboration with the German–Chinese material innovation company Peel Sphere began in 2023.

Peel Sphere was one of the first material R&D companies with whom Substanz established a close and trusted collaboration — one that quickly developed into multiple projects and forms of creative exchange. In a relatively short period, we have explored a wide range of possibilities, from early material testing and prototyping to the creation of exhibition pieces presented at Shanghai Design Week in 2025.

Known for its research into circular biomaterials derived from fruit waste and algae, Peel Sphere has become an important partner in Substanz’s work to bring new material solutions into fashion and design.

Substanz has played a key role in prototyping and product development, exploring the potential of Peel Sphere’s algal bio-polymer, AlgaeSkin, across a series of bags and accessories. Through these projects, we have worked with the material in different constructions, forms and applications, translating its distinctive tactile and visual qualities into finished products.

AlgaeSkin

AlgaeSkin is a fully compostable, petroleum-plastic-free bio-polymer developed by Peel Sphere. Its combination of a distinctive surface, tactile character and material composition makes it particularly interesting for exploring new approaches to bio-based materials and accessories.

Working with AlgaeSkin has allowed Substanz to move beyond material samples and explore how an emerging biomaterial can perform as part of a finished product — from the first prototype through to refined exhibition pieces.

Material Meets Reality

One of the most recent collaborations brought together a selection of pieces crafted in the Substanz studio from AlgaeSkin and photographed against a backdrop of conventional plastic waste.

The deliberate contrast creates a visual dialogue between the materials that dominate today’s consumer landscape and emerging alternatives made from biological resources. Rather than presenting biomaterials as an abstract concept, the project places them directly within the context of everyday material consumption — making the possibilities of new circular economy solutions tangible through fashion and design.

The collaboration demonstrates how material sourcing, material selection, prototyping and product development can help move biomaterials and sustainable materials from R&D into real-world applications. By working closely with material innovators, Substanz helps translate bio-based materials into bags, accessories and other fashion products, connecting material innovation with design, craftsmanship and the growing field of environmental fashion.