Redefining Our Bond with Plants: Wearable Textiles That Grow

[frankerkanol]

Humans have long approached plants from a utilitarian perspective—primarily as sources of food or raw materials. But researchers at Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology (CHE) are exploring a different kind of relationship, one that views plants not as tools but as companions. Through an innovative design and fabrication process, they’ve created wearable textiles embedded with seeds that can sprout and grow when properly cared for, inviting users into a shared experience with living organisms.

This new approach is embodied in the LivingLoom project, developed by Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao, associate professor of human centered design, and her team. LivingLoom builds on a previous method called EcoThreads, which uses wet spinning and thread coating to create biomaterial-based yarns. What sets LivingLoom apart is its incorporation of chia seeds into a hydrogel-based spinning solution, producing threads that can be woven into wearable items—like wristbands, hairbands, sandals, and hats—that literally come to life.

“We’re interested in reimagining how we live with plants—not just growing them in pots or using them as materials, but living alongside them in mutual, caring relationships,” Kao explained. “This could shift how we think about sustainability and our connection to the environment.”

The seed-embedded yarns are woven using a digital Jacquard loom into textiles that are specially designed to retain moisture and support root growth. These plant-integrated fabrics not only serve as wearable accessories but also create a physical and emotional bond between the human body and a living plant.

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To understand this interaction, lead author and doctoral student Jingwen Zhu conducted a user study with 10 participants, who wore LivingLoom wristbands for up to eight hours a day over three days. Participants recorded their experiences in personal diaries and later participated in interviews. The study revealed a strong emotional connection to the living material. Some participants noted a surprising sense of intimacy with the sprouting plants, while others described their behavior changing to align with the needs of the plants—watering them when they felt thirsty themselves or observing the plants’ growth each morning with a sense of wonder.

“This was the first time for many that caring for a plant became a personal and bodily experience,” Zhu noted. “The close proximity led to deeper emotional engagement. People felt like they were in sync with the plants.”

The findings, published in the paper LivingLoom: Investigating Human-Plant Symbiosis Through Integrating Living Plants Into (E-)Textiles, earned a Best Paper award at the 2025 ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) in Yokohama, Japan—a recognition given to the top 1% of submissions.

Kao believes that projects like LivingLoom offer a powerful reminder of the potential for technology and design to reshape how we interact with nature. “Unlike houseplants, which became popular during the pandemic but still maintain a degree of separation, these textiles bring plants into constant contact with the body,” she said. “That closeness changes everything. It invites us to think differently about care, companionship, and sustainability.”