138. Living Textures, Wild Pigments: Suzanne Lee on Nature’s New Aesthetic Toolbox

In this thought-provoking episode of Grow Everything, host Karl sits down with Suzanne Lee, founder of Biofabricate and pioneer in the biomaterials revolution, for a conversation that redefines how we think about material innovation. With passion and precision, Suzanne shares her journey from fashion design to biodesign, revealing how her early experiments with growing microbial cellulose led to the launch of a global movement toward sustainable, biology-based materials. They explore how biology and culture are converging, why “natural” doesn’t always mean better, and how collaboration—not competition—is key to transforming industries like fashion, architecture, and consumer goods. If you're curious about the future of sustainable materials, circular design, and how the bioeconomy is taking shape through strategic partnerships and visionary creativity, this is the episode for you.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Welcome to Grow Everything: Big Questions Start Here
• 00:00:32 - Can AI Become Conscious? Let’s Get Weird
• 00:03:18 - Where Code Meets Cells: AI x Biology
• 00:05:06 - From Metal Bands to Microbes in Mumbai
• 00:09:22 - Meet Suzanne Lee: The Woman Who Grows Materials
• 00:24:48 - Innovation Isn’t Fast—But It’s Worth It
• 00:25:14 - Sometimes Old Tech is the Real Disruptor
• 00:26:17 - Designing 2050: Biology Will Shape Everything
• 00:27:05 - How to Break Free from Extraction
• 00:27:30 - New Tech, New Rules: Use With Intention
• 00:29:49 - What’s Next in Biofabrication (It’s Wild)
• 00:31:55 - How Do We Make Bio Go Mainstream?
• 00:36:35 - Why Great Design Is a Bio Superpower
• 00:40:06 - Rapid-Fire with Suzanne Lee: Future, Fears & Fun
• 00:44:44 - Final Thoughts + What’s Coming from Biofabricate

Links and Resources:

• BioFab Fair - Use promo code: GROW10 for a discount to attend! 
• Biofabricate
• ChatGPT Religion: The Disturbing AI Cult
• India Boasts 11,000 Biotech Startups
• Terrarium - sustainable materials consultancy
• Ecovative
• Polybion 
• H&M Foundation
• London Design Week
• London Fashion Week
• BIOME Consortia
• Around The World in 80 Fabrics Around the World

Topics Covered: 

biotech beauty, skincare, endocrine disrupting chemicals, endometriosis, consumer biotech, supply chain, manufacturing, clean beauty, product design

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

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Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com

Music by: Nihilore

Production by: Amplafy Media