Modern Synthesis and GANNI reveal ‘Bou Bag’ made by bacteria for London Design Festival

LONDON, England, September 20, 2023 – 

Modern Synthesis, a biotechnology company at the forefront of sustainable material innovation, and GANNI, the visionary Danish fashion brand, have joined forces to reimagine the iconic GANNI ‘Bou’ handbag in a new biomaterial. Their latest pilot of the Bou Bag showcases the natural beauty and versatility of Modern Synthesis' bacterial nanocellulose materials, brought to life in GANNI’s signature hexagonal silhouette. The companies are jointly working to make this bag commercially available by early 2025. 

The pilot marks an exciting chapter in GANNI’s Fabrics of the Future programme, which challenges the use of conventional materials in fashion and elevates responsible alternatives in collaboration with pioneering start ups.

Created with bacterial nanocellulose - a particularly strong and fine form of cellulose derived from bacterial fermentation - the featured biotextile is naturally animal and plastic free and offers a desirable alternative to virgin leathers and plastic-based synthetics. The Modern Synthesis x Ganni Bou Bag marks another critical step in Ganni's quest to redefine responsible luxury by continuously championing innovation in materials. Working with Modern Synthesis to reimagine the ‘Bou’ further underscores their commitment to phasing out virgin leather from GANNI products by 2023. 

The Modern Synthesis x Ganni Bou Bag will take centre stage at the upcoming Material Matters fair, showing from September 20-23 during the highly anticipated London Design Festival. By presenting this one-of-a-kind piece at the capital’s leading design festival, both Modern Synthesis and Ganni hold a mirror up to the potential of design and provide a glimpse into the promising future of biomaterials within the commercial realm.

Lauren Bartley, Sustainability & CSR Director, GANNI, stated,

“GANNI is on track to phase out all virgin leather by the end of this year,  which has been a radical goal for us. But the work doesn't stop here. Working and trialing with partners like Modern Synthesis to develop more responsible and durable leather alternatives is crucial for us. Doing so enables us to create high-quality design products in lower-impact materials - changing the future of fabrics as we know them today. By partnering with Modern Synthesis to develop our iconic Bou Bag from bacteria, we get another step closer to our goal of having 10% of materials coming from our 'Fabrics of The Future' by 2025 - and we can't wait to see what else we can make with Modern Synthesis' technology.”

Jen Keane, CEO of Modern Synthesis, explained, "Collaborating with GANNI on the Bou Bag has allowed us to showcase the viability of bacterial cellulose-based materials in real-world applications. These one-off showcase pieces are pivotal in evaluating a material's workability and appeal to both designers and consumers - which paves the way for its eventual integration into everyday fashion. Our pilot is a testament to the potential of sustainable materials in transforming the fashion industry, and we’re excited to grow our partnership."

As the bacteria-based Bou Bag's debut captivates audiences at the Material Matters fair, Modern Synthesis and GANNI are confident that this pilot / trial will serve as a beacon for other fashion brands to explore sustainable alternatives. By pushing the boundaries of design and material capability, the two entities are propelling the industry towards a more conscious and creative future.