Canadian researcher Roya Aghighi has invented a living, biodegradable fabric called Biogarmentry. It’s made from algae and can purify the air around it, with the purification capabilities—as well as the depth of its green color—increasing over time.

Would you think about your clothing differently if it were a living thing? Aghighi thinks so. You wouldn’t stuff your dog or cat in a dark closet or put them in a washing machine. Aghighi would like to see a line of clothing that you think about in the same way.

First, some background. Aghighi grew up loving fashion; her mother was a fashion designer. “I realized that as a designer, I am responsible for what I bring to the world and for creating demands before people know they have a need or even know it is a need,” she says. “At the same time, I felt responsible for understanding the environmental footprint of the textiles industry. I grew up in Tehran where the air pollution gets to the point you can even taste the air in your mouth. I wanted to do something about that as well as the textile waste.”