Interspecies Mothering

In recent years, Kombucha fermentation has gained popularity in the design world—not as a drink but as a process to produce SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast), a biofilm potentially usable as fabric or ‘vegan leather.’ 1 This process, which is rather fast, needs little resources, which challenges conventional fabric manufacturing. SCOBY seems like a perfect solution to the fashion industry’s environmental and ethical challenges, 2 but could it be more? This article draws upon my creative practice, in which I cultivate and engage with SCOBY as part of an exploration of care-based production systems, interspecies relationships and a plural notion of self. Through this work, I introduce the concept of ‘Interspecies Mothering,’ which emerges from my direct experience in nurturing SCOBY. The aim of this article is to bridge theoretical insights with the tangible processes of SCOBY cultivation, proposing a framework for reimagining production systems as care-centred networks.