From College Curiosity to Fashion Tech Trailblazer: The Story Behind BIOSPOKE.

While studying fashion design at Kent State, Nadia Boone didn’t just dream about clothes, she started to imagine the future of fashion. It all began at a fashion hackathon during her junior year, where designers were paired with computer science majors to create projects together. “It was then that I started to see that fashion tech was an option and was even possible.” she recalls. That spark, combined with seeing peers experiment with materials like kombucha leather for their senior collections, opened her eyes to the endless possibilities at the intersection of fashion and technology.

At the time, the concept of fashion tech wasn’t mainstream. But she recognized a viable path thanks to her community and early signals from the industry. Big companies were investing in programs, and the fashion world was beginning to lean toward sustainable practices, many of which involved technology.

Her curiosity and experimentation in sustainable fashion also led to a standout collaboration with Nextiles, a Detroit-based textile recycling company. Together, they created a limited-edition jacket made from repurposed airplane seats. One of just two ever made.

Nadia discovered Nextiles through Carhartt, who connected her to Madeline, the founder and CEO. “She donated the leather and I constructed the jackets, adding accents of bio-material for contrast,” Nadia shares. “The jackets came out perfect, and it’s one of my favorite collabs to date. Not a lot of next-gen material companies are making fashionable products from their material—they’re only selling it to fashion brands. With my design background, I can make products that people actually want—and sustainability just comes along with it.”

---

BIOSPOKE, the brand that embodies this innovation and purpose. What sets BIOSPOKE apart is not just the use of recycled or bio-based materials, but the creative application of these materials into real, wearable fashion. From algae-based textiles to repurposed corporate leather, each piece reflects a mission-driven approach to design that prioritizes both style and sustainability.

The brand’s journey has been as much about community and connections as it has been about creativity. A finalist spot in a sustainable fashion grant competition pushed her to formalize BIOSPOKE from naming the brand to developing a social media presence. Workshops and sustainable fashion communities like Fashion Revolution provided further growth and guidance, emphasizing that innovation doesn’t happen in isolation.

For BIOSPOKE, the possibilities are limitless. Beyond crafting prototypes, the team is developing market ready products and hosting bio-algae yarn and sewing workshops, bridging the gap between sustainable tech and everyday creativity. And through it all, Nadia remains grounded: “Taking breaks and spending time doing things outside of fashion helps a lot. I also have a hobby in photography that allows me to stay creative in other ways.”

In a fashion industry long overdue for innovation, BIOSPOKE is proof that technology, sustainability, and style can coexist and thrive. From a college hackathon to a brand poised to reshape the future of fashion, this is a story of curiosity, creativity, and forward-thinking purpose.