AlgaeNawa
Traditional Shinto ritual rope, rewoven from invasive seaweed
Traditional Shinto ritual rope, rewoven from invasive seaweed
AlgaeNawa makes shimenawa — traditional Shinto ritual rope, normally woven from rice straw — out of fiber from an invasive seaweed species (Sargassum muticum) instead.
The project pairs traditional rope-making technique with material science testing, aiming both to repurpose harmful invasive biomass for coastal ecosystem restoration and to sustain a Shinto craft practice tied to nature purification.