The shorelines of the English Lake District are peppered with warning signs: Keep dogs and children away from the lake, carry water, be aware of the signs of contamination. The reason for these warnings is the presence of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, which are some of the most abundant microorganisms on Earth.

When water temperatures rise or excess nutrients are present, cyanobacteria bloom, rapidly reproducing to create a dense, oil spill-like substance on the water that can produce harmful toxins. The health-conscious steer clear.

But in labs and studios around the world, this same microorganism’s natural processes are being embraced to tackle the mammoth impacts of a mammoth industry: fashion.