I'm the founder and driving force behind Seastex, and a leading expert in mussel byssus materials and technology. My background blends craftsmanship, engineering, design, and deep technical curiosity, forming the foundation of Seastex’s unique innovation capability.
Raised in Belgium, I grew up working in his father’s blacksmithing and metal fabrication business from the age of 12. Beginning with basic workshop tasks and progressing toward fabricating metal gates, staircases, balustrades, steel windows/doors and performing on-site installations, I gained hands-on experience in materials, mechanics, fabrication, and practical engineering. During this period I studied electro-mechanical engineering in high school, giving me further exposure to mechanical systems and applied industrial processes.
After graduating at 19, I pivoted into interior design, earning laureate honours in 2015. I then completed an internship in Tokyo, which evolved into a three-year work visa due to my commitment and work ethic. Over that period, I completed 26 projects across Japan and China, gaining valuable experience in product detailing, architectural execution, spatial planning, and cultural adaptability.
I later relocated to London, joining several design firms before advancing to Wimberly Interiors (WATG), a globally recognised American architecture and design practice. My nine years in architecture and interior design provided a strong understanding of specifications, construction requirements, acoustic performance demands, and the expectations of architects, developers, and interior designers - knowledge that directly informs Seastex’s product development.
The origin of Seastex began in 2021 when I discovered mussel byssus and became intrigued by its absence as a commercial material. For the next two years, I dedicated all available time to researching, cleaning, separating, testing and experimenting with byssus fibres in a warehouse flat in East London. Every cleaning method, prototype, and piece of equipment was hand-developed by me.
After a successful debut at the London Design Festival 2023, I made the decisive choice to leave my secure design career to pursue the creation of a new industry. Within the following year, and supported by Innovate UK Business Growth, I secured three small government grants, enabling Seastex to reach TRL 7 and proving its technological and commercial potential.
Today, I have:
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designed and developed all byssus processing methods,
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built every prototype machine currently used in the pilot facility,
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engineered Seastex’s TRL7 processing line,
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developed the first generation of acoustic byssus panels and cosmetic-grade byssus powder,
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built the go-to-market strategy and the commercial expansion plan.
Please get in touch if you’d like to add value to Seastex and take part in building an entirely new value chain for textile recycling.
Additional questions
Areas of activity
TextilesCircular business modelsIndustrial symbiosisBioeconomyConstruction
THEMATIC GROUPS INTEREST
TG-Circular textile productionTG-Biobased materials in ConstructionTG-Secondary raw materialsTG-Design out of wasteTG-Industrial symbiosisTG-Circular Wool products