Sustainable Fashion Innovations
We’re taking a look at 2023’s most innovative sustainable fashion, including startups that have gained attention from global companies. These companies blend technological innovations with sustainable development, paving the way for a greener fashion industry.
Innovative Software
One standout company, circular.fashion, has designed a fashion innovation software that seamlessly integrates closed-loop recycling technologies with circular designs and retail models. This software enables fashion brands to produce circular garments with unique identification tags, establishing a network of sorting and recycling companies for maximum recycling possibilities.
Sustainable Textiles
Algiknit is making strides in sustainable textiles by extracting textile fibers from kelp, a type of seaweed. The resulting kelp-based biopolymer mixture is spun into thread, which is then 3D printed or knitted based on the designer’s purpose. The material is colored with natural pigments and is fully biodegradable, making it a true example of sustainable fashion.
Waste Becomes Resources
Reverse Resources is offering a digital platform that empowers fashion brands and apparel manufacturers to tackle consumer waste through industrial upcycling. The platform allows garment and textile manufacturers to track leftover fabrics throughout their life cycle, facilitating their reuse and reintroduction into the supply chain. This not only saves supply costs but also provides a sustainable solution to the industry’s waste challenges.
From Fruit to Fabric
Frumat has found an ingenious way to create sustainable fashion materials from apple skins, which are typically considered industrial waste. Utilizing the substance called pectin present in apple skins, they produce durable, compostable, and sustainable leather alternatives. These eco-friendly materials are used in personal luxury goods and fashion accessories, and the entire process is free from harmful chemicals.
Environmental Innovation
Nano Textile is making a positive impact on the environment by developing a sustainable alternative to adhesive chemicals used in attaching accessories and finishes on fabrics. Their innovative method implants ‘finishes’ directly into fabrics, ensuring the end-user and the environment are protected from toxic and hazardous chemicals.
Reducing Water Requirements
Flocus stands out with their focus on reducing water requirements in textile production. They produce fillings, yarns, and textiles from kapok tree fibers, grown without the use of chemicals in drylands that are not suitable for agricultural farming. By offering a sustainable alternative to cotton and bamboo, Flocus is making a significant contribution to sustainable fashion.
Natural Textiles as Fashion Innovation
Orange Fiber, an Italian sustainable fashion startup, creates natural textiles from oranges and lemons. Utilizing the cellulose in discarded skins and fibers during processing, they enrich the paste with essential oils to produce high-quality, eco-friendly fabrics. Apart from being sustainable, their fabrics likely carry a delightful aroma!
Environmentally Safe Glitter
BioGlitz is championing environmentally safe glitter by developing a formula made from eucalyptus tree extract. Their biodegradable glitter replaces the microplastics commonly used, making it a perfect choice for eco-conscious events like Burning Man.
These sustainable fashion innovations demonstrate the industry’s dedication to environmental responsibility and offer hope for a more sustainable future.
