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4.3 Sustainable Fabrics
Sustainable fibers are raw materials used to make yarns and textiles, characterized by their low environmental impact and ethical production methods. These can be natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Sustainable fabric refers to the textile material produced from sustainable fibers, incorporating eco-friendly manufacturing processes. It’s not just the source material that defines a fabric as sustainable but also how it is processed and prepared for use in fashion and other industries.
The main difference between sustainable fiber and sustainable fabric lies in their scope within the textile production chain. Sustainable fiber focuses on the raw material’s environmental and ethical impact, while sustainable fabric extends these considerations to include the entire manufacturing process, from raw fiber processing to the final textile product.
Many sustainable fabrics carry certifications such as the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or Oeko-Tex Standard 100, which verify their eco-friendly and non-toxic production processes.
Innovative Sustainable Fabrics
Leathers:
Piñatex
Piñatex is a cruelty-free and vegan alternative to leather, offering durability and versatility for use in fashion and upholstery without the environmental burden of animal leather production. Derived from the fibers of pineapple leaves, a by-product of pineapple farming, thus adding value to waste and providing farmers with an additional income stream.
- Process: The production process involves the mechanical extraction of fibers, which are then washed, dried, and processed into a non-woven mesh that forms the base of Piñatex.
https://www.ananas-anam.com/sales-sampling
Leaf Leather
Produced from sustainably harvested teak tree leaves or leaf waste, providing an eco-friendly material without harming the trees or plants they come from. Leaf leather showcases unique textures and patterns, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic and animal leathers.
- Process: Leaves are dried, dyed naturally, and sealed with a non-toxic film to create a durable, waterproof material.
https://treetribe.com/blogs/tree-tribe-vibe/what-is-leaf-leather
Mylo
Developed from mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, utilizing renewable resources that can be grown to scale. Mylo is fully biodegradable and can be produced with less environmental impact than traditional or synthetic leathers, offering a sustainable and animal-friendly alternative.
- Process: Mycelium cells are cultivated in a lab on a substrate of organic matter, where they grow into a dense, three-dimensional network. This is then processed into sheets that mimic the look and feel of leather.
Fruitleather
Made from the skins and seeds of mangoes that are discarded as industrial waste, turning what would be compost or trash into valuable material. This innovative material is biodegradable, uses significantly less water and energy compared to animal leather, and avoids the chemical tanning processes associated with traditional leather production.
- Process: These waste materials undergo processing to extract cellulose, which is then transformed into a durable, leather-like material.
Vegea
Made from grape marc, including skins, seeds, and stems, which are by-products of the wine industry.Vegea is biodegradable, reduces waste from the wine industry, and avoids the use of animal products and the harmful environmental impacts associated with conventional leather production.
- Process: The grape marc is processed to extract a compound that is then used to create a material with properties similar to leather.
Desserto
A highly sustainable plant-based material made from Nopal cactus leaves, grown on a ranch in Mexico without pesticides or herbicides. Desserto is partially biodegradable, soft, durable, and suitable for various applications, from fashion to automotive interiors, offering a low-water, low-energy alternative to traditional leather.
- Process: The harvested cactus leaves are dried under the sun for three days, requiring no additional energy, and then processed into a leather-like material.
AppleSkin (VegaTex)
AppleSkin is an innovative leather alternative made from the waste of the apple juice industry, particularly apple pomace, which includes peels, cores, and seeds. AppleSkin products are known for their strong resemblance to genuine leather in terms of texture and appearance. They are durable, breathable, and have a lower environmental impact than both traditional animal leather and petroleum-based synthetic leathers.
- Process: The apple waste is dried and then ground into a fine powder. This powder is mixed with water-based polyurethane (PU) and pigments, then spread onto a canvas backing made from recycled PET bottles or viscose to create a durable, leather-like material. The process significantly reduces waste and utilizes renewable resources.
https://www.appleskin.com/appleskin
LemonSkin (VegaTex)
Similar to AppleSkin, LemonSkin is derived from waste materials from the lemon juice industry. The use of lemon peels and pulp, which would otherwise be discarded, highlights an eco-friendly approach to material sourcing. LemonSkin offers a unique texture and aesthetic, with a slight citrus scent initially. It’s characterized by its lightweight nature, flexibility, and suitability for a variety of applications, including fashion accessories and upholstery.
- Process: Lemon waste is processed into a powder that is mixed with water-based PU, which is then incorporated into a base material
https://www.appleskin.com/copy-of-appleskin-1
BarleySkin (VegaTex)
BarleySkin is crafted from the spent grains of the barley used in the brewing process. This approach valorizes a by-product of beer production, transforming it into a valuable textile resource. BarleySkin is appreciated for its environmental benefits, including reducing waste and conserving resources. The resulting material is versatile, with potential uses ranging from fashion items to interior design elements, offering an eco-friendly alternative to conventional materials.
- Process: The spent barley grains are dried, processed into a fine powder, and then combined with a water-based PU and a backing to create a material that mimics the look and feel of traditional leather.
https://www.appleskin.com/copy-of-appleskin
TomTex
TômTex is a revolutionary non-woven biofabric that uses waste streams to create exceptional materials that can be customized for any one and any need. A biodegradable material made from shrimp and crab shells, which are a by-product of the seafood industry, as well as from mushrooms. Tomtex offers an alternative to petroleum-based textiles, utilizing waste materials and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. TômTex is highly customizable across size, pattern aesthetic, scaling, and performance characteristics. TômTex can look like leather, suede, vinyl, latex and so many more with attention paid to wearability and durability.
- Process: Chitin, extracted from the shells, is combined with coffee grounds and a biopolymer to create a flexible, durable material.
Fabrics
Microsilk
Microsilk is a bioengineered material developed by Bolt Threads, inspired by natural spider silk’s incredible strength and elasticity. It’s produced through a fermentation process using genetically modified yeast, sugar, and water, effectively creating a sustainable and animal-friendly alternative to traditional silk. Microsilk mimics the properties of natural spider silk, one of the toughest materials on earth. It is lightweight, yet remarkably strong and stretchy. Additionally, it offers superior breathability and moisture-wicking properties, making it an excellent material for high-performance wear and luxury fashion. Its production does not harm spiders and significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional silk farming, which often involves killing the silkworms.
- Process: the production process of Microsilk involves fermenting genetically engineered yeast with water and sugar to produce silk protein. This protein is then spun into fibers and woven into fabric. The process is designed to be scalable and environmentally friendly, minimizing waste and avoiding the need for harmful chemicals typically used in conventional silk production.
https://boltthreads.com/technology/microsilk
S.Cafe
S.Café technology transforms coffee grounds, a by-product of coffee consumption, into sustainable yarn. This innovative approach repurposes waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. Fabrics made with S.Café yarn are fast-drying, have UV protection properties, and control odor naturally, thanks to the micro-porous structure of coffee grounds.
- Process: Used coffee grounds are collected and processed through a patented procedure that incorporates them into the polymer used to create the yarn.
SeaCell
SeaCell is a sustainable and innovative textile fiber made from seaweed and wood pulp, typically cellulose from eucalyptus. Seaweed is a renewable resource that grows abundantly in marine environments without the need for pesticides, fertilizers, or additional water, making it an eco-friendly raw material. SeaCell fibers are rich in natural antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals derived from seaweed, offering potential health and skin-care benefits such as moisture management and anti-inflammatory properties. The fabric is soft, breathable, and biodegradable, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, from clothing to home textiles. The integration of seaweed also imparts antimicrobial properties to the fabric, enhancing its desirability for use in active wear and intimate apparel.
- Process: The production of SeaCell involves a closed-loop lyocell process for the wood pulp, combined with sustainably harvested seaweed. The seaweed is ground into a fine powder and then incorporated into the cellulose fiber during the spinning process.
Circulose
Circulose® significantly reduces the environmental impact of textile production. By recycling existing materials, the process conserves water, reduces carbon emissions, and minimizes the use of harmful chemicals typically associated with the production of virgin textile fibers. This process diverts waste from landfills and reduces the need for virgin materials, embodying principles of the circular economy. The regenerated cellulose fiber can be spun into new yarns and woven or knitted into fabrics. Fabrics made from Circulose® retain the desirable qualities of virgin cellulose fibers, such as softness, breathability, and durability.
- Process: Circulose is produced through a process that breaks down cotton and other cellulose-based fibers from post-consumer waste, such as old garments and textile production scraps, as well as agricultural residues.
Bio-based plastics
PLA
PLA is a biodegradable and bio-based plastic derived from renewable resources such as corn starch, sugarcane, tapioca roots, or chips. Its source from annually renewable plants makes it a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. PLA is known for its versatility, biodegradability under industrial composting conditions, and lower carbon footprint. It can be used in a wide range of applications, including packaging, disposable tableware, agricultural films, and even textiles. As a plastic, PLA offers clear or opaque options and can be engineered for various degrees of strength, flexibility, and heat resistance.
- Process: The production of PLA involves fermenting the plant-based sugars to produce lactic acid, which is then polymerized to create polylactic acid. This process significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to the production of conventional plastics and supports a more circular economy by utilizing biodegradable materials.
https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/6028/pla-polylactic-acid-new-era-of-textiles
Parblex
Parblex is a trademarked plant-based plastic developed by Pangaia, designed to be a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.It is derived from renewable sources, such as potato waste and other food waste. Parblex is characterized by its high-quality, durable nature, suitable for creating hard goods and accessories. Its plant-based composition ensures a reduced environmental footprint
- Process: different food wastes for microbial fermentation are used to create an organic acid vital for making Parblex bioplastics, utilizing bacteria commonly employed in the dairy industry for fermenting yogurts, cheeses, and other foods
https://www.biorenewables.org/case-studies/parblex-from-food-waste-to-bioplastics
Best practices related to sustainable fabrics
| Name: | Hul le Kes |
| Link: | www.hullekes.com |
| Industry sector: | RFID & Product Passport, Circular Business Models, Design for Reducing and Reusing Waste, Sustainable Textiles |
| Location: | Arnhem |
| Description: | Hul le Kes operates as a fully circular fashion label, focusing on sustainable alternatives within the fashion industry. The brand employs an in-house Manufacturing Studio and Recovery Studio, sells through its flagship store, webshop, and resellers, ensuring a continuous life cycle for its products. Hul le Kes prioritizes the use of existing materials, such as old bed linens, antique tablecloths, and secondhand clothes, sourced from flea markets, recycling companies, or donations. The design process is driven by the materials, resulting in limited series and unique garments. The brand follows natural seasons for its dyeing process, using plant-based materials. It also offers mending and repair services, as well as a clothing passport. |
| Impact in numbers: | 95% of materials are recovered from existing materials |
| Environmental benefits: | Hul le Kes contributes to environmental sustainability by minimizing the use of new resources, actively seeking materials within Western Europe, and employing natural dyeing processes with items like onion peels and avocado seeds. The in-house upcycling process reduces waste and environmental impact, while the brand’s Repair Friday initiative offers a sustainable alternative to traditional shopping events. By offering Dyeing and Mending Services, Hul le Kes provides options for extending the lifecycle of garments |
| Social & economic benefits: | Provides employment opportunities to people with a distance to the labor market. The clothing passport adds a personal touch, allowing wearers to contribute to the narrative of their garments and share stories. |
| Other remarks: | Practices upcycling existing materials, which is a key aspect of material cyclability. By extending the lifecycle of garments through innovative design and manufacturing processes, they contribute significantly to the concept of circular fashion. |
| Name: | Armedangels – Sustainable production brand |
| Link: | https://www.armedangels.com/wo-en https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/armedangels |
| Industry sector: | EU Product Passport & RFID, Sustainable fabrics, Design for Longevity |
| Location: | Germany |
| Description: | Armedangels is a German fashion brand that is dedicated to creating sustainable and ethically produced clothing. They prioritize transparency, fair labor practices, and environmentally friendly materials. One notable best practice employed by Armedangels is their use of organic and eco-friendly materials. They prioritize certified organic cotton, which requires less water and fewer chemicals compared to conventional cotton production. They also utilize other sustainable materials such as Tencel® lyocell and recycled fibers, reducing their environmental impact. Transparency is another key aspect of Armedangels’ sustainability practices. They provide detailed information about their supply chain and production processes, including the factories they work with and the certifications they hold. This transparency allows consumers to make informed decisions and understand the social and environmental impact of their purchases. The full production process is available to the user through an app that allows the full tracing of the product. Armedangels also emphasizes longevity and durability in their designs. They focus on creating timeless and high-quality garments that are meant to last, discouraging fast fashion consumption patterns. By encouraging customers to invest in long-lasting pieces, they reduce the overall environmental impact of the fashion industry. |
| Impact in numbers: | Member of GOTS, FairWear Foundation and Responsible Wool Standard |
| Environmental benefits: | sustainable production with lowered waste and emissions, use of sustainable materials, transparency and traceability |
| Social & economic benefits: | Ethical working conditions, open information to the public to empower their sustainable decision-making process |
| Technological & innovative benefits: | An app that allows tracing and tracking of the production of an item, and delivers the information to the user in an easy, quick and understandable manner (circularity.ID) |
| Name: | The Line Project |
| Link: | https://thelineproject.gr/ |
| Industry sector: | Sustainable fabrics |
| Location: | Athens, Greece |
| Description: | The Line Project uses exclusively eco-friendly raw materials that do not release environmentally hazardous by-products. They mainly work with tencel and cupro, both coloured with non-toxic substances. |
| Environmental benefits: | Production of clothes with exclusive use of eco-friendly raw materials. |
| Social & economic benefits: | The Line Project combining minimalistic and classical patterns in design has gained popularity among diverse age groups, promoting eco-friendly clothing even to consumers that are not sustainably-oriented. |
| Name: | Kimalé |
| Link: | https://kimale.co |
| Industry sector: | Sustainable Sourcing, Sustainable Fabrics |
| Location: | Athens, Greece |
| Description: | Kimalé is a socially responsible brand, promoting sustainable production by using, among others, traditional African textiles and artisanal handicrafts combined with Greek crafts and concepts. The idea is to create timeless high quality pieces in responsible stock volumes, following a slow fashion philosophy. Kimalé sources their textiles from art craftsmen in Africa, whom they access to through Mariama Camara, a well-known entrepreneur in fashion, based in the Ivory Coast, who acts as intermediary actor between designers and local craftsmen. The concept of “post consumer zero waste” is integrated into Kimalé’s business ethic, providing an opportunity to reuse materials and reduce waste. |
| Environmental benefits: | Main principles of Kimalé: Zero waste: Utilise even the smallest piece of leftover fabric for creating new items (e.g. 100% of its accessories collection crafted from leftover production materials) No overproduction Kimalé adheres to a “no overproduction” ethical system, ensuring each garment is accounted for, and information is accessible to customers The brand’s commitment to “no waste” extends to packaging, collaboration, and the creation of a second-hand heritage in new collections |
| Social & economic benefits: | Kimalé actively collaborates with various organizations and initiatives, such as the SoFFA cooperative and the non-profit association “les Piroguiers,” to create products like the PATI bag and source materials responsibly. Collaborations with Mariama Fashion Production and “Daphnis and Chloe” company showcase Kimalé’s commitment to providing resources, training, and awareness-raising initiatives. The brand fosters long-lasting relationships with workshops and suppliers, ensuring fair treatment for every person involved in the production process. |
| Technological & innovative benefits: | Kimalé embraces traditional techniques, such as batik, indigo dyeing, and handcrafted detailing, showcasing the beauty of human-made creations. |
| Name: | Loopalife |
| Link: | www.Loopalife.com |
| Industry sector: | Design for Material Cyclability, Sustainable Fabrics, Innovations in Textile Production |
| Location: | Amsterdam |
| Description: | Specializes in recycling and upcycling post-consumer textile waste into new yarns and products, creating a closed-loop circular business model. They sort disposed textiles onto colors and recycle them to produce new fabrics. |
| Impact in numbers | no paint or chemicals used in the production process 7000 l of water saved per recycled cotton sweater, and 500 l saved per woolen sweater 10 kg CO2 saved per woolen sweater, 1,5 kg CO2 per cotton sweater |
| Environmental benefits: | Reduction in water and chemical usage, energy-efficient practices, and reduced transport emissions due to local production. |
| Social & economic benefits: | Local production ensures good working conditions and contributes to the local economy. |
| Technological & innovative benefits: | Development of diverse sustainable yarns like Wool2, Re-denim, Cotton2cotton, etc. |
| Other remarks: | Their circular design philosophy revolves around using local raw materials and recycled or sustainable fibers, exemplifying a commitment to material cyclability. This approach is crucial for creating sustainable fashion that reduces reliance on virgin resources. |
| Name: | hempishop.nl |
| Link: | https://www.hempishop.nl/en/hennep-kleding-biologisch/ |
| Industry sector: | Sustainable Textiles |
| Location: | Rijsbergen |
| Description: | Hempishop commercializes organic hemp products, including clothing produced by The Dutch Hemp Hoodlamb and Belgian Up-Rise brands. Hemp Hoodlamb is GOTS certified, ensuring that its textiles made from organic fibers adhere to global standards for both environmental and social criteria. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification attests to their commitment to sustainability throughout the entire production chain. In Belgium, Up-Rise, founded in 2010, collaborates closely with partners who share high ethical values in human rights and environmental issues. Their environmentally friendly clothing is crafted in a Fair Wear Foundation-affiliated factory, using only certified organic cotton. Both brands prioritize fabric blends consisting of 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton, showcasing a dedication to eco-friendly materials and responsible production practices. |
| Impact in numbers: | Hemp requires 50% less water than cotton |
| Environmental benefits: | Sustainable cultivation, water efficiency, reduced CO2 emissions, durability and longevity of hemp fibers. |
| Social & economic benefits: | Supports sustainable farming practices and fair labor conditions. |
| Other remarks: | Promoting hemp clothing, Hempishop.nl highlights the environmental advantages of hemp as a fiber. Hemp is durable, water-efficient, and has a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional cotton or synthetic fibers. It also requires less pesticide and herbicide use, making it a more sustainable choice. |
| Name: | Poarta-ma cu flori (“Wear me with flowers”) – Natural textile dyer |
| Link: | https://www.instagram.com/poarta_ma_cu_flori/?hl=en |
| Industry sector: | Sustainable fabrics |
| Location: | Borlesti, Piatra-Neamt county, Romania |
| Description: | Elena Stanciu makes unique clothing products, from natural materials, dyed naturally using traditional Romanian techniques. Then, the dyed materials are cut and sewn, to create the finished product, specific to each individual. Linen dresses, natural silk, wool, fusible cloth curtains, ribbons, silk scarves, children’s clothes or textile bags, all are carefully created under the signature “Wear me with flowers”. Natural fabric is the main element in this whole process. It is cleaned by boiling of the chemical compounds that were used in its manufacture. Once this first step is done, the flowers, leaves or even roots that have dyeing properties are picked and applied to the fabric depending on the technique we want to use. By steaming, boiling directly in water or immersing the fabric in water already colored with pigment, the final product is obtained. They also create custom natural prints on clothing that requires “a new life”, brought in by her customers. |
| Environmental benefits: | The impact on the environment is significantly reduced through avoiding the harsh chemicals used in textile dyeing and finishing, as well as not creating any toxic wastewater in the process. Prolonging the lifespan of existing clothes by dyeing old pieces of her customers |
| Social & economic benefits: | She involves her clients by dyeing old existing pieces to give them a new life, workshops that raise awareness and teach people to dye sustainably at home |
| Name: | Kingly Ltd |
| Link: | www.wearekingly.com |
| Industry sector: | Sustainable fabrics |
| Location: | Bulgaria |
| Description: | Kingly Ltd. is the first textile company in Bulgaria with zero waste, which produces sustainable products for the promotional industry. The company lends a hand to giants like Google, Samsung and Coca-Cola to leave a green footprint on the environment. Increasingly, these companies are opting for sustainable alternatives to the most popular merchandise products to save vital resources. The company has partnered with the developers of Polygiene, a technology that enables textiles to stay fresher for longer, to reduce the frequency of their laundering and at the same time support additional resource savings. In addition to the organic cotton socks, Coca-Cola’s favorite corporate gifts, for example, include branded and compressed T-shirts that resemble the shape of the brand’s iconic bottle. Giants such as Bosch and AEG, as well as media companies such as CNN and Bloomberg, also frequently choose this type of promotional giveaway for their advertising campaigns. Kingsley has over 150 compression molds available, but can design specific templates for each brand’s needs. |
| Impact in numbers: | Kingsley helped Google to save over 22 million litres of water that would have been wasted in another factory in the manufacturing process. In addition, energy consumption was reduced by 90,168 sq/hr while preventing the use of 1,826 kg of pollutants. This is possible because of the environmentally friendly yarns used by Kingsley Ltd. |
| Environmental benefits: | Saving resources and energy consumption |
| Technological & innovative benefits: | The company has partnered with the developers of Polygiene, a technology that enables textiles to stay fresher for longer, to reduce the frequency of their laundering and at the same time support additional resource savings. Sustainability benefit – production of upcycled cotton socks in compostable bags |
| Other remarks: | The company’s sales for 2021 amount to BGN 5.8 million with a net profit of BGN 1 million. For the previous year, the company’s sales amounted to BGN 3 million. Kingsley Ltd. has offices in the United Kingdom and the United States, and the company’s main market is countries such as France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy and the United States. On average, the company participates in around 13 international exhibitions each year. |
| Name: | WRÅD |
| Link: | https://www.wradliving.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzzstyVpMp8 |
| Industry sector: | Sustainable fibers, Sustainable fabrics, Innovations in Garment Manufacture, Circular business models |
| Location: | Vicenza – Veneto, Italy |
| Description: | Production of sportswear and other special garments. The garments produced by WRÅD are made with recycled materials in partnership with Veneta Waste. The coloring takes place with a particular technology, gpwdr®, an innovative dyeing technique based on the recycling of enhanced graphite powder, inspired by ancient tradition. GPWDR® technology makes it possible to transform graphite waste into the raw material of an innovative and circular supply chain. The company owns certified dyes, such as Herculaneum Red and Smart Indigo, and doesn’t use any common dying chemicals. |
| Impact in numbers: | By connecting P.E.A.S. to the t-shirt through a QR code or an NFC tag signals ae transmitted to a mobile phone. The app recognizes how long you have had the garment, if you have already used it and how much you have amortized in terms of water, energy and technology consumption. |
| Environmental benefits: | The three pillars that guide WRÅD in their choice of materials are: safety, traceability and durability, to which is added the choice of materials reuse, such as recycled wool, polyester and cotton. In addition to production, WRÅD offers educational, design and consultancy services on sustainability practices. |
| Social & economic benefits: | WRÅD offers educational, design and consultancy services on sustainability practices. |
| Technological & innovative benefits: | WRÅD garments can be traced through a special system, an intelligent system that integrates social and environmental traceability with gamification. This system makes visible all the information on the origin and impact of clothes, pointing out how much the initial environmental cost of a garment is amortized over time. |
| Name: | FERRAGAMO |
| Link: | https://sustainability.ferragamo.com/it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAPHzwJ4z6w |
| Industry sector: | Sustainable fabrics, Sustainable fibers |
| Location: | The company’s headquarters are in Florence. Production takes place in a series of specialized laboratories in the Florentine leather district. |
| Description: | Since 2020 it has introduced responsible, innovative and quality materials into production, such as organic cotton, viscose from responsible sources, and recycled and regenerated materials, such as nylon, wool, cashmere and silk. The company also uses new sustainable and innovative materials, such as ECONYL®, a synthetic yarn derived from recycled plastic polymers, and ORANGE FIBER, a sustainable fabric made from citrus processing industry by-products. |
| Environmental benefits: | The brand has implemented the 2030 Agenda SDOs, in its policies; It has promoted network initiatives with other Made in Italy brands to share the principles of environmental sustainability and operates in full compliance with European and national standards. |
| Social & economic benefits: | The use of recycled materials has contributed to the circular economy. |
| Other remarks: | Ferragamo has identified 9 Objectives from 2030 Agenda on which to focus their resources. The company’s commitment to the circular economy is carried out with a wide-ranging approach: from the inclusion of regenerated and circular raw materials in each collection, to the choice of certified and post-consumer packaging, from the attention to reuse or donation of obsolete raw materials, to energy consumption from renewable sources. |
| Name: | Turtlehorn |
| Link: | www.turtlehorn.com |
| Industry sector: | Sustainable Fabrics, Design for reducing & reusing waste |
| Location: | Aachen |
| Description: | The brand’s spirit is deeply rooted in urban subcultures, emphasizing community, diversity, and the freedom to express oneself authentically. Utilizes textile waste as new raw materials, focusing on slow fashion and limited production. The brand strives to establish a responsible and mindful fashion approach, challenging traditional norms in textile waste processing. |
| Environmental benefits: | Reduces environmental impact of textile production by focusing on utilizing waste materials as new raw materials, and producing in a slow, sustainable manner |
| Social & economic benefits: | María Voth Velasco, the designer behind Turtlehorn, integrates and supports social projects within her work. Beyond designing collections, she conducts integrative and culture-promoting workshops to foster social and environmentally conscious behavior. Her sustainable mindset aligns with Turtlehorn’s ethos, emphasizing collaboration with craftsmen, technicians, and material researchers for specific projects, thereby contributing to a positive social impact. The philosophy of the brand is also dedicated to helping subcultures find a creative and sustainable way to express themselves through fashion. |
| Technological & innovative benefits: | Innovative use of materials, reducing complexity in production. María Voth Velasco’s emphasis on research and experimentation, especially in examining materials, adds an artistic and thoughtful dimension to the brand. |
| Other remarks: | Their innovative approach to using waste materials as new raw materials offers a sustainable alternative to traditional textiles. This approach not only reduces waste but also contributes to sustainable textile practices by repurposing materials that would otherwise contribute to environmental degradation. |
| Name: | KOMANA |
| Link: | https://komana.myshopify.com/ |
| Industry sector: | Sustainable fabrics , Design for longevity |
| Location: | Switzerland |
| Description: | One unique best practice that KOMANA implements is their focus on reviving and promoting traditional textile crafts. They collaborate with local artisans and communities skilled in hand-weaving and knitting techniques. By incorporating these traditional crafts into their designs, they preserve cultural heritage and support the livelihoods of artisans. KOMANA also emphasizes the use of locally sourced wool. They work directly with local sheep farmers in Bulgaria to obtain high-quality wool, reducing the environmental impact associated with transportation and supporting the local agricultural economy. By promoting local sourcing, they contribute to the sustainability of their supply chain. Furthermore, KOMANA embraces a slow fashion philosophy. They create timeless pieces with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring durability and longevity. By encouraging consumers to invest in quality garments that can be cherished for years, they promote a more sustainable approach to fashion. |
| Environmental benefits: | Sustainable production with lowered waste, repurposing waste, slow production |
| Social & economic benefits: | promoting collaboration and sustainable fashion ideologies, ethical working conditions, local production, awareness raising, revival of local textile craftsmanship |
