MATERIALS SOLUTIONS: Digital Masterclass Series
This current emergency has given us all an opportunity to reimagine our industry, and to define what successful business really means for people and planet and work towards a responsible and positive relationship with our planet’s resources. Throughout our Materials Solutions Digital Masterclass Series we look forward to recovery from the global pandemic, both for our collective human health, and that of the planet.
The Materials Solutions Digital Masterclass Series seeks to inform and educate on the place of specific fibre categories in a preferred materials mix, and their important place in reshaping and creating a responsible, sustainable and restorative fashion industry.
This unprecedented global pandemic has forced us all to cease the relentless activity that the fashion industry demands of us, and has created space for us to pause, and reflect upon how our choices can contribute to new, responsible practices that must emerge from the current crisis.
Materials play a critical role in building a fashion industry that places people and planet as priorities, and the creation of equitable economic systems that replace the current unsustainable, polluting and waste generating model. The series is supported by key examples of commercially available qualities from our Virtual Expo and provides insights into our suppliers best practice materials.
INTRODUCTION with Guest Speaker Carole Collet (Director of Maison/0 (The Central Saint Martins LVMH Sustainable Innovation Programme)) – Wednesday 29th April
This session frames our current materials landscape, and explores the crucial place of a diverse, responsibly created materials mix. The principles of regenerative design and other design thinking systems that can support and inform the creation of a responsible industry for the future will be discussed. Amanda Johnston gives an introduction to The Sustainable Angle’s environmental criteria and ‘9 to Define’ design and systems thinking approach to rationalising material and design. Carole Collet provides a breakdown of ‘Regenerative Design’ principles.
“A regenerative design attitude goes beyond reducing our impact and goes into repairing our ecosystem and our communities.” – Carole Collet
COTTON with Sarah Compson, International Development Manager at Soil Association– Wednesday 6th May
Conventional cotton is the most important natural fibre, accounting for a quarter of global fibre demand, and grown in intensively farmed unsustainable monocultures around the globe. With its roots in the slave trade, human rights abuses still pervade the supply chain of conventionally grown cotton. In this episode, learn how best practice cotton agricultural practices can transform the environmental and social impacts of this fibre, and its role in carbon sequestration. Attendees will gain an understanding of the critical impacts of this fibre, as well as which types of cotton to prioritise and why.
BAST FIBRES + AGRICULTURAL WASTE with Gill Gledhill (GGHQ Fashion Intelligence Ltd Managing Director) and Hannes Schoenegger (Bananatex Co-Founder and CEO) – Wednesday 13th May
This session focuses on the under-explored bast category of stem fibres, harvested from flax, hemp, ramie, nettle, etc. and the new agriculturally harvested waste category of grown cellulose. The Sustainable Angle team and guest speakers will provide comprehensive knowledge of the properties and inherent sustainability credentials of the bast category of fibres. Additionally, viewers can discover how the ingenious use of cellulose from agricultural waste is reframing new material innovation of the future.
PROTEIN FIBRES with Hanna Denes (Textile Exchange Senior Standards Manager) and Jackie Andrews (Senior Lecturer in Sustainability and Textiles Development Strategist) – Wednesday 20th May
The use of animal fibres has a long history, offering complex structures and properties that man made fibres cannot replicate. However, land use, unethical practices and processing impacts, as well as environmental impacts as a result of intensive farming have raised essential questions. This session will provide insights and guidance into best practice initiatives for sourcing protein fibres.
REGENERATED CELLULOSICS with Claire Bergkamp (Stella McCartney, WW Sustainability & Innovation Director) – Wednesday 27th May
As a man-made cellulose fibre, this category of cellulosics is an important fibre source. Its comfortable and absorbent properties are much sought after as an alternative to cotton. This episode provides understanding of the provenance and processing systems that enable best practice choices in this Regenerated Cellulosics. Viewers will discover the next generation of regenerated fibres poised to provide more diverse material sources.
SYNTHETICS & RECYCLED with Steven Cheung (Recyctex Founder and President) and Scott Echols (Programme Director ZHDC, Roadmap To Zero) – Wednesday 3rd June
From the middle of the twentieth century synthetic fibres have dominated our fibre landscape, and currently account for two thirds of global fibre demand. This episode provides understanding of the negative impacts of this non-renewable fibre source, as well as a breakdown of how our reliance upon this petroleum derived group of fibres needs to be re-focused. Guided by insights from our guest speaker, Steven Cheung, attendees can discover how recycling technologies can limit impacts and utilise waste streams to recapture value and contribute to the circular economy.
LEATHER & SKIN ALTERNATIVES with Yoann Regent (Kering, Sustainable Sourcing – Bio-Diversity & Animal Welfare Specialist) – Wednesday 10th June
For many centuries the skins of animals have been valued as a durable by-product of the meat industry. However, current intensive farming practices are contributing to the decimation of rainforests, clearing land for intensively raising ever increasing numbers of cattle, thus contributing to CO2 emissions. This session will provide key insights into the place of responsibly farmed and processed animal skins in a diverse materials mix. We will also dive into the growing interest in innovative alternatives that meet demands for non-animal products that limit petrochemical use.
SUMMARY: FUTURE PROOFING FASHION and HOW THE FASHION INDUSTRY CAN PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE with Cyrill Gutsch (Founder and CEO Parley for the Oceans) – Wednesday 17th June
To conclude our deep dive Materials Solutions Digital Masterclass Series, this session draws together the key learnings from the six material sessions to provide an overview of the diverse material directions that will contribute to future proofing our industry. This summary edition provides critical perspectives on where the new materials solutions, directions and opportunities lie in shaping a re-imagined and responsible future for fashion will be explored. The conversation will focus on how the fashion industry can play a positive role? How can its supply chains be climate positive, protect biodiversity and the oceans – what materials to be used to achieve that?
MISSED THE LAST THREE EPISODES OF OUR DIGITAL MASTERCLASS SERIES?
You can still sign up for the full series even if you haven’t been able to tune in so far – we will send you the recordings and all relevant resources!
FULL SERIES: Book all 8 episodes + 9th Future Fabrics Expo Report & Exhibitor Directory included! @ £320.
WHAT EACH EPISODE INCLUDES:
- Each episode will include a presentation of key information of each fibre type (fibre demand, environmental impacts, low impact alternatives, sustainability information), key supplier examples followed by a conversation with guest speaker, and close with Q&A with The Sustainable Angle team. In each episode you will see solutions: materials presented from our exhibitors at the Future Fabrics Expo.
- By signing up for an episode of our digital masterclass series, you will receive a cheat sheet from each episode with useful links, perfect for your next sourcing!
- If you are unable to join us live, all episodes will be recorded and made available by email for 2 weeks following the live date to those who register for that session.
Click here to register for our Materials Solutions Digital Masterclass Series!
