Sourcing Sustainable Fabrics: Partners, Featured Mills and Suppliers at Future Fabrics Expo 9 1/2
During Future Fabrics Expo 9½, 22 June – 2 July, we will be featuring our partners, select mills and suppliers from our showcase who represent a range of innovative textile and material solutions with a low environmental impact. Our partners, featured mills and suppliers from around the world apply best-practice solutions such as sourcing fibres from organic or sustainable agriculture practices, circular economy principles, recycling technologies, closed loop processing, low impact dyeing, and alternative material sources that diversify the fibre portfolio.
Mills and suppliers in the Future Fabrics Expo are curated based on our Environmental Criteria, in relation to provenance, processing, raw materials and systems management involved in the fabric production. As well as these key criteria, ethical and local production, recycled materials, and entirely certified supply chains are taken into consideration.
Future Fabrics Expo 9½ is a key sustainable sourcing destination for designers and brands, offering a physical in-person showcase of thousands of materials, sustainability knowledge, innovative supplier insights alongside digital talks powered by the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo. Register for the Future Fabrics Expo 9½ today and get Premium access to the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo for the duration of the expo! For those visiting our showroom in London, discover QR codes on materials in the expo leading seamlessly to our digital platform.
Discover more about our featured mills and suppliers below…
Parley for the Oceans
Parley for the Oceans brings together the creative industries to collaborate on projects that raise awareness and end the destruction of the ocean. Collaboratively they help shape new consumer mindsets by developing alternative business models and ecologically sensible products. Their biggest project, Parley AIR, recycles ocean plastics and make environmental protection fiscally lucrative for pacesetting major companies.
An estimated 8 million metrics tons of plastic trash ends up in our oceans every year. Parley AIR is their strategy to end the fast-growing threat of marine plastic pollution by stopping to produce more plastic and use up-cycled marine plastic waste instead. Awareness campaigns, cleanup operations and recycling initiatives allow Parley to help alleviate immediate threats to marine wildlife and reduce the use of virgin plastics in product design, manufacturing and distribution.
We’re happy to partner again with Parley for the Oceans. Parley has collaborated with one of our featured mills Clerici Tessuto, to produce luxury fabrics using their GRS (Global Recycle Standard) certified polyester yarn, crafted from upcycled marine plastic debris intercepted from beaches, islands and coastal communities.
Lenzing
TENCEL™ branded lyocell fibres are derived from sustainable wood sources, harvested from certified and controlled sources following stringent guidelines of the Lenzing Wood and Pulp Policy. TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres are produced in an environmentally responsible closed loop production process based on solvent-spinning.
Lenzing AG has also pioneered the REFIBRA™ technology which involves upcycling cotton scraps e.g. from garment production, in addition to wood pulp, where the raw material is transformed to produce new virgin TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres to make fabrics and garments. The fibres are produced by Lenzing Group in an advanced EU award winning closed loop spinning process, with minimal impact on the environment and significant reduction of water and energy. TENCEL™ and REFIBRA™ are trademarks of Lenzing AG.
Advance Denim
Founded in 1987 in China, Advance Denim is a key international player in the production of premium denim fabric. Over the last 30 years, the company has demonstrated their commitment to sustainability by investing in technology and developing innovations that enable them to produce denim with minimal impacts on the environment. Recognised as a Top 500 Industry Enterprise in Guangdong, and co-founder of Amsterdam Denim City, Advance Denim has an important impact on the industry with an annual output of up to 40 million yards.
Since 2013, Advance Denim has reduced their energy consumption per yard of fabric by 42%. They have reduced water consumption by 58% due to investments in new generation equipments and dyeing technologies, such as big box dyeing. Over the next five years, the company aims to increase their total use of green fibres to over 90% of their total production.
Advance Denim has recently developed a cottonized hemp fabric in their denim offering. Hemp is an ecologically beneficial plant cultivated around the world that renews the soil with nutrients and nitrogen during each growth cycle. It is a positive rotation crop that leaves the land free of weeds. It needs little, if any, pesticides because it naturally resists decay and infestation. Hemp grows well without the use of chemicals and withstands water better than any textile product.
Discover Advance Denim on the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo >
Bananatex® AG
Bananatex® is the world’s first durable, water-proof fabric made purely from the banana plant Abacá. Cultivated in the Philippine highlands within a natural ecosystem of sustainable forestry, the plants require no pesticides, fertiliser or extra water. These qualities have allowed it to contribute to reforestation in areas of former Philippine jungle once eroded due to monocultural palm plantations, whilst enhancing biodiversity and the economic prosperity of its farmers. In one year, one banana tree can compensate for the CO2 emissions of production and transport of more than ten bags made from its fibre. Bananatex® can be composted to close the product cycle loop, from plant to bag and back into the soil.
Bananatex® was developed by Swiss bag brand and material innovators QWSTION in collaboration with a Taiwanese yarn specialist and a weaving partner based in Taipei, Taiwan. Engaged in the multi-year development and production process behind the new fabric, the three parties united with the ambition to make a positive impact on the planet’s future.
Discover Bananatex on the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo >
Bossa International
Bossa is a fully integrated denim supplier based in Turkey. They use low impact fibres such as recycled cotton, organic cotton, Tencel® lyocell and linen — all materials which do not use pesticides and synthetic fertilisers. Finishing treatments do not use sandblasting. With innovative technologies, they reduce water consumption and contamination by using pre-reduced indigo. 85% of the water used in production is conserved through their “Saveblue” process. All water effluent is pH neutralised and bio-treated locally. Bossa also launched “Denim is Reborn in Bossa”, a post-consumer denim recycling (PCRD) concept where old jeans are collected, sent to their partner in Gaizantep, Turkey for shredding, and then fibres are remade into fabrics. About 1000 old jeans can be used to produce 2000 metres of 20% PCRD Blended Fabric. Major brands such as Nudie, Zara, Kuyichi and Marks & Spencer are a few of the brands that have used fabric from Bossa’s concept.
Discover Bossa on the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo >
Chargeurs PCC
Based in France, Chargeurs has created a broad range of sustainable inner components (linings and interlinings) that incorporates recycled synthetic fibres (such as from recycled PET bottles), as well as sustainable natural fabrics and zero water alternatives. They are signed up to the UN Global Compact and certified by Global Recycled Standard (GRS) – Oekotex – Reach – ZDHC – Cotton Leads and Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and strive to innovate sustainable solutions, continually reviewing their carbon footprint. As part of their drive to reduce CO2 involves a reforestation program in partnership with WeForest, who have planted a carbon-sequestering micro forest in Zambia. Chargeurs donates a portion of profits from their sustainable range to the reforestation program.
Discover Chargeurs PCC on the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo >
Clerici Tessuto
Clerici Tessuto combines traditional Comascan craftsmanship with the innovative excellence of the Como silk industry. As a key textile supplier to the world luxury market since 1922, Clerici produces ethical textiles for longevity and is constantly researching new ways to use yarns in woven and printing techniques, with a speciality in compact jacquard weaves.
Guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Clerici improves its manufacturing footprint by sourcing both organic and circular, recycled yarns that can biodegrade or be recycled in turn. Clerici aims to put sustainable silk back on the map by promoting the regenerative aspects of mulberry tree farming.
Clerici Tessuto has sealed an agreement with Parley for the Oceans to produce luxury fabrics using their GRS (Global Recycle Standard) certified polyester yarn, crafted from upcycled marine plastic debris intercepted from beaches, islands and coastal communities.
Discover Clerici Tessuto on the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo >
Esce-Tex™
Esce-Tex™ provides tools and services to increase accessibility and creativity for more sustainability in fashion, such as supplying sustainable fabrics and materials, design tools and fabric sourcing knowledge. They make sustainable fabrics available for designers with low MOQs while offering a range of other services, including custom digital print. All their fabrics are provided with sustainability and traceability documentation, including fabric and mill breakdowns about their social compliance and certifications. All of the mills from Esce-Tex™ are members of SEDEX, an ethical trade membership, following SMETA auditing methodology for Social Compliance.
Esce-Tex™ has recently released a Rescued Range™ initiative as a result of increase in deadstock fabric due to missed payments and cancellations during COVID and lockdown. The Rescued Range™, which includes fabrics made from branded TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres and GRS-recycled polyester, aims to increase the accessibility and range of sustainable fabrics and lower the accumulation of unused fabrics.
Discover Esce-Tex on the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo >
Mantero
Mantero is a family-owned luxury textile company founded in 1902. All their processes from design, weaving, screen & digital printing, finishing, edging and quality control occur in Italy. Their sustainability strategy RESPECT is centred on respect for the environment and people. Since 2015 the company has implemented the ZDHC Programme to phase out hazardous chemicals. They have installed a steam reduction system, photovoltaic and LED lighting systems, and new equipment in the central heating plant, which recovers heat to use during the washing processes and is saving methane gas and reducing CO2 emissions. They have also obtained ISO 14001, BS OHSAS 18001 and SA 8000 certifications.
Following a four-year R&D process, they are proud innovators of RESILK, a mechanically recycled silk yarn that particularly resembles cashmere in its final form. They are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified for weaving and printing of silk and cotton fabrics and have Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) certification for recycled polyester.
Discover Mantero on the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo >
Natural Fiber Welding
Natural Fiber Welding’s mentality is “Plants not Plastic”™. The company aims to eliminate the use of petrochemicals in the textile industry and utilise renewable resources in the natural world. Natural Fiber Welding, Inc. (NFW™) is the creator behind Mirum™, a high performance leather alternative material that is plant-based and synthetic-free. NFW commits to creating materials that are biodegradable or can be “upcycled” to eliminate waste and ensure responsible end-of-life options. Furthermore, NFW works to ensure every virgin raw material used in the creation of Mirum™ is just as good for the environment. Materials are selected based on their nutrient inputs or contribution to the well-being of their local environment, i.e. encouraging bee propagation, regenerative agriculture, fair trade, and ethical production practices.
Natural Fiber Welding have also recently created Clarus™, a fabric where recycled cotton fibres are revitalised through a closed-loop chemistry process. Yarn structures are engineered (“welding fibres”) to produce high-performance textiles without plastic or petroleum.
Discover Natural Fiber Welding on the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo >
Nova Kaeru
Based in Brazil, Nova Kaeru is an exotic bio leathers tannery, specialised in organic tanning on fish leathers and a plant based material called beLEAF™. The Pirarucu fish are wild and live in lakes in the Amazon. They are fished by the indigenous population for food, controlled and regulated by IBAMA, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resource. The skin is therefore a by-product from hunting for food.
Nova Kaeru has also developed a vegan “leather” alternative called beLeaf™, derived from the large tropical plant leaves (called ‘Elephant Ear’) and tanned with an organic process. The tropical plant leaves are not monoculture, commercial crops – they are renewable resources that grow freely on the banks of forests and rivers. They are collected in sustainable areas near the Nova Kaeru facilities and planted together with reforestation farms. The close proximity of beLeaf™ production decreases the carbon footprint, and emissions are offset by the positive impact of reforestation, which provides oxygen to the atmosphere. In addition, organic waste from the tanning processes are composted and reused as soil nutrients to help protect biodiversity and waterways, and water from tanning is reused for irrigation of the plants.
Pioneering in organic tanning technology, Nova Kaeru developed chrome-free tanning methods which do not use heavy metals called “Bio leather”, and “seamless” Panels (Kaeru ® Process) which allow large panels to be produced from smaller leathers.
Discover Nova Kaeru on the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo >
Pangaia
Pangaia is both a direct-to-consumer materials science company as well as a B2B platform bringing breakthrough textile innovations and patents into the world through essential products and partnerships called Pangaia Science. They have been partnering with mill partners, RDD based in Portugal and with Pyratex in Spain, to create proprietary blended fabrics focused on sustainable innovations. They offer a full-service menu of options for companies, innovators, brands and suppliers to support the transition to a more sustainable fashion industry through the adoption of innovative materials and processes. Brands can choose either from our library of sustainable and innovative fabrics developed with our R&D team and partners, or custom design services to create their own fabric. We have a portfolio of unique technologies – FLWRDWN™, PPRMNT™, Kintra, and more and accompaniment to help implement. Pangaia can offer the D2C collection as a “blank canvas” for corporate gifting, events, and other special occasions. For innovators, Pangaia B2B provides several support services to help sell and market their technologies.
Ananas Anam for Pinatex
Ananas Anam is the manufacturer and company behind Piñatex, a vegan leather alternative made from pineapple leaf fibre that is a by-product of existing agriculture which would otherwise be burned or discarded. – no extra land, water or pesticides are required to produce the leaves that are used to create Piñatex. The creation of Piñatex provides an additional income stream to pineapple farming communities. As a Certified B Corporation, they are committed to ethical, transparent and responsible business practices. Their company’s aim is to meet the challenges of our times by developing products in which commercial success is integrated with, and promotes, social, cultural and ecological development. To date, Piñatex has been used by over 3000 brands worldwide, some of which are among the biggest names in fashion, as well as the core material within the world’s first vegan hotel suite at the Hilton Hotel, London.
Discover Ananas Anam on the Future Fabrics Expo >
Recyctex
Recyctex is a textile mill specialising in recycled fabric. Their core products are recycled fabric made from abandoned fishing nets, plastic bottles, discarded clothes and textile waste. In 2014, Recyctex was the first company to use Italian recycled nylon yarn for woven materials, from waste streams such as abandoned fishing nets or carpets. Recyctex fabric is widely used in sports, fashion wear, and bags, working with more than 40 international brands. Made-to-order, low MOQ available. The company is bluesign®, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, a Textile Exchange Member, and certified Global Recycled Standard.
Discover Recyctex on the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo >
Toyoshima
From raw materials through to garments, Japanese company Toyoshima work to create high quality and innovative fabrics, incorporating best practice sustainable fibres such as Tencel™ lyocell and organic cotton. Their innovative materials include a project called Food Textile, which uses leftover vegetables from the food manufacturing process as dyestuffs. Their gentle vegetable hues were developed to tackle the issue of food waste.
Discover Toyoshima on the Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo here >
Like what you see? Come join us in-person in London and explore even more materials from our showcase. Advanced booking required.
For those who can’t join the experience in-person, you can tune in online everyday from 1 PM – 2 PM via our Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo platform and watch live-streamed panel discussions with experts and thought-leaders. You will also be able to explore thousands of materials from our showcase using newly launched features on our Future Fabrics VIRTUAL Expo.
REGISTER FOR THE FUTURE FABRICS EXPO 9 1/2 TODAY!
