Sustainability Archives - Munique - Unique Textiles Insights https://www.munique.blog/en/category/sustainability-en/ Sun, 25 Jan 2026 21:20:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.4 KnitForm+ by Jeanne Mora – SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS https://www.munique.blog/en/knitform-by-jeanne-mora-sustainable-innovations/ Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:00:42 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=83430 KnitForm+ by Jeanne Mora – SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

What matters is how the textile responds: how it regulates volume, distributes pressure, and transitions from flat to three-dimensional states. Process transparency is embedded in the methodology itself.

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KnitForm+ by Jeanne Mora

When Knitting Becomes Structure, Not Surface

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

20. January 2026

KnitForm+ is not a new yarn system or surface innovation. What makes it different is its use of knitting as a structural design method, where form, volume, and stability are generated directly through textile construction rather than imposed through frames, padding, or rigid supports.

Developed by designer Jeanne Mora, KnitForm+ positions knitting as a construction language. Stitch architecture, tension, and machine constraints become the primary drivers of form. Instead of treating these limitations as technical problems, Mora treats them as design parameters that actively shape behaviour. The result is a series of knitted structures that fold, compress, inflate, and expand through their own material logic.

Material origin is intentionally secondary to structure. KnitForm+ is not presented as a fibre innovation, but as a system for working with knitted behaviour across different material bases. What matters is how the textile responds: how it regulates volume, distributes pressure, and transitions from flat to three-dimensional states. Process transparency is embedded in the methodology itself. Each form emerges through iterative sampling, structural testing, and machine-based experimentation rather than decorative finishing.

“What matters is how the textile responds: how it regulates volume, distributes pressure, and transitions from flat to three-dimensional states. Process transparency is embedded in the methodology itself.”

Scalability is addressed through adaptability. KnitForm+ is currently a research and design framework, not a product line. Its logic can be applied across furniture, interiors, and spatial design contexts, but requires collaboration with industrial knitting environments. The work is therefore scalable in principle, but intentionally not simplified into ready-made typologies.

Performance is defined through behaviour rather than comfort claims. The knitted structures demonstrate controlled flexibility, compression, and deformation. In pieces such as the inflatable knitted seat developed with TextielLab in Tilburg, the textile regulates volume and pressure through stitch construction alone. The trade-off is clear: these systems demand precise machine control and deep material understanding, but in return they reduce the need for secondary construction layers.

Within the wider industry context, KnitForm+ challenges the separation between textile design and product engineering. It positions knitting as a tool for structural problem-solving, not surface styling. For furniture designers, textile developers, and manufacturers, it suggests a shift from textiles as coverings to textiles as frameworks.

KnitForm+ does not claim to optimise production or solve sustainability through material substitution. Its contribution is more fundamental. It proposes that textiles can be active construction systems, capable of shaping form, behaviour, and function directly.

For Jeanne Mora, success is not measured in product replication, but in establishing knitting as a structural design discipline with industrial relevance. KnitForm+ is less about what knitting looks like, and more about what knitting can do.

WEBSITEIG: jeannemora_LINKEDIN

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]]> RETRAKT – SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS https://www.munique.blog/en/retrakt-sustainable-innovations/ Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:00:47 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=83454 RETRAKT – SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

Performance, in this context, is measured by organisational resilience. RETRAKT applies resilience engineering to help employees anticipate, monitor, respond to, and learn from complex and changing requirements.

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RETRAKT: From Circular Ambition to Operational Reality

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

19. January 2026

RETRAKT is not a new material, fibre, or fabric system. What makes it different is more fundamental: it is a research-based transformation framework designed to help textile and apparel companies actually implement circular economy requirements inside day-to-day operations. At a time when circularity is becoming mandatory under EU legislation, RETRAKT focuses on the gap most companies struggle with: translating regulation into workable processes across design, sourcing, production, and data management.

Developed as part of the research project “Resilient Transformation Management for the Circular Economy in the Textile Industry”, RETRAKT addresses circularity as a socio-technical challenge, not a purely technical one. Its core innovation lies in combining product compliance management, resilience engineering, and employee-centred process design to help companies shift from linear to circular value creation in a structured, realistic way.

“Performance, in this context, is measured by organisational resilience. RETRAKT applies resilience engineering to help employees anticipate, monitor, respond to, and learn from complex and changing requirements.”

Rather than making sustainability claims, RETRAKT starts with regulatory facts. New EU textile legislation, including requirements linked to the EU Textile Strategy 2030, will make circular design, transparency, and traceability legally binding. RETRAKT systematically analyses these laws and translates them into concrete tasks for companies, from material selection and design decisions to supplier communication and data documentation.

Compliance is treated as the backbone of circularity, not an afterthought. Therefore, traceability within RETRAKT is approached through process transparency rather than labels. The project develops methods to document workflows, responsibilities, and decision paths inside companies, supported by a planned Digital Cooperation Platform. This platform is intended to support collaboration across international value chains and to prepare companies for future requirements such as the Digital Product Passport.

In terms of scalability, RETRAKT is not a lab experiment but a practice-oriented research project running from 2025 to 2028, implemented directly within partner companies from the textile and apparel industry. Its scalability lies in its transferability: the procedures, tools, and methods developed are designed to be adapted by other companies and, in the longer term, potentially by other industries facing similar regulatory pressure.

Performance, in this context, is measured by organisational resilience. RETRAKT applies resilience engineering to help employees anticipate, monitor, respond to, and learn from complex and changing requirements. This human-centred approach recognises that circularity will only work if people inside companies are enabled to manage uncertainty and complexity, rather than being overwhelmed by it.

RETRAKT positions itself clearly within the wider industry shift away from voluntary sustainability towards mandatory circular compliance. It is most relevant to brands, manufacturers, and suppliers who recognise that future competitiveness will depend not just on better materials, but on better systems.

Success for RETRAKT is not a single product outcome. It is the creation of a repeatable, resilient model for circular transformation that companies can realistically use.

WEBSITE

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]]> MATERIA FUTURA – SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS https://www.munique.blog/en/materia-futura-sustainable-innovations/ Sun, 18 Jan 2026 09:00:13 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=83469 MATERIA FUTURA – SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

Materia Futura is not proposing a new bio-material category, nor a finished commercial textile. What distinguishes the project is its design-led investigation into the emotional and aesthetic dimensions of bio-based materials, an area often sidelined in sustainability discourse.

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MATERIA FUTURA: Reclaiming Sensory Desire in Bio-Based Materials

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

18. January 2026

Materia Futura is not proposing a new bio-material category, nor a finished commercial textile. What distinguishes the project is its design-led investigation into the emotional and aesthetic dimensions of bio-based materials, an area often sidelined in sustainability discourse. Founded by Alessia Pasquini and Beatriz Sandini, Materia Futura asks a direct question: why are sustainable materials still expected to look raw, muted, or purely functional?

Developed as a design research project in early 2025, Materia Futura explores how biomaterials can engage the senses through shimmer, iridescence, surface depth, and visual movement. Rather than treating these qualities as superficial, the project positions them as critical to human connection and long-term material adoption. Its first outcomes were presented at Dutch Design Week 2025 as part of the exhibition Basic Instinct: Making–With. The first phase of the research was developed in collaboration Paulina Martina, a digital designer, who worked on the virtual reality component. Part of that initial phase focused on creating a connection between the physical materials and the virtual world. You will find more info about this aspect on the Materia Futura website.

“Sustainability should not only be responsible, but also desirable – able to shimmer, glow, and connect with our senses.”

The work combines bio-based material experimentation with traditional craft techniques, using hands-on processes to push beyond the visual language typically associated with sustainable design. Effects such as chromatic shifts, moiré patterns, and layered textures are explored not as decoration, but as inherent material expressions inspired by natural phenomena. While earlier phases of the project investigated links between physical materials and digital or immersive environments, the designers are currently reassessing how and whether these components will continue in future iterations.

Materia Futura is firmly in a research and exploratory phase. The materials developed are not yet positioned for immediate industrial scale or collection integration. Instead, the project functions as a provocation and a testing ground, relevant to designers, material developers, and brands interested in expanding how sustainability is perceived, communicated, and desired.

In the wider material landscape, Materia Futura challenges the assumption that responsible materials must be visually restrained to be credible. Its contribution lies in reframing sustainability as something that can be sensory, expressive, and culturally resonant, without denying its biological or ethical foundations.

For Pasquini and Sandini, success is not defined by a single material outcome, but by opening space for a richer, more emotionally literate future for bio-based design.

WEBSITEIG: materia_futuraa

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]]> THREADED PROTOCOLS – SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS https://www.munique.blog/en/threaded-protocols-sustainable-innovations/ Sat, 17 Jan 2026 09:00:07 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=83392 THREADED PROTOCOLS – SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

Threaded Protocols is not a textile innovation in the commercial sense, nor a digital tool disguised as craft. What makes the work distinct is its material investigation into how computational logic originates in textile practice and what is lost when those logics are abstracted into opaque technological systems.

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THREADED PROTOCOLS:

When Weaving Becomes Computation Again

Explore these innovative projects at the Sustainable Innovations Forum in the Keyhouse in Hall 2

17. January 2026

Threaded Protocols is not a textile innovation in the commercial sense, nor a digital tool disguised as craft. What makes the work distinct is its material investigation into how computational logic originates in textile practice and what is lost when those logics are abstracted into opaque technological systems.

Developed by artist and researcher Floor Berkhout, Threaded Protocols explores the structural relationship between weaving and computing. Both rely on binary decisions, pattern execution, and logical sequencing. Historically, the loom was the first computer. Threaded Protocols returns to this origin, using textile-making to expose the physical, gestural nature of computation that contemporary digital infrastructures have largely hidden.

Berkhout’s practice operates as a critical technical practice, working through craft methodologies to understand how protocols function materially. In Threaded Protocols, each crossing of threads becomes a binary operation: in front or behind, zero or one. Meaning emerges slowly, through repetition and attention, rather than speed or optimisation. This slowness is deliberate. It draws from perma-computing principles, which question the inevitability of fast, extractive technological progress and its influence on both digital systems and the textile industry.

The project also foregrounds the gendered history of both textile labour and computation, from 19th-century weaving rooms to the women who worked as “computers” in the mid-20th century. By re-embedding computation in the hands, Threaded Protocols seeks to reclaim agency that has been stripped away through industrialisation and black-box technologies.

WEBSITEIG: floor.berkhout

Threaded Protocols is presented as process-driven research and interactive installation, not as a scalable product or material solution. Its relevance lies in how it reframes technology as something made, touched, and shaped by human choice, rather than an abstract, neutral system.

For designers, technologists, and researchers, Threaded Protocols offers a reminder that systems which appear precise and objective are always political, always designed, and always traceable back to material decisions. In a landscape dominated by efficiency, Berkhout’s work insists on another value: the right to build meaning slowly.

The detailed explorer finds a bonus: her work is also touching theme’s of emancipation, gender-equality, historic manipulation…

Any input you think is helpful to create a dedicated article about your project:
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]]> Living Matter: Bio-Luxury for Future Materials https://www.munique.blog/en/living-matter-bio-luxury-for-future-materials/ Sun, 31 Aug 2025 10:00:44 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=83190 Living Matter: Bio-Luxury for Future Materials

Indigo, a colour with a lot of history, is the main focus of this project. Denim has always meant strength and durability, and its roughness is linked to work and usefulness.

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Living Matter: Bio-Luxury for Future Materials

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

31. August 2025

Luxury has always been a contradiction. It’s admired for its craft and allure, yet criticised for its excess. Living Matter takes this tension and turns it into a question: what if luxury wasn’t about being rare or exclusive, but about being responsible and creative?

Indigo, a colour with a lot of history, is the main focus of this project. Denim has always meant strength and durability, and its roughness is linked to work and usefulness. In this case, indigo is used to provoke. Biomaterials like Indigo Fur, Indigo BioLeather, and Indigo Veil change the roughness of denim into something soft, light, and impossibly elegant. These materials are made to feel high-end, but they are also made to change, age, and eventually return to the earth.

The process uses marine biopolymers, plant fibres, and even charcoal waste, which are mixed with cotton and natural indigo dyes. The results are more than just surfaces; they are shaped by techniques like folding, pleating, and fur-crafting. They feel alive, with both a scientific and a craft-like touch. Every piece tells a story about what happens when old and new come together.

“By rethinking luxury as a nature-driven, craftsmanship-based concept, the project pioneers sustainable luxury.”
Shushanik Droshakiryan

What stands out is how beautiful these materials are without any shame. Sustainable design is too often shown in muted colours, as if restraint is the only way to show responsibility. Living Matter has a different point of view. Indigo here is strong and bright, with textures that are rich, sensory, and very appealing. It doesn’t agree that taking care of the planet means giving up style.

Luxury sets the tone for the wider industry, shaping what people desire and why they engage with fashion at all. Living Matter challenges this influence, urging a shift away from extraction toward stewardship redefining bio-based materials not as compromise, but as the ultimate expression of desirability.

Presented at the September 2025 edition of Munich Fabric Start’s Sustainable Innovations forum, the project will make its case in the right place thanks to the kind collaboration with OFFICINA +39 as supplier of RECYCROMTM RTD OCEAN dye as well as EU COTTON who provided the raw cotton used in this project. Pushing boundaries and spotlighting visions of fashion’s future, it has the potential to reframe bio-based materials not as substitutes or compromises, but as the new height of aspiration.

H2 | SI

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]]> BIOTEXFUTURE: How to Make Textiles from Fossils https://www.munique.blog/en/biotexfuture-how-to-make-textiles-from-fossils/ Sat, 30 Aug 2025 10:00:56 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=83152 BIOTEXFUTURE: How to Make Textiles from Fossils

The program is a group of businesses and universities working together to find scalable, bio-based alternatives.

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BIOTEXFUTURE: How to Make Textiles from Fossils

30. August 2025

One of fashion’s biggest contradictions is that it relies on fossil fuels. Polyester, nylon, and acrylic make up most of the world’s fibres, which means that most clothes today start out as crude oil. adidas and RWTH Aachen University are leading the German project BIOTEXFUTURE, which wants to end that dependence.

The program is a group of businesses and universities working together to find scalable, bio-based alternatives. It is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Part of the SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS forum at Munich Fabric start, three main projects will be featured:

  • CircWool: a process that uses a solvent to restore wool fibres without lowering their quality.
  • BioPETex: a bio-based polyester that works just as well as regular PET.
  • BioCushion: a type of spacer fabric that can be recycled and used in shoes and clothes. It is both strong and circular.

These projects are not meant to be one-time tests; they are meant to be useful in the real world. Adding them to the forum ties speculative design ideas to a long history of applied science. It reminds us that we need both creativity and infrastructure to make the switch to sustainable textiles.

BioCushion

BioPEtex

BioPEtex

BioPEtex

CircWool

BIOTEXFUTURE is holding the right vision to transform the textile value chain.”
adidas Future Team

The message is clear for fashion and textiles: greenwashing can’t hide the fact that we depend on oil. We need to change the way things are built, and bio-based fibres are a big part of that. The good news is that the technology is available, partnerships are forming, and interest is growing.

Petrochemistry has defined textiles for the last 100 years. But projects like BIOTEXFUTURE show that a new era is coming, one where performance, style, and scale are no longer tied to oil but to renewable innovation.

CircWool

CircWool

CircWool

Visit BIOTEXFUTURE H2 | SI

BIOTEXFUTURE
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]]> Wetlands Matters – by Marc Wijkmans https://www.munique.blog/en/wetlands-matter-the-studio-of-marc-wijkmans/ Fri, 29 Aug 2025 11:00:18 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=83109 Wetlands Matters – by Marc Wijkmans

Wijkman’s idea came from a simple but important observation: animals carry seeds across ecosystems in their fur.

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Wetlands Matters – by Marc Wijkmans

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

29. August 2025

In the Netherlands, where land and water are always at odds with each other, design often has to work with ecology. Marc Wijkmans Studio “Wetlands” takes this conversation into textiles, treating fabrics not as neutral surfaces but as active participants that can help landscapes grow.

Wijkman’s idea came from a simple but important observation: animals carry seeds across ecosystems in their fur. He made a fabric that purposely catches and spreads seeds by imitating this natural process. The material is made of wool, sodium alginate, and linseed oil, and it doesn’t have the smooth, perfect look of regular fabrics. Instead, its value comes from its flaws, how it can get stuck, carry things, and help the process of re-wilding continue. This approach goes against what people think about outdoor clothing.

“Seeds stick to fur. Building on this, I came up with the idea to give the material a fur-like surface.” 
Marc Wijkmans

Making the material

As most of us know, performance fabrics today are largely synthetic-engineered to be strong and water-resistant, yet infamous for shedding microplastics. Wetlands Matters challenges this conventional notion of “functionality.” Here, performance is redefined: not about keeping people dry, but about serving the ecological needs of a site.

Tested in the Hemelrijkse Waard nature reserve, the textile demonstrates that protection can be mutual – between wearer and landscape. From this emerges a clear lesson for the fashion and textile industries: materials must be rethought entirely. What if fabrics were designed to collaborate with their surroundings rather than resist them? What if impermanence and biodegradability were not flaws, but essential virtues for a sustainable future?

All in all, Wetlands Matters doesn’t say that it has a solution that is ready to sell. It works as a provocation instead: a reminder that the future of textiles may be less about how long they last and how well they work in the narrow sense and more about how they can help landscapes grow quietly and steadily.

H2 | SI

Repairing the material

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]]> Heliotex – Studio Pauline van Dongen https://www.munique.blog/en/heliotex-studio-pauline-van-dongen/ Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:00:39 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=83056 Heliotex – Studio Pauline van Dongen

Heliotex is basically a way to combine organic photovoltaics with lightweight, flexible fabrics. The result is sunshades and canopies that generate energy and look good at the same time.

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Heliotex – Studio Pauline van Dongen

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

28. August 2025

Textiles have always covered our bodies, but what if they could also power the things around us? Heliotex (formerly known as Suntex), from designer Pauline van Dongen, is a challenge to what people think fabric can do.

Heliotex is basically a way to combine organic photovoltaics with lightweight, flexible fabrics. The result is sunshades and canopies that generate energy and look good at the same time. These fabrics move, fold, and breathe with their surroundings, unlike rigid solar panels. They think of renewable energy not as something that needs to be hidden away, but as something that is beautiful, soft, and fits in perfectly with the rest of the world.

“We focus on outdoor applications like textile facades, festival tents, and shade structures… Of course, we also foresee indoor applications like curtains and sun shading.”
Pauline van Dongen

The fact that Simon Angel included the project in this season’s SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS forum puts it in a bigger story: textiles are no longer passive. They are tools for making big changes in the system. Heliotex shows how fabrics can go beyond traditional categories by working at the intersection of design, architecture, and energy. It is similar to Wetlands Matters and Plantfur.

The effects of van Dongen’s work on the fashion and textile industries will be huge. The textile industry can grow if textiles can collect energy. Sustainability stops being about doing less harm and starts being about giving more value, like comfort, beauty, and clean energy all at once.

The lesson is practical but lofty: sustainability should feel like a part of everyday life, not something that is added on. Heliotex shows that renewable energy can be touchable, welcoming, and even luxurious. This is a call for people who work in fashion and textiles to think of fabrics not just as things we wear, but also as the buildings we live in.

H2 | SI

PAULINE VAN DOGNEN

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]]> Atelier Dasha Tsapenko’s MYC_Couture https://www.munique.blog/en/atelier-dasha-tsapenkos-myc_couture/ Wed, 27 Aug 2025 11:00:55 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=83001 Atelier Dasha Tsapenko’s MYC_Couture

People have long praised couture for its ability to shock. But what if fashion didn't just shock people with its looks but also made them think about what it was made of?

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Atelier Dasha Tsapenko’s MYC_Couture

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

27. August 2025

People have long praised couture for its ability to shock. But what if fashion didn’t just shock people with its looks but also made them think about what it was made of? Atelier Dasha Tsapenko’s ongoing project, MYC_Couture, is based on that idea. Instead of making clothes, she grows them.

Tsapenko has made clothes out of fungi, hemp, and flax; living collaborations between the designer and the organism. The coats and gowns that came out of this unusual partnership are dramatic and sculptural. They look like couture fantasy, but their biology is what makes them new. The garments grow back, break down, and eventually go back to the earth. Tsapenko has introduced the new idea of “bioluxury”, which is a model that accepts change and that things don’t last, instead of fighting against change.

“Textures and materials are not produced; they grow.”
 Dasha Tsapenko

This vision is not a gimmick or a small test. MYC_Couture, understands that a shift in worldview from garments as static objects to garments as part of ecological cycles isn’t about keeping things the same, it’s about celebrating change, growth, and coming back.

No stranger to events like Dutch Design Week, Copenhagen Fashion Week, and now at Munich Fabric Start, you will find MYC_Couture housed in the SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS space. There she hopes to start a conversation about changing the way fashion and ecology are connected. Her lesson is both simple and radical: sustainability cannot be achieved by efficiency tweaks alone.

H2 | SI

ATELIER DASHA TSAPENKO

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]]> Plantfur – by Studio iFOCUS https://www.munique.blog/en/plantfur-by-studio-ifocus/ Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:00:50 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=83027 Plantfur – by Studio iFOCUS

Veentjer’s practice has turned her attention to cattails, a plant that grows well in waterlogged soils and has the potential to change both landscapes and textiles.

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Plantfur – by Studio iFocus 

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

26. August 2025

Peatlands, which are often called the “lungs of the earth,”, are delicate ecosystems that are under a lot of stress. These carbon-rich soils in the Netherlands are at risk of collapsing because of centuries of draining and intensive farming. When they do, they release emissions into the air. This environmental crisis is not only a call to fix things, for designer Iris Veentjer; it is also a chance to rethink the future of materials.

Veentjer’s practice has turned her attention to cattails, a plant that grows well in waterlogged soils and has the potential to change both landscapes and textiles. Plantfur, a surface material made from the cigar-shaped seed heads of the cattail, is the main focus of this research. These spikes are usually thrown away as agricultural waste, but they are collected before they spread too much and turned into panels that look like fur. Each cigar has its own size, so when they are put together, they make striated surfaces that are naturally beautiful. Not only is the material a more environmentally friendly alternative to animal fur and petroleum-based synthetics, but it also gives farmers a crop that helps reduce emissions.

“Harvesting cattail cigars earlier prevents their invasive spread and transforms waste into value.”

Iris Veentjer

The fact that SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS forum is featuring the project this season shows how important it is. Plantfur shows that sustainability can mean more than just doing less harm. Plantfur makes important points for the fashion and textile industries. What if wetlands were used to grow fur instead of factory farms? What if farming worked with climate resilience instead of against it?

Plantfur doesn’t just replace old materials; it makes a new way to use them based on ecological reciprocity. This is a very important lesson to learn. People won’t just judge the textiles of the future by how they feel on the skin; they’ll also judge them by how they work in ecosystems. Veentjer’s work shows that luxury and sustainability don’t have to be at odds with each other. They can be redefined together with materials that are both beautiful and good for the environment.

H2 | SI

STUDIO iFOCUS

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]]> ReSOURCE NEWS: KOMBINAT KONOPNY https://www.munique.blog/en/resource-news-kombinat-konopny/ Wed, 06 Aug 2025 08:00:52 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=82005 ReSOURCE NEWS: KOMBINAT KONOPNY

In a nutshell: hemp textiles are durable, hygienic, and breathable.

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RESOURCE NEWS FOR AUTUMN.WINTER 26/27

Meet KOMBINAT KONOPNY – Creations for the love of hemp

6. August 2025

The ReSOURCE area at MUNICH FABRIC START is the sourcing platform for environmentally friendly and responsibly produced textiles, clothing and accessories. Search, discover and procure – all in one place. Order sustainable materials online at any time at www.resource-textiles.com.

With around 500 samples, the area for innovative Fabrics and Additionals that are bio-certified, bio-based, recycled, recyclable or from regenerative sources has once again grown significantly compared to previous seasons.

What is KOMBINAT?

KOMBINAT is an idea. This idea is centered around a group of enthusiasts who have set themselves the crazy goal of bringing hemp materials back into the textile mainstream. Why? Because we believe in practical solutions, solid craftsmanship, and that in today’s world, it’s still possible to do things your own way, going against the current.

Hemp fiber has been out of circulation for a long time – in our opinion, far too long. We also believe that the world simply needs a healthy counterbalance to the omnipresent plastic, the flood of junk, and the fast-fashion movement, which, to put it mildly, is not our cup of tea.

Our philosophy is balance – we are aware that we will never be perfect, one hundred percent ecological, and satisfying absolutely everyone’s needs – we’re not tomato soup to fit everyone’s taste (if you don’t like tomato soup – substitute any other soup here) – we know that our activities won’t save the entire world, and that’s not our goal either.

A sustainable approach, balance without going to extremes is something that defines us well.

“If these values resonate with you – welcome aboard. We believe hemp is a great raw material and we want it to become a natural choice again. Just like it used to be.” – Maciej Kowalski

Why hemp?

Because it works. It’s strong and breathable. Clothes made from it have excellent thermoregulatory properties… or in human terms – they “breathe”.

Hemp is a fascinating plant – it’s not without reason that it’s colloquially called a “weed”; it doesn’t need pesticides, excellent soil, and conditions to grow several meters tall. From its fibers, you can create a material that doesn’t need to prove its value – that has been repeatedly tested in battle throughout our history, both literally and figuratively. Our products not only look good but also don’t wear out after one season. Our clothes are an investment, not a seasonal disposable.

Hemp fiber is a raw material that doesn’t require intensive chemical processing. It grows quickly, doesn’t deplete the soil, and provides us with a material that is naturally resistant to fungi and moisture. This natural fiber is also bacteriostatic – it doesn’t promote bacterial
growth.

In a nutshell: hemp textiles are durable, hygienic, and breathable.

VISIT KOMBINAT KONOPNY AT

H4 | R 02

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]]> The Power of Data: Understanding How Data Tackles Challenges in the Textile Industry https://www.munique.blog/en/texroad-the-power-of-data/ Fri, 31 Jan 2025 18:00:46 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=81952 The Power of Data: Understanding How Data Tackles Challenges in the Textile Industry

Data might feel intimidating for the fashion and textile industry, but it holds the power to unlock transparency, boost efficiency, and spark innovation...

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The Power of Data:

Understanding How Data Tackles Challenges in the Textile Industry

by Muchaneta ten Napel

31. January 2025

Data might feel intimidating for the fashion and textile industry, but it holds the power to unlock transparency, boost efficiency, and spark innovation. Traci Kinden, Director at TEXroad Foundation, shares her insights in an interview with Muchaneta ten Napel from Shape Innovate on how small, strategic steps and collaboration can transform data into a force for positive change.

Muchaneta: Let’s start with the big question: why does data seem so intimidating to people in the textile industry?
Traci: Data is such a small word with immense meaning, and everyone interprets it differently. If you don’t see yourself as a “numbers person,” it can feel overwhelming and even scary. A lot of the fear stems from misconceptions about what data is and how it can be used. But I’m determined to change that perspective and show that data can be accessible – and even exciting!

Muchaneta: That’s a great goal. Can you explain what TEXroad does with data to bridge these gaps?
Traci: At TEXroad, we work primarily in post-consumer textile flows. We partner with municipalities and their collection and sorting teams to gather data at every stage – collection, sorting, and processing. This data allows us to evaluate how systems are performing and measure the impact of changes over time. Additionally, we’re involved in EU-funded projects, like PESCO Up, where we develop minimum data requirements for textile recycling chains. Our goal is to make data a shared, standardized language that benefits the entire value chain.

Muchaneta: Speaking of EU-funded projects, what ensures the longevity of such initiatives after their official end?
Traci: EU-funded projects have defined start and end dates, but we strive to make their outcomes scalable and sustainable. For example, in PESCO Up, we’ve developed minimum data requirements for the recycling chain. These are shared across multiple projects to ensure consistency and long-term use. At TEXroad, we also focus on publishing non-sensitive datasets for open access, so the insights remain available to the industry even after the projects conclude.

Muchaneta: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in promoting data sharing and collaboration?
Traci: One major challenge is the lack of standardization in the industry. For instance, terms like “post-industrial waste” and “pre-consumer waste” are often used interchangeably, leading to confusion. Another hurdle is companies’ hesitancy to share data due to fears of exposing sensitive information. Building trust takes time – our sales cycles can span 12 to 24 months before concrete agreements are made.

Muchaneta: Do you think legislation could help push businesses to share and use data more effectively?
Traci: Legislation has potential, but it needs to be well-designed and adaptable to market realities. It’s crucial for businesses to align their data strategies with their priorities, whether it’s compliance with legislation or operational improvements. Taking small, strategic steps – like understanding what data you have and identifying gaps – can make navigating new policies manageable.

Muchaneta: Can you share a success story where data made a tangible impact?
Traci: Absolutely. I worked with a Dutch textile preprocessor that significantly reduced its material rejection rate – from 25–30% to under 5% – by using data to communicate clear expectations to suppliers. This kind of progress demonstrates how even small-scale data applications can lead to systemic improvements.

“At TEXroad, we aim to answer the “stupid” questions – like how much post-consumer textile waste exists – so businesses can focus on the smarter ones. By improving data quality and accessibility, we’re helping the industry take meaningful steps toward circularity and sustainability.” – Traci Kinden, TEXroad Director

Muchaneta: Transparency is a recurring theme. Why is it so important?
Traci: Transparency builds trust. For instance, many people hesitate to use textile collection bins because they don’t know where their clothing ends up. Data can illuminate these processes, giving people confidence in systems like extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. Transparency also enables companies to evaluate their impact and make informed decisions.

Muchaneta: What excites you most about the future of textile data?
Traci: The potential to transform the industry excites me. Better data can level the playing field for SMEs, drive innovation, and address global issues like waste mismanagement. The possibilities are endless if we can improve data quality, accessibility, and speed.

Muchaneta: Finally, what role does TEXroad play in this transformation?
Traci: At TEXroad, we aim to answer the “stupid” questions – like how much post-consumer textile waste exists – so businesses can focus on the smarter ones. By improving data quality and accessibility, we’re helping the industry take meaningful steps toward circularity and sustainability.

Follow along on TEXroad’s journey on data as a key for material use and lifecycle. Learn more on TEXroad’s mission here.

TEXroad
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]]> KEYHOUSE NEWS – FASERKREISLAUF https://www.munique.blog/en/keyhouse-news-faserkreislauf/ Tue, 07 Jan 2025 11:00:28 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=81188 KEYHOUSE NEWS – FASERKREISLAUF

At faserkreislauf, they have a clear vision – combining innovation and sustainability.

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KEYHOUSE – The Innovation Hub For Tomorrow’s Fashion

FASERKREISLAUF

7. January 2025

In the atmospheric industrial charm of KEYHOUSE, Hall 7, progressive suppliers and global players from cross-industry sectors will be showcasing their latest new developments and innovations. On over 1,000 square metres, you will find trend-setting future fabrics and new process technologies – be it in terms of sustainability, circular economy, digitalisation & AI, traceability, textile dyeing or finishing. Staged as an interactive think tank, future-oriented show cases will be in the spotlight alongside sustainable innovations.

KEYHOUSE is also home to the main lecture forum of MUNICH FABRIC START with exclusive keynotes, panel discussions, trend presentations, Q&A sessions & expert talks by international industry insiders. Be inspired by the wide range of events at KEYHOUSE.

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The Textile Revolution Begins Here – The faserkreislauf (fiber cycle) as the New Standard

The fashion industry is facing a major challenge: resource scarcity, increasing environmental impacts, growing amounts of waste, and new regulations. At faserkreislauf, they have a clear vision – combining innovation and sustainability. With their yarns and fabrics made from recycled old clothes, they are setting new benchmarks.

Recycled fibers – The new standard:
Their yarns and fabrics presented at the trade fair consist of 30% recycled fibers, sourced from discarded textiles such as old clothes and worn-out materials, all collected directly from Germany. Thanks to advanced recycling technologies, they transform these materials into high-quality fibers.

“At faserkreislauf, we have a clear vision – combining innovation and sustainability.”

What makes the fibres from faserkreislauf unique:

  • no water usage: Unlike virgin fiber production, no resources are wasted.
  • no land use: They rely on existing materials instead of cultivating new raw resources.
  • reduced CO₂ footprint: By producing regionally within the EU, they keep emissions as low as possible.
  • traceability: Their recycling process is transparent, and the fibre origin is 100% traceable.

Honest products for premium customers:
The yarns and fabrics they present are 100% made in the EU and meet the highest standards of quality and transparency.

Ready for the EU Green Deal:
Starting in 2025, textile manufacturers will be required to sustainably dispose of their products under extended producer responsibility. With their recycled products, they already offer a future-proof solution that meets the requirements of the EU Green Deal.

The right choice for every collection:
Their fabrics – from single jersey to sweat, french terry, and woven qualities – are highlights not only in texture but also in color. Whether classic shades or trendy tones like Pacific Petrol, Vanilla Yellow, or Port Red – they have the perfect selection for both basics and standout pieces.

Shaping the textile revolution together:
With their innovative approach, they are revolutionizing the textile cycle: turning old clothes into something new. Let’s work together to show how innovative solutions can work today.

Germany – H7 KH | K 21

FASERKREISLAUF

Visit the KEYHOUSE AT H7 and find the highlights for the upcoming season.

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]]> TEXroad: Putting the data in circular textiles https://www.munique.blog/en/texroad-putting-the-data-in-circular-textiles/ Sat, 04 Jan 2025 09:00:15 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=80988 TEXroad: Putting the data in circular textiles

The Data Hub tackles challenges in the post-consumer value chain such as a lack of transparency in textile flows, inconsistent data shared between partners, and inefficient reporting to the public sector.

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TEXroad: Putting the data in circular textiles

4. January 2025

What if data could be used as a common language to connect the public and private sectors and optimize the economics and carbon footprint of textile circulation? The Netherlands-based TEXroad Foundation is working on making this possible.

Their focus is on using data to improve textile management infrastructure, improve available data, statistics, and metrics for business and policy making and co-develop a network for B2G and B2B data exchanges.

TEXroad acts as a neutral party to network digital platforms and develop a flow of standardized data to match the flow of textiles through the reverse supply chain. This is used to produce statistics, metrics, best practices and reports that meet policy monitoring requirements, support impact assessments, highlight system inefficiencies and enable transparency.

TEXroad was founded by Traci Kinden, an innovator with over 10 years of experience in circular textiles.

“Good data helps companies in textiles and fashion be more efficient, identify new opportunities, and comply with regulations more easily. It should also be the basis for effective policy from the public sector. We’re not there yet, and everyone has a role to play in achieving good data.” – Traci Kinden, TEXroad Director

Credits: Humana Estonia 

Traci Kinden

TEXroad is currently developing a digital platform that aligns crucial textile data from different sources and makes it useful for public authorities, projects and circular value chains, due to go live in spring 2025.
Follow their Linkedin page for more information and updates on the launch.

“The Data Hub tackles challenges in the post-consumer value chain such as a lack of transparency in textile flows, inconsistent data shared between partners, and inefficient reporting to the public sector. It is currently being tested with municipalities and their textile partners and in projects addressing circular textiles, digitization, and data exchange,” Traci explains.

TEXroadLINKEDIN

On 22 January, Traci will debunk misconceptions about textile data and
share how industry actors can benefit from putting numbers into action.

Join the session moderated by Muchaneta ten Napel on the KEYHOUSE stage at 11:30 am.

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]]> Knit in Motion by Suzanne Oude Hengel https://www.munique.blog/en/sustainable-innovations-suzanne-oude-hengel/ Sat, 31 Aug 2024 08:00:42 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=79677 Knit in Motion by Suzanne Oude Hengel

Suzanne's goal: to push boundaries, experiment, and challenge the way things are done.

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Knit in Motion by Suzanne Oude Hengel

Loop Coloured Feet, Timberland Future 73, Spacers & Welded Loop

Explore these innovative projects at the Sustainable Innovations Forum in the Keyhouse in Hall 7

31. August 2024

Born from frustration about past experiences within the textile industry and its unwillingness to stray from the status quo, Suzanne Oude Hengel founded Knit in Motion (KiM). Her goal: to push boundaries, experiment, and challenge the way things are done. KiM breaks down traditional notions of knitting by questioning, examining, and rethinking the craft and its applications, going off the beaten track to explore new territory within textile design.

Suzanne’s graduation project (ArtEZ University of the Arts in Arnhem), “Loop Coloured Feet” (2015), explores the potential of using knitting as an alternative material in footwear. It represents a starting point for many ideas that she continues to investigate including rethinking production methods, reviving older techniques, and focusing on craftsmanship.

KNIT IN MOTIONINSTAGRAM

A tube and the shape of a sock were the starting point for “Santoni” (created at Santoni in Shanghai in 2016). Working with circular knitting machines allowed Suzanne to develop a different approach to thinking about shape.

“Working with circular knitting machines allowed Suzanne to develop a different approach to thinking about shape.”

For their 50th anniversary, Suzanne was among Timberland’s chosen collaborators for “Timberland Future 73”. Launched at Milan Design Week 2023, the collection opens with the brand’s classic styles and blends them with her world of unexpected colour and material choices, resulting in a reimagined vision for the brand as well as the application of knitted textiles.

“I believe that true innovation comes from a curious and iterative design process.”  – Suzanne Oude Hengel

SUZANNE OUDE HEGELINSTAGRAM

Suzanne’s ongoing research “Spacers” (since 2018) looks at the potential of using weft knitting technology to create spacers. Research includes experimenting with different materials, densities, and final applications. Projects like Timberland Future 73 draw from this body of research, illustrating completely different end-uses for this innovative knitted material.

With “Welded Loop”, Knit in Motion and Studio Joris de Groot collaboratively explore the innovative use of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) in shoe design by integrating knitting, welding, and 3D printing techniques. Inspired by the discovery of TPU at the Techtextil fair in Frankfurt, the project harnesses the material’s versatility and recyclability. By integrating knitting, welding, and 3D printing, “Welded Loop” not only seeks to innovate shoe design but also aims to inspire new applications and combinations of techniques in textile and material processing, paving the way for future advancements.

“Inspired by the discovery of TPU at the Techtextil fair in Frankfurt, the project harnesses the material’s versatility and recyclability.”

Explore KNIT IN MOTION BY SUZANNE OUDE HEGEL in the Sustainable Innovations Forum at KEYHOUSE in Hall 7!

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]]> Sustainable Innovations – Studio Joris de Groot https://www.munique.blog/en/sustainable-innovations-studio-joris-de-groot/ Fri, 30 Aug 2024 08:00:06 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=79616 Sustainable Innovations – Studio Joris de Groot

“The factory is my playground, searching for new possibilities with the tools I can find.”

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STUDIO JORIS DE GROOT

Explore these innovative projects at the Sustainable Innovations Forum in the Keyhouse in Hall 7

30. August 2024

Designer Joris de Groot often collaborates directly with factories, setting up his workplace within their grounds to get a deep understanding of their materials and innovate with their existing techniques. This allows him to blend traditional craftsmanship with industrial processes, resulting in unique and sustainable designs.

His project “2000N Pressed Shoe” (2018) emerged from his project “In4nite II” with Freudenberg, a company specializing in car interior materials. Joris explored the potential of Colback®, a material used in car upholstery, to create shoes. By understanding and experimenting with the molding process used in automotive interiors, he transformed Colback® into a fashion material. “2000N Pressed Shoe” is distinctive for its use of industrial techniques to create aesthetic details, showcasing the intricate patterns and textures that arise from this innovative process.

“By understanding and experimenting with the molding process used in automotive interiors, he transformed Colback® into a fashion material.”

STUDIO JORIS DE GROOT

“Recycled Raincoat” (2021) is another collaboration between Joris and Dolfing Druten. Together, they tackled the issue of cutting waste from rain jacket production. By researching the shapes of leftover fabric pieces, Joris developed patterns that could be welded together to form new raincoats. This approach not only minimizes waste but also transforms discarded materials into valuable products, highlighting his innovative use of existing resources to create sustainable fashion.

“This approach not only minimizes waste but also transforms discarded materials into valuable products, highlighting his innovative use of existing resources to create sustainable fashion.”

For “Weld Bag” (2013), Joris partnered with Dolfing Druten, a manufacturer of work clothes and rain gear, to develop a collection of bags. He repurposed high-frequency welding techniques typically used for creating waterbeds and rainwear to design unique bag handles and shapes.

“The factory is my playground, searching for new possibilities with the tools I can find.” – Joris de Groot

INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK

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]]> Sustainable Innovations – Studio Tjeerd Veenhoven https://www.munique.blog/en/sustainable-innovations-studio-tjeerd-veenhoven/ Thu, 29 Aug 2024 08:00:40 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=79647 Sustainable Innovations – Studio Tjeerd Veenhoven

Tjeerd’s “Mycelium 2D Printing” explores the potential of mycelium, a natural material obtained from mushrooms, which could be crucial for the transition towards more sustainable consumption.

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Mycelium 2D Printing & Oyster Mushroom Mycelium by Tjeerd Veenhoven

Explore these innovative projects at the Sustainable Innovations Forum in the Keyhouse in Hall 7

29. August 2024

Studio Tjeerd Veenhoven (STV) is dedicated to material research and value chain design with a focus on sustainability. Graduating from the Art Academy in Arnhem in 2000, Tjeerd transitioned from product design to exploring sustainable value chains. Over the past 15 years, he has collaborated with numerous partners to create innovative solutions that address complex social issues related to sustainability. He acknowledges the urgent need for sustainable practices, particularly within the fashion industry.

Tjeerd’s “Mycelium 2D Printing” explores the potential of mycelium, a natural material obtained from mushrooms, which could be crucial for the transition towards more sustainable consumption. STV began researching mycelium four years ago, focusing on controlled growth without specific applications. Recently, they developed a printer that places inoculated substrates to cultivate mycelium into white dots, forming a graphical mycelium print. This speculative research envisions replacing PVC banners at cultural festivals with mycelium-printed canvas, which can be reused and reprinted without chemicals.

Another significant lead is the development of sustainable textiles from oyster mushroom mycelium. For three years, STV has investigated the potential applications of oyster mushroom waste, creating textiles from thinly sliced mushroom bases. His research revealed the mycelium’s capacity for continued growth from the mushroom foot after harvest. By allowing the material to grow back together in controlled conditions, a unique textile-like material is produced.

“In our transition to a sustainable fashion value chain, we need wild ideas that shake up, that offer a fresh perspective on raw materials, manufacturing, design and use. Mycelium based textiles are one of the more speculative routes – but with great potential.”  – Tjeerd Veenhoven

STUDIO TJEERD VEENHOVENINSTAGRAM

THE PRINTING PROCESS – EXPERIENCE THE PRINTER LIVE AT KEYHOUSE

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]]> Sustainable Innovations – RietGoed by Iris Veentjer https://www.munique.blog/en/sustainable-innovations-rietgoed-by-iris-veentjer/ Wed, 28 Aug 2024 08:00:25 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=79679 Sustainable Innovations – RietGoed by Iris Veentjer

A type of plant that thrives in wet conditions are cattails, the cultivation of which is currently not profitable for farmers, which is why its fibres are typically used for low-value products like insulation.

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RIETGOED BY IRIS VEENTJER

Explore these innovative projects at the Sustainable Innovations Forum in the Keyhouse in Hall 7

28. August 2024

Designer Iris Veentjer, owner of Studio i Focus, is dedicated to innovative material research and experimental design to foster a regenerative world. Since 2018, she has created products raising awareness about environmental and social issues. The Netherlands faces significant soil subsidence and greenhouse gas emissions due to peatlands being drained for cattle grazing, which leads to plant decomposition and CO2 release. To address this, alternative agricultural methods like wetland cultivation are being explored.

A type of plant that thrives in wet conditions are cattails, the cultivation of which is currently not profitable for farmers, which is why its fibres are typically used for low-value products like insulation. Iris’s project, RietGoed, aims to develop high-quality textiles from cattails.

Iris developed a machine to mechanically extract fibers from cattails, allowing them to be processed like linen. This innovative approach can help reduce soil subsidence and emissions while creating a biocircular production process utilizing all parts of the plant.

With RietGoed, Iris aims to inspire broader adoption of sustainable practices and scale up textile production.

“Textiles made from cattails could potentially replace synthetic oil-based yarns. I aim to have the process from plant to fiber to product be fully biocircular. After multiple recyclings, textiles can return to the fields, contributing to peatland restoration,” she summarizes.

“RietGoed can be a solution to the nitrogen problem in peat meadow areas. By draining these areas, the soil sinks and nitrogen is released into the air. If we grow cattails on peat meadows in watery peat soil and make clothing from them, farmers will have the opportunity to earn money with this new crop.”  – Iris Veentjer

RIETGOEDINSTAGRAM

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]]> ReSOURCE NEWS: ARTISAN:RE https://www.munique.blog/en/resource-news-artisanre/ Tue, 27 Aug 2024 08:00:24 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=80123 ReSOURCE NEWS: ARTISAN:RE

At artisan:re, they are revolutionizing agriculture by championing the needs of farmers and artisans.

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RESOURCE NEWS FOR AUTUMN.WINTER 25/26

ARTISAN:RE

27. August 2024

The ReSOURCE area at MUNICH FABRIC START is the sourcing platform for environmentally friendly and responsibly produced textiles, clothing and accessories. Search, discover and procure – all in one place. Order sustainable materials online at any time at www.resource-textiles.com.

With around 700 samples, the area for innovative fabrics and additionals that are bio-certified, bio-based, recycled, recyclable or from regenerative sources has once again grown significantly compared to previous seasons.

Today, we are excited to introduce you to artisan:re, who connects cotton farmers with fair markets and focuses on a full approach of sustainability as they cultivate organic cotton and create yarns and fabrics that blend intricate textures with eco-conscious practices for responsible luxury.

At artisan:re, they are revolutionizing agriculture by championing the needs of farmers and artisans. Since 2021, they’ve been dedicated to addressing critical issues like soil degradation and water mismanagement among others through innovative and sustainable practices. Their work spans across regions of Vidarbha and Telangana, where they’ve empowered over 1,000 farmers with the help of regenerative farming techniques.

They are actively working to connect farmers with equitable markets, enabling them to earn a premium for their produce and fostering prosperity and sustainability within their communities.

Sustainability is at the heart of everything they do, seamlessly merging traditional farming with cutting-edge techniques. Their commitment extends to cultivating organic cotton, where each fiber is produced with utmost care and responsibility. Their yarns and fabric showcase this dedication, combining intricate textures with eco-conscious practices to create pieces of responsible luxury.

artisan:re specialises in all things cotton. They connect their 1,000 farmers to markets for both unprocessed and processed products, including seed cotton, cotton lint, and yarn. Currently, they grow NPOP certified organic cotton using regenerative practices with an average staple length 29 to 31mm and mic of 3.9 to 4.3 which is ideal for spinning into yarns and counts up to Ne 40s. They also offer NPOP certified naturally coloured cotton with average staple length of 23.7 mm to 26.5 mm and mic of 4.1.

“Their commitment extends to cultivating organic cotton, where each fiber is produced with utmost care and responsibility. Their yarns and fabric showcase this dedication, combining intricate textures with eco-conscious practices to create pieces of responsible luxury.”

As they spread to new regions and transition more farmers into growing organic cotton, they look to include rain-fed extra-long staple length cotton in their portfolio thereby decreasing dependency on ground water and be more sustainable.

Each strand of their yarn tells a story of artisanal craftsmanship and environmental stewardship. Join them in embracing a future where every creation reflects a commitment to comfort, elegance, and sustainability.

“artisan:re is revolutionizing agriculture by championing the needs of farmers and artisans.”

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]]> Sustainable Innovations – Ilse Kremer https://www.munique.blog/en/sustainable-innovations-ilse-kremer/ Mon, 26 Aug 2024 12:00:15 +0000 https://www.munique.blog/?p=79463 Sustainable Innovations – Ilse Kremer

Fungi use biochemical processes to produce pigments, meaning they have a different impact than fossil-based heat and extraction processes.

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FABULOUS FUNGI BY ILSE KREMER

Explore these innovative projects at the Sustainable Innovations Forum in the Keyhouse in Hall 7

26. August 2024

Due to the extensive use of harmful chemicals in the fashion industry, synthetic textile dyes are a significant threat to sustainability. They contribute to water pollution as dye residues enter factory wastewater and rivers and can even lead to serious health issues for people handling them. Additionally, synthetic dyeing processes require substantial use of water and energy. Ilse Kremer, the mastermind behind “Fabulous Fungi”, addresses these issues by utilizing fungi to create sustainable textile dyes. 

“Fabulous Fungi employs fungi in order to create sustainable and safe textile dye. Fungi use biochemical processes to produce pigments, making the impact different from fossil-based heat and extraction processes.”

This approach uses no harmful chemicals and requires much less water. The fungal pigments, which form the basis of these textile dyes, are biodegradable, ensuring that any remnants in wastewater do not pollute water sources. Furthermore, they are completely safe for both the workers handling them and consumers wearing the dyed garments, eliminating associated health risks.

Fungal dyes thus offer numerous advantages over synthetic dyes and other alternatives and present a promising solution to the environmental and health challenges posed by traditional textile dyeing methods.

“Fabulous Fungi employs fungi in order to create sustainable and safe textile dye. Fungi use biochemical processes to produce pigments, making the impact different from fossil-based heat and extraction processes.”

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