As the fashion industry evolves, becoming an ethical and sustainable brand is rising in priority. Innovation in sustainable materials is one of the ways brands can choose to be more sustainable, and we couldn't be more excited. These innovative sustainable textiles are either created using natural materials or with science. These new materials can help your brand increase in sustainability. Here's a few you may not have discovered yet. Qmonos
Qmonos is a synthetic fiber that was created to reduce animal exploitation and is 100% biodegradable. It's not treated with heavy chemicals and uses less natural resources than an animal produced material. It's a vegan material that was made to imitate spider silk, which means no spiders were farmed or killed in the process of making this material. Not only is this fiber biodegradable but it is also incredibly strong. According to Heal Label, Qmonos is also very lightweight and more flexible than nylon. Mylo Mylo is a bio-based material, made mostly by things we see in nature. It was made by using mycelium, which is a connective tissue in soil that provides nutrients to plants and trees, and is an awesome sustainable alternative to leather. According to Bolt Threads, the creator of the material , they use less hazardous chemistry. They also work to reduce life cycle impacts due to its use of natural materials. They also focus on requiring strict ethical labor and production practices. Brands like lulu lemon, Stella McCartney and Adidas have partnered up with Bolt Threads on the innovation of Mylo. Algae-Based Foam Algae is that slimy green foam we usually push out of the way while taking a dip in the ocean. It's made with harmful algae that is polluting our oceans and turned into a flexible and durable foam based material. Some brands have already started using algae to make eco-conscious textiles. BloomFOAM is making footwear that will help preserve our environment by manufacturing soles out of algae biomass. Koba Faux Fur Another innovation in sustainable textiles that is using our environment is Koba faux fur, a fabric made from kelp seaweed. It’s a sustainable alternative to help weed out nylon and polyester as much as possible. As more Vegan clothing companies move towards cruelty-free fashion they are turning to this fabric to manufacture their apparel. Squid's in Scientists at Pennsylvania State University have discovered that a protein in squid ring teeth, suckers and tentacles, can be developed and engineered in a lab to be of wider use. Coating a fiber in the protein makes makes for a much more durable fabric once it's developed. Not only could it be used to create garments that are recyclable, biodegradable, and last longer, this protein also has self-healing properties. As a sustainable brand, materials can be one of the most sustainable aspects in your production These newly developed materials are changing the way we see sustainable textiles. Innovation is key in the fashion industry and the progress we're making today, is only going to push us further into new and improved ways of sustainability. If you're looking for deadstock fabric resources, you can join our free Deadstock Fabric facebook group. If you need a guide to sustainable sourcing, check out our resource list with 40 sustainable textiles mills and 10 sustainable packaging and deadstock marketplaces. Comments are closed.
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