JYVÄSKYLÄ, Finland — January 30, 2024 The ramp-up of Woodspin’s first factory is progressing. As announced in August, the raw material provider Suzano has been working on the eucalyptus-based micro fibrillated cellulose (MFC) raw material specifications, and now, recent tests have been successful.
“We are pleased that Suzano has passed some important milestones related to the MFC raw material development. Spinnova continues to finalize the fibre and textile material development work so that fibre deliveries from Woodspin to customers, made from Suzano MFC, can begin in the coming months,” explained Spinnova’s CEO Tuomas Oijala.
Spinnova and Suzano continue to work together to improve the efficiency of the production process, and the operating expense and capital expenditure usage of both Suzano’s raw material process and Spinnova’s process, so that Woodspin can move to commercial scale production in future plants.
As announced earlier, the production volumes of Woodspin’s first factory are expected to be limited in the short term as the factory is currently primarily being used for testing MFC batches and optimizing the entire production process. The market opportunity and ambition level with Suzano to scale Woodspin’s production capacity with future plants remains unchanged.
BRADFORD, England — January 30, 2024 — In celebration of its 140th anniversary, Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) has announced the launch of the Maurice Tordoff Bursary scheme to financially support organisations operating in the dyeing and finishing industry. Applications are now open to coloration professionals who wish to apply for funding through their employer.
The scheme — which will be available to companies globally — will provide 100-percent funded, discretionary bursaries to cover the £12,000 fees to eligible applicants in support of the SDC’s degree-comparable course in Textile Coloration Science and Technology. On completion those taking the course receive the ASDC qualification (Associateship of the Society of Dyers and Colourists) and globally recognized professional status recognition, Chartered Colourist (CCol) – an accreditation recognized all over the world and acts as a ‘stamp of approval’ that establishes graduates in the international community of dyers and colorists.
Established in 1992 in memory of the late Dr. Maurice Tordoff, former chief executive and general secretary of the SDC, the fund exists to provide financial support to students undertaking part-time education in color science and technology.
Up to three of the bursaries will be available each year from 2024-2026. Funding is available to employees within the coloration industry worldwide who are high achievers and performers, working in companies that are not able to fund employee education.
Andrew Filarowski
Andrew Filarowski, technical director of the SDC said: “The society is committed to supporting the coloration industry, especially in these challenging times. We feel that now is the time to plan for the future, and therefore we want to work with employers on upskilling their staff and supporting their future training needs.”
Filarowski continued: “The revised ASDC course, which was piloted in 2017, reflects the modern era that we live in and includes content on the latest technology and trends – allowing our students to progress and provide untold value to their employers.”
Applications will be considered by the SDC’s Bursary Committee, meeting once per year to review and discuss Maurice Tordoff Bursary applications and providing a final outcome decision by July 31 of the intended start year for prospective candidates.
Dr Graham Clayton
Commenting on the newly launched scheme, Dr. Graham Clayton, CEO of the SDC, said: “As the only organization in the world able to offer Chartered Colourist Status (CCol), we’re aware of our responsibility in assisting the sector to innovate and advance. The SDC is proud to be offering such a valuable education annually to three exceptional professionals in memory of Maurice Tordoff, particularly in our 140th year.”
Applications are now open to coloration professionals who wish to apply for funding through their employer, the deadline is 31 May 2024 for the October 2024 intake.
To find out more about the Maurice Tordoff bursary, eligibility criteria and how to apply, please visit https://sdc.org.uk/maurice-tordoff-asdc-bursary-fund/.
OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — January 30, 2024 — In the ever-evolving world of fashion, staying ahead of the curve and ensuring customers’ creations are unique and trendsetting can be a challenge. Fortunately, technology has come to the rescue, enabling designers to push the boundaries of their creativity. One such game-changing tool in the realm of knitwear is CREATE DESIGN by KM.ON and STOLL, a cutting-edge 2D software for knitwear development that provides data such as DXF shapes, textures and maps that can be used for simulation in any external 3D software.
Advantages of the creative process right from the start
The foundation for any knitwear development can be either the structure or the shape. CREATE DESIGN offers the unique flexibility to choose between the structure and the shape as your foundation, thereby allowing to tailor knitwear designs and explore a wide range of possibilities.
CREATE DESIGN goes beyond standard shape design, taking knitting parameters into consideration. It seamlessly converts centimeters into stitches (meshes), and these conversions are dynamically updated if you change your stitch density. This knitwear-centric approach allows for precise and realistic designs.
Nex generation stitch development
When it comes to Stitch Development, CREATE DESIGN takes the spotlight. The major benefit lies in the software’s ability to provide a real-time preview of how the knitwear structure will look. This allows the customer to see his design come to life as he creates it, ensuring that every stitch is in its right place. In addition to the structure preview in real time, there are other useful features.
Versatile Tools for Structure Creation
CREATE DESIGN offers a wide array of tools at disposal to create intricate and unique knitwear structures. Whether crafting delicate textures or complex patterns are in mind, the software provides the flexibility to explore various design elements, helping you unleash your creativity.
Transforming Images into Jacquard or Intarsia Designs
One of the standout advantages of CREATE DESIGN is the ability to import images and seamlessly transform them into captivating jacquard or intarsia designs. This feature enables you to infuse your knitwear creations with personalized images and patterns, setting your designs apart from the rest.
Stitch and Yarn Simulation
One other remarkable aspect of CREATE DESIGN is its ability to simulate stitches and yarn, enhancing the visualization of your designs. The software facilitates digital yarn creation based on optical parameters, giving you a realistic representation of how your design will look in the final product. Then the customer can export these simulations as textures or maps, making it easier than ever to integrate your designs into 3D software for a lifelike rendering.
Export into 3D
Creating your knitwear designs in CREATE DESIGN is just the beginning. The software enables you to seamlessly export your designs into popular 3D software programs, taking your creations to a whole new dimension.
By integrating your designs into the 3D realm, you can visualize your knitwear in a lifelike environment, bringing your vision to life with stunning realism.
The advantages at a glance
CREATE DESIGN isn’t just a software; it’s an innovative solution for the knitwear industry, and it comes with a multitude of benefits:
Save Time through Fast Digital Design Development: This software significantly speeds up the design development process, allowing the customer to create stunning knitwear designs with greater efficiency.
Reduction of Physical Samples: By providing detailed simulations and design previews, CREATE DESIGN helps the customer reduce the need for physical samples, saving costs, labor, and time.
More Sustainable: Less reliance on physical samples means less waste in production, making the design process more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Improved Communication: The software enhances communication between designers and technicians, ensuring that the designers’ visions are accurately translated into final products.
“CREATE DESIGN can offer a basis for communication with suppliers thanks to the ability to create designs digitally. It offers the possibility to create many variations of shapes, structures, yarns and colours through a realistic stitch simulation. In this way, the software can support the design process and minimize the number of physical samples,” says KM.ON Product Owner Sophie Neff.
Who Can Use the Software?
A large number of users can benefit from the comprehensive advantages offered by CREATE DESIGN.
Fashion Brands Using 3D Software: Fashion brands using 3D software can seamlessly integrate CREATE DESIGN into their workflow to enhance their knitwear offerings.
Self-Employed Knitwear and 3D Designers: Independent designers can leverage the software to unleash their creativity and bring their unique knitwear creations to life.
Knitwear Manufacturers with a Design Department: Manufacturers can streamline their design process, reduce costs, and produce high-quality knitwear with the help of CREATE DESIGN.
Universities with a Textile or Fashion Degree: Educational institutions can use CREATE DESIGN to train the next generation of fashion and textile designers, providing them with cutting-edge tools to excel in the industry.
In a rapidly changing world, embracing technology like CREATE DESIGN is essential for those who want to remain innovative and competitive in the knitwear market.
If you would like to find out more about CREATE DESIGN, you are welcome to request a free, non-binding demo via email at info@kmon.net.
PARIS — January 30, 2024 — TextileGenesis, a Lectra Group company, has announced the launch of two new consortia bringing together players in the footwear and leather industries. TextileGenesis, which has already developed a pioneering solution to ensure the traceability of textile materials, aims to extend its contribution to the emergence of more responsible and sustainable supply chains.
The footwear and leather industries need to improve the traceability of the materials they use.
Nowadays, the supply chains and production systems of the footwear and leather industries are globalized, fragmented and highly complex. They are increasingly facing regulatory and compliance challenges of establishing better traceability of the materials used.
As Amit Gautam, founder and CEO of TextileGenesis, explained: “The number of unique components required to make a single pair of shoes could range from 10 to 50+ parts while leather has an extremely fragmented and opaque upstream supply chain, this exposes these industries to major social and environmental risks. At a time when governments are tightening regulations on traceability and forcing brands to be more transparent, it is imperative that the players in the footwear and leather ecosystems unite to collectively meet these challenges”.
In the fashion sector, TextileGenesis has distinguished itself by giving manufacturers and brands using sustainable textiles access to a reliable, secure and totally digital traceability of the material. Its pioneering traceability mechanism relies on advanced digital-token based traceability technology, digitizing every kilogram of fiber at the point of origin, and a network of material certification partners, as recently illustrated by the launch of eTrackit in partnership with Textile Exchange, and announcement of a memorandum of understanding with the International Cotton Association (ICA).
The TextileGenesis SaaS platform ensures complete traceability of sustainable textiles, guaranteeing their authenticity and provenance at every stage of the supply chain, from fiber to retail. For conventional textiles, the platform also includes a new module that combines a declarative mode with tests on random samples carried out by certified forensic or tracer-testing organizations. The origin and quantities of materials used are identified by tracing the supply chain, from the finished product to the intermediaries involved in its production.
Building on the advances it has made in the fashion industry, the TextileGenesis team is now looking to broaden its scope to help the leather and footwear industries meet the traceability challenges of these two key sectors of the fashion industry.
Greater transparency in the footwear and leather ecosystems
The common objective of the two consortia initiated by TextileGenesis is to encourage the sharing of the information needed to improve the tracking of materials throughout the supply chains of the footwear and leather ecosystems, guaranteeing ethical and sustainable practices. By tracing every component of footwear and leather production, these industries can drive positive change and strengthen the confidence of their consumers and all their stakeholders.
The collaboration of the different stakeholders around a shared traceability platform paves the way for a future where consumers can make informed decisions, where brands can deliver on their commitments, and where both industries can thrive in the long term.
Textile Genesis has brought together a number of key players from fiber producers, material standard organizations, and industry associations such as Lenzing, Coats, Fashion for Food, and the Forest Stewardship Council®. The consortium works in close collaboration with seven leading global fashion brands.
“While, to date, the traceability of the leather value chain remains a complex challenge for the fashion industry, it is essential to ensure that the leather originates from sources free of deforestation. Additionally, with this set to be addressed by the upcoming EUDR legislation, TextileGenesis’ initiative to unite various actors in the supply chain to tackle these complexities comes at an opportune time.” says Katrin Ley, Managing Director, Fashion for Good.
Amit Gautam concludes: “We hope that these initiatives will lead to significant advances in the footwear and leather industries. We are determined to promote greater traceability in the apparel sector and are delighted to be able to contribute, with the creation of these consortiums, to the collective work of all the players in order to move together towards more sustainable production methods”.
ISTANBUL — January 30, 2024 — Speaking at the summit where Turkish apparel manufacturers and global brands and purchasing groups came together, TIM and IHKIB President Mustafa Gültepe said: “The path of 40 billion dollars of exports in apparel passes through European and US markets.”
Mustafa Gültepe
Reminding that Türkiye exports 60 percent of its total apparel to EU countries, Gültepe added: “When we add other European countries and the U.S., the ratio approaches 75 percent. While working on alternatives for the $40 billion in exports, we need to focus more on the European and U.S. markets.
The fashion industry, which has strategic importance for the Turkish economy with its value- added production, employment, and exports, came together with representatives of global brands and Laison offices at the ‘Green transformation’ summit. At the meeting hosted by the Istanbul Apparel Exporters’ Association (IHKIB), the studies carried out in the process of adaptation to the Green Deal were put under the spotlight, and the expectations of the Turkish fashion industry from the stakeholders were also expressed.
The opening of the meeting, attended by representatives of relevant ministries and foreign representations, national and international fund providers, as well as brands and buying groups were brought together, was made by Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TIM) and IHKIB President Mustafa Gültepe. In his speech, Gültepe underlined that Türkiye is a global player in apparel. Reminding that Türkiye realizes approximately 3.5 percent of world apparel exports, Gültepe continued as follows:
“As IHKIB, we aim to increase our current annual exports, which are around $20 billion, to $40 billion. The road to the goal goes through Europe and America because the European Union is our largest market in apparel. We export 60 percent of our total apparel exports to EU countries.
When we add other European countries and the USA, the ratio approaches 75 percent. While working on alternatives for the $40 billion in exports, we need to focus more on the European and U.S. markets because, as the data shows, the path to $40 billion in apparel exports goes through Europe and the U.S. We already have long-standing collaborations with brands centered in Europe and America. With our knowledge, speed, production quality, design power, and geographical proximity to Europe, we distinguish ourselves from competitors. We took a very important step in the transformation process exactly one year ago. “We shared our action plan, which is a road map for our fashion industry’s compliance with the Green Deal, with the public on January 30, 2023.”
Global Brands Should Not Only Focus On Pricing In The Matter
Stating that they have moved to the implementation phase in 13 of the 40 actions determined in the road map, Gültepe stated that there is still a long way to go and much work to be done. Gültepe concluded his words as follows:
“Türkiye is one of the two countries where all components from fiber to the final product are completed in the supply chain. Also, we differentiate ourselves from competitors with our design power, production quality, proximity to target markets, and strong supplier infrastructure. We know that we need to add sustainability to our existing advantages. We believe that we can turn the Green Transformation process into an opportunity with the ‘partnership chain approach.’ We want to be an indispensable part of the ‘partnership chain’ rather than just being a link in the supply chain. This is where the criteria of ‘compliance’, ‘competitiveness’ and ‘sustainability’ come to the fore. We need to be complied and appropriate in environmental, social and managerial terms, competitive in terms of price performance, and complete sustainability compliance. Of course, quality has a value and value has a cost. For this reason, we think that the global brands we have been working with for years should not only look at the matter from a price-focused perspective. Just like in production, we should be able to base our collaborations on a sustainable ground.”
Mustafa Gültepe and Euratex Director General Dirk Vantyghem
After Mustafa Gültepe’s opening speech, Euratex Director General Dirk Vantyghem, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Trade Bahar Güçlü, and Deputy Secretary General of ITKIB Özlem Güneş made presentations regarding the ongoing efforts in the Green Deal process.
Dirk Vantyghem, in his presentation, discussed the sustainability strategy of the textile and apparel industry and the expectations from the EU administration, while Bahar Güçlü provided information about the reflections of legal regulations related to the Green Deal on Türkiye.
Deputy Secretary General of ITKIB Özlem Güneş emphasized the significant opportunity that the Green Deal represents for the Turkish apparel industry, providing comprehensive insights into the efforts conducted by IHKIB regarding the Green Deal adaptation process.
Posted: January 30, 2024
Source: IHKIB — The Istanbul Apparel Exporters’ Association
BIELLA, Italy — January 30, 2024 — Filo is taking part in Milano Unica (Rho Fiera Milan) from January the 30th to February the 1st, by showing the sustainable yarns of the FiloFlow project. The area dedicated to Filo is located in Hall 8, within the MU+ area.
Sustainability represents one of the fundamental aspects of the synergy existing between Filo and Milano Unica: for this reason, for some years, Filo has chosen to exhibit on this occasion just the yarns produced by those companies participating in FiloFlow, the sustainability project which is now including most of Filo’s exhibitors. On the other hand, concerning style and creativity, Filo is participating in the 38th edition of Milano Unica through the video entitled “Alchemies”, with the suggestions from the “Creative Dialogues” carried out by Gianni Bologna for the 60th Filo edition.
Paolo Monfermoso, responsible for Filo, said: “As an expression of a well-established synergy, the participation of Filo in Milano Unica is highly appreciated by the professionals working in textile industry, since it allows highlighting the power and the consistency of textile supply chain. We are linked to Milano Unica, first of all, by the proceeding of the supply chain, with Filo’s exhibitors which are increasingly providing materials to produce fabrics and accessories proposed at Milano Unica. However, we also share the choice to bring forward a concrete approach to the complex challenges that companies in the textile sector have to face: from digitalisation to training, up to frontiers that we would never have imagined a few years ago, as artificial intelligence and the prospects it can open up in our industry.
In particular, the cooperation between Filo and Milano Unica is laid on some issues which reflect the real interests of the companies: sustainable production, enhancement of sustainable creativity, products’ traceability, circularity and continuous research combining tradition and innovation. Filo is renewing its commitment on these concepts, in the belief that just a whole and cohesive supply chain can produce high-quality products, achieved by protecting both people and environment, in favour of competitiveness of our industry and of end-users”.
Filo awaits you at Milano Unica from January the 30th to February the 1st at Rho Fiera Milan, in Hall 8: you will find on display FiloFlow yarns and the video “Alchemies” showing Filo’s creative proposals.
PARIS — January 30, 2024 — In the context of new climate challenges, consumer expectations and regulations on ecodesign, European Flax-Linen is leveraging the sustainable transition in fashion and lifestyle.
The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp is focusing its development on a strong ambition: turning European Flax-Linen and Hemp into the premium sustainable fibres of choice around the world, a strategy focused on three jointly agreed upon main areas:
Expanding the Flax-Linen and Hemp ecosystem
Becoming an innovative and sustainable international reference point
Ensuring quality and embodying desirability
The Alliance Is Strengthening Its Positions In Italy
A champion of social and environmental causes, The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp, the only agro-industrial organisation for European Flax™ and/or Masters of Linen™ certified European Flax-Linen and Hemp, also plans to:
Develop a B2B and B2C promotional strategy for European Flax-Linen in Italy in order to increase its visibility with the textile industry, brands and end consumers.
Become a reference point on European Flax-Linen when it comes to the economy, innovation, CSR, and regional promotion.
The Alliance’s New Representative in Italy: Guisy Bettoni – C.L.A.S.S
Giusy Bettoni
Based in Milan, Giusy Bettoni assumed her official duties of representing The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp in Italy in early January 2024. An expert on textile value chains, Giusy Bettoni has in-depth knowledge of raw materials and also specializes in CSR.
In 2007, she founded C.L.A.S.S (Creativity Lifestyle and Sustainable Synergy), an international eco-hub based in Milan that is promoting a new generation of fashion where a blend of design, innovation, communication, and responsibility are promoting more informed and competitive businesses capable of playing both an economic and social role. C.L.A.S.S supports the whole supply chain to trigger CHANGE in the system while activating VALUES that speak clearly to contemporary consumers. Thanks to her international network in the textile and fashion ecosystem, Giusy Bettoni is working together with designers and brands to support them in their sustainable development strategy.
Initially, the Alliance’s mission will be to meet all Italian players in the Flax-Linen industry to obtain all the necessary resources for creating an action plan for the Italian market with the Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp and its members.
Ornella Bignami – Elementi Moda, the Alliance’s loyal partner in Italy, is now the training contact person for various textile, fashion, design, and lifestyle learning centres in Italy.
The Alliance has always spearheaded efforts to transfer knowledge about European Flax-Linen and textile Hemp to young people in order to create a virtuous dynamic in the industry. There is strong demand among fashion, architecture and design schools for teaching new generations about the advantages of Flax-Linen, a plant fibre of the future.
Giusy Bettoni is now the main contact point for the Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp in Italy.
BRISTOL, Va. — January 30, 2024 — Universal Fibers® announced today that Thrive® matter nylon 6 fiber has achieved a C2C Certified Material Health Certificate™ at Silver and Gold levels, as verified by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. This is the first such certificate to be issued to any fiber under the Institute’s rigorous new Version 4 standard. Across all industries and categories only 74 products have received Version 4 certification to date.
As described in the Cradle to Cradle Certified® (C2C Certified®) Product Standard Version 4.0, Material Health certification indicates that “Chemicals and materials used in the product are selected to prioritize the protection of human health and the environment, generating a positive impact on the quality of materials available for future use and cycling.”
To meet these levels of certification, 100 percent of the materials that comprise Thrive matter nylon 6 fiber have been assessed and found to be optimized for material health both in terms of optimal substances it does contain, undesirable substances it does not contain, and its emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This assessment also serve as the foundation for a material health optimization strategy to further improve material health over time.
Anna Plumb, vice president of Universal Fibers sales and marketing for Europe celebrates “Now our customers who select Thrive® matter nylon 6 can proceed with assurance that their products can in turn pursue C2C Certified certification. And they can be proud to have made the best environmental impact possible in their choice of fiber.”
The C2C Certified Material Health Certificate™ offers a solution to growing industry and consumer interest in knowing more about the chemicals used in products across their supply chains and avoiding chemicals of concern. By using the rigorous, globally recognized material health assessment methodology of the C2C Certified Product Standard, the Material Health Certificate provides manufacturers with a trusted means of assessing, optimizing, and verifying their product chemistries for safety and the environment. The material health evaluation of Thrive® matter was executed by third-party C2C accredited assessor WAP Sustainability.
“We enthusiastically embrace the C2C Certified standard,” said M. Ranae Anderson, Global Sustainability Leader for Universal Fibers. “It is another of the many ways we work to hold ourselves accountable for the impact our fibers have both upstream—influencing the supply chains that feed us—and downstream through our customers’ products that help people thrive.”
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Universal Fibers on their first C2C Certified Material Health Certificate for Thrive matter,” said William Paddock, co-founder & managing director of WAP Sustainability. “We know how many of Universal Fibers’ customers are committed to C2C, and by obtaining a Material Health Certificate, they are communicating their commitment to transparency and extending industry leadership in Cradle to Cradle Design™.”
WAKE FOREST, N.C. — January 29, 2024 — SEAMS has announced the new membership election for the Board of Directors 2024 calendar year today.
“While the demand for “Made in America” products continues to increase, so do the challenges we face. The SEAMS 2024 Board of Directors looks to continue its support of our members by being the biggest advocate and voice for the domestic sewn products industry”, stated Britt Moore, SEAMS president. “Our driven and talented board spans all facets of the supply chain throughout the US Market and has had the honor of being led by Ron Roach for the past two years. His insightful leadership and forward thinking have been invaluable during this time, and I would like to thank him for all his devotion and support. We look forward to advancing SEAMS in 2024 as we work to grow our membership and expand on several industry-focused events and hosting our two SEAMS conferences for 2024.”
We thank our Board for all that was accomplished in 2023 and look forward to another successful year. We are honored to announce the 2024 Board of Directors – welcoming those that are new to the board (designated by*) as follows:
Executive Committee:
Britt Moore, Minnesota Knitting Mills, SEAMS President
The Kelsun T-Shirt was brought to life by climate activist and environmental educator Aditi Mayer.
MORRISVILLE, N.C. — January 29, 2024 — Today, Keel Labs announced the debut of the Kelsun T-Shirt — a sample developed in collaboration with Aditi Mayer — made from Kelsun™ fiber, the company’s flagship product made from seaweed. Created to demonstrate Kelsun’s plug-and-play potential in replacing conventional fibers used in the textile industry, this T-Shirt marks the first Kelsun garment made using industry-standard knitting machines. The Kelsun T-Shirt was created using a 70-percent Kelsun, 30-percent cotton blended yarn, showcasing Kelsun’s simple familiarity in a jersey knit — one of the most fundamental knit constructions. The Kelsun T-Shirt also features a screen print using Living Ink™’s Algae Ink, printing Keel Labs’ signature brand element, the Spun K, on the T-Shirt’s pocket.
The Kelsun T-Shirt was brought to life by climate activist and environmental educator Aditi Mayer. As a sustainable fashion thought leader, Aditi unpacks the relationships between fashion and the social threads that connect us to our clothing.
“With a brand’s material choices alone being responsible for over half its total emissions, there’s a dire need for the industry to revisit its chosen fibers. As someone who has long challenged the presence of fossil fuels in fashion and has opted for nature-based solutions instead, Kelsun’s ability to create an option that integrates a renewable source, addresses fashion’s plastics problem, while also eliminating pesticide use and agricultural land use is incredibly promising,” said Aditi Mayer.
“This launch is about so much more than creating a T-Shirt — it’s our mission come-to-life, offering the industry a product that can be produced at scale,” said Keel Labs Co-Founder and COO Aleks Gosiewski. “In partnership with Aditi Mayer, we’re demonstrating to the fashion industry and consumers alike that next-gen material solutions are here, and they’re able to be implemented in brands’ and their partners’ supply chains today.”
In an industry that produces 21 billion tons of textile waste annually, Kelsun functions as an alternative to conventional, resource-intensive materials, like cotton, that fashion and textiles has long relied on. Kelsun is able to reduce water usage by 70X and land use by 100% when compared to cotton by utilizing seaweed, one of the world’s most regenerative and renewable organisms. By translating the abundant seaweed supply chain into fiber production on industry-standard equipment, Kelsun is a drop-in solution for textile supply chains that delivers positive impacts to an industry in urgent need of mitigating its environmental impact.
Keel Labs functions as a platform for innovation, working to create new applications for Kelsun in apparel and accessories, as well as new product categories like automotive, home goods, furnishings, and interiors. The company’s work is predicated on creating an accessible and utilitarian product with Kelsun: a widely applicable fiber that looks, feels, and performs like the materials the world knows, while taking the guesswork out of sustainably-created textiles.
“The Kelsun T-Shirt is fashion’s latest proof point that biomaterials are ready to revolutionize the industry at large. We are excited to debut our first in-house garment created using Kelsun, with the Kelsun T-Shirt serving as the start of global product and brand launches to come,” said Keel Labs’ Co-Founder and CEO Tessa Callaghan.
JYVÄSKYLÄ, Finland — January 30, 2024 The ramp-up of Woodspin’s first factory is progressing. As announced in August, the raw material provider Suzano has been working on the eucalyptus-based micro fibrillated cellulose (MFC) raw material specifications, and now, recent tests have been successful.
