It has long been clear: A consumption brake in the fashion industry is necessary, but the system also has to change. Because even if less is bought, there is still the problem with the materials. What to do with polyester sweaters, if they can only be broken down very slowly and laboriously? There are many new innovations and ideas that replace conventional materials, such as Leather, Cashmere or cotton can be replaced. Unfortunately, so-called next-generation materials are hardly represented in the broad fashion market, even though they are already starting to replace well-known textiles.
Next Generation Materials: The Gen Z of Fashion
Environmentally conscious, fair and individual is how you could describe Generation Z. However, these adjectives also apply to Next Gen materials. Both have more in common than you might think at first glance. After all, one is about a population group, while the other is about textiles. For both, one thing is particularly important: Climate & Environment and planetary awareness, as well as sustainability. So-called next-generation materials are environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional materials.
Piñatex, Orange Fiber, fabric made from biomass, such as that from Keel Labs, is one of the next-gen materials. It is characterized by the fact that it can be produced from renewable, non-toxic resources. These textiles are usually animal free and possess through their innovative manufacturing a small ecological footprint. According to the report “Finding the Future: Series Fashion” by Kantar The trend towards next-generation materials is largely driven by Gen Z.
Just as Gen Z has the confidence to stop climate change, the fashion industry is pinning its hopes on large-scale change through scaling of next-generation materials. A report now finally explains why the widespread use of sustainable textiles is not yet fully underway.
Source & Copyright by Orange Fiber
New report shows what it takes to fully scale next-gen materials
Sustainabelle Advisory Service, known for sustainable business consulting, publishes a new report on Next Gen Materials in the fashion industry with the support of the Kering Group and the Laudres Foundation.Next Gen to This Gen: Scaling Material Innovations in the Fashion Sector” explains where sustainable and innovative textiles at this point in time.
A total of 157 surveys were conducted for the research and 62 interviews were conducted with investors, industry experts and brands. All of the data collected is used to produce a report that shows how next-gen materials can be made accessible to the general public. It shows why sustainable materials are the future of fashion. It also analyzes what is currently missing in the application of next-gen materials in the broader fashion landscape. A roadmap is also created to help bring about change.
Source & Copyright by “Next Gen to This Gen: Scaling Material Innovations in the Fashion Sector” report
Between innovation and risk: Why the scaling of next-gen materials is currently failing
No matter how innovative Next Gen materials are, they have not yet made it into the fashion industry. According to Sustainabelles Report This is mainly because the next-gen materials industry is growing rapidly. Investors, brands and suppliers cannot decide; there is an oversaturation of supply, which causes a kind of decision paralysis.
Price, performance and implementation are part of the problem, say respondents. Sustainable textiles are considered expensive because they are produced under ethical and environmentally friendly conditions. After all, cheaper, environmentally harmful materials are exploited and pollution of our planet not included in the price. Therefore, it is a problem that fast fashion is usually much cheaper to buy than sustainable products. They still have to fight hard to gain their market value and be recognized by consumers.
The fashion industry is very stuck and, in order to establish next-gen materials, production and supply chains be redesigned and adapted. This can mean high risks for investors if the selected material does not prevail on the market.
Next Gen Materials as the Key to Sustainable Change in the Fashion Industry
And yet there is the certainty that next-gen materials can and, above all, must prevail. For this reason, “From Next Gen to This Gen” analyzes why the future of textiles lies in sustainable and innovative fabrics. Four primary motivations are defined that will influence change in the fashion industry.
1. Goals to minimize environmental impact will lead to the use of new textiles.
2. The fashion industry will be faced with a mass of regulations, which are already being felt today. In order to tackle these and, for example, to achieve CO2 emission targets, conventional textiles will lose popularity within the industry.
3. Consumer purchasing power is changing towards more conscious consumption and more environmentally friendly materials. This priority will continue to grow in the coming years.
4. Companies that want to survive in the market in the long term will have to focus on sustainable practices and the previous approach of aiming for profit maximization will no longer work.
So how do we make next-generation materials accessible across the industry?
Brands and suppliers were asked how to use Next Gen Materials most easily and successfully. scale Above all, they agreed on this point: offtake agreements are necessary to ensure success. Together with a strong marketing campaign and financial investors behind the project, as well as good business prospects for innovative materials. All of these aspects would be needed to effectively use next-generation textiles and ensure their long-term use in fashion production.
The roadmap provided by the report also shows how important the right partnerships are. Together we are stronger than alone and that is why Sustainabelle and Kering define the best way to go is a triangular relationship between investors, brands and suppliers. This way, financing and risk are shared equally. The best example of this is: Fashion for Good. The organisation also focuses its work on linking the three actors in order to reduce barriers in the fashion industry and at the same time Solutions to find them. Fashion for Goods' "Strategic Supplier Initiative" binds suppliers and brands to an active scaling of innovative textiles.
The report states that it is better to scale up many next-generation materials by one investor, brand or supplier rather than putting all hope in one product. This is the only way to determine whether alternatives can prevail on the market and whether their nature actually makes them a green and good alternative to conventional textiles.
Source & Copyright by “Next Gen to This Gen: Scaling Material Innovations in the Fashion Sector” report
Conclusion: Next Gen Materials must become "This Gen Textiles"
Sustainabelle, Kering and the Laudres Foundation offer the fashion industry exactly what it needs now to make manufacturing, supply chains and products more sustainable: answers to complex questions and solutions. Within the 154 pages, problems are analyzed and dealt with realistically. Even if this report is a step in the right direction, fashion companies, investors and brands must now show the will to use next-gen materials in their textiles. Ultimately, the name of the report reflects exactly the core of the problem: next-generation materials must become today's textiles.
