Three innovative ways to use leftover materials x Fashion United
Article by: FASHIONUNITED | Press Club
In the fashion world, there are constant developments in the field of materials, with designers seeking innovative and sustainable options. While many of these materials show promise, their adoption in the fashion industry depends on various factors, including availability, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and consumer acceptance. Nevertheless, the quest for new, sustainable materials remains a key focus within the fashion industry to contribute to a more environmentally friendly and responsible future. We highlight three examples of innovative companies applying materials and their potential in practice.
Using post-industrial materials in fashion
Martan is a circular fashion brand from Amsterdam that transforms waste from the luxury hotel industry into high-quality clothing. Their mission is to reform the fashion industry by showcasing the scalable transition to a circular economy. Martan is dedicated to upcycling materials into exciting and premium clothing, offering environmentally conscious alternatives that make the use of new materials unnecessary. Currently, they focus on upcycling bed and table linens from luxury hotels in Europe. The company will continue to work on incorporating other post-industrial materials into their portfolio. With this approach, they aim to inspire and empower individuals to make sustainable fashion choices, contributing to a future where the use of new materials in clothing is considered unacceptable.
Surprising applications of Dutch sheep wool
What can you do with 1 million kilograms of sheep wool that is considered waste and destined for burning? There is a company that has already processed and rescued 10,000 kilograms. The Hollands Wol Collectief (HWC) transforms Dutch sheep wool into valuable products. They process the wool into various semi-finished products such as Designvilt and Woolfill. Additionally, they conduct research into the unique qualities of Dutch wool. They also establish various collaborations to streamline the wool supply chain. Their mission is to give all Dutch wool a valuable purpose again, following the principles of the circular economy with fair compensation for everyone adding value. For example, using wool as a bio-based alternative to synthetic filling materials like Dakron or Fibrefill, for padding in jackets and other textile applications. They are eager to connect with other entrepreneurs and initiatives.
After processing the first 10,000 kg into various interior products, the Hollands Wol Collectief is now taking steps to scale up and establish a sorting center. This will allow them to better match different types of wool with potential applications.
Materials during and after the production process
We follow Sofie Rockland, who founded By Rockland in 2018 with the vision: ‘Creating fashionable and functional workwear designed by Dutch designers and responsibly produced in Europe using sustainable materials and practices.’
They seek and implement innovative materials that are not harmful to humans or the environment. Additionally, they reduce their ecological footprint by producing products as close to home as possible. All production takes place in Europe, with 15 percent in the Netherlands. They also outsource a portion of their production to social workshops to stimulate and support the local industry.
How does By Rockland apply this in practice? They want to understand what employees need in their uniforms and what challenges need to be addressed. The creative process always starts with a thorough inventory of the needs and minimal requirements of their customers. A dedicated team of experts works closely with customers to understand and translate their vision into functional designs.
The circle is complete: repairing and recycling materials. By Rockland designs and manufactures uniforms to last, but they acknowledge that work can be demanding on textiles. Therefore, they repair damaged garments wherever possible. Once the clothing is written off and no longer repairable, they take in the clothing to be fiberized, creating new yarns. They then make new items from the old clothing.
Circular Innovation Collective (CIC)
These startups are part of the Circular Innovation Collective (CIC) initiative, which aims to make the fashion and textile sector circular as quickly as possible and stimulate high-quality employment through innovative business models. CIC is a collaboration between three impact-driven organizations: Impact Hub Amsterdam, Metabolic, and Bankers Without Boundaries, made possible by the Municipality of Amsterdam, Stichting Doen, and the Goldschmeding Foundation.