A Material Revolution: The Lowdown

The Materials revolution is a name coined for the new era of sustainability surrounding textiles and the fashion industry as a whole. It is the move to materials that are more sustainable and biodegradable. The more this era comes to life and can be produced on a mass scale, the more we and the earth will reap the benefits. This form of science isn't new either! We are going back to our prehistoric roots and using ingredients from our natural world. Here is a breakdown of *some* of the materials making some serious moves.

Nettle denim by Pangaia

Mushroom leather has gained traction recently with Adidas and Stella McCartney leading the way. Mycelium cells are grown into a network using renewable, organic matter which can be processed and dyed. This has been happening naturally for billions of years under forest floors and can be replicated on a larger scale now due to new technologies.

Biofabricated leather also uses cells to create sheets of collagen, a protein found in animal leather, and growing this with a type of yeast. This can be tanned and dyed and used as a 100% natural alternative to animal leather. The process is still in its early stages but it won't be long before ‘Zoa’, the name given to this new leather, is released commercially.

Pangaia is a trailblazer for sustainability on a global scale. Working to develop new materials, nettle fibres are the base of their take on denim. Weaving nettle fibres and organic cotton together create the perfect recipe for a denim alternative. Nettles do not need chemicals to grow and do so very quickly, limiting water and energy usage. Pangaia claims that nettle fibres are extremely durable and will last longer than other denim jeans. So when your children's children's children are done with them they can be recycled into new materials.

Mushroom leather bag by Stella McCartney

Circulose is a recycled material using cotton from discarded clothes which is first turned into wood pulp before being made into a type of viscose. Levi’s and H&M have been at the forefront of this new technology with Levi’s releasing the iconic 501s in the material at the beginning of this year.

A sustainable alternative to synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon comes in the form of Kintra. Created using sugar from corn and wheat, the new textile degrades in wastewater facilities meaning it doesn't create plastic pollution in the ocean in the form of microfibers like their plastic-based counterparts would.

There are so many new and exciting innovations to explore and this materials revolution is only just getting started. Keeping updated and being in the know about these developments is one way to promote and spread the word.

All love & Happy Halloween ;)

Poppy xo