Interview

Worn-out jeans, old woollen sweaters, polyester textile waste and recycled linen is what Goor-based Blue Loop Originals uses to craft a high-quality second life for discarded clothing. With the mission “Worn to Reborn”, its Dutch Founder Ron van de Wiel started Blue Loop in 2013 when he realised that 640 million pairs of jeans are discarded annually in Europe. Texfash talks to the man to know more.

Pili has a mission—it produces decarbonised alternatives based on renewable resources for sustainable industrial applications. Pili President Jérémie Blache explains how Pili uses hybrid processes combining industrial fermentation and organic chemistry to manufacture sustainable, high-performance colour ranges for the textiles industry.

Taiwan-headquartered Creative Tech Textile Co Ltd has pioneered the transformation of discarded oyster shells into advanced sustainable textile solutions leading to its signature brands—Seawool and Smawarm. Founder Yeh-Shun Wang (Eddie Wang) shares how through decadal inspirations and learnings his company is doing its bit to shape a greener and more sustainable future for the textiles industry.

US-based deeptech innovator Tandem Repeat, a climate-positive smart textiles company, has developed Procell, a revolutionary patented fermentation microbial process that transforms proteins into valuable products, including fibres and nonwovens which are a less toxic alternative to plastics. Leading inventor and Penn State Huck Endowed Chair of Biomaterials Professor Melik Demirel simplifies the tech and his plans for the future.

Research, experimentation, and countless iterations. Persistence, collaboration, and innovation, and then 2020 where it all began. The priority at the next-gen material science company, Balena, that develops high-performance biopolymer materials, is to continue disrupting the materials industry by innovating and developing cutting-edge circular materials to replace hazardous, non-compostable plastics currently used in various industries. Chief Executive Officer David Roubach talks products and the journey this far.

Reppatch is a dynamic community of over 50 brands and artists worldwide, dedicated to transforming waste into unique, high-quality products. With a focus on upcycling and slow production, Reppatch collaborates with corporate partners to creatively repurpose their waste, turning environmental challenges into innovative opportunities. Passionate entrepreneur and Founder Nil Karul shares how she combines her professional expertise with her lifelong interest in upcycling and creative reuse.

Nonprofit Global Alliance for Textile Sustainability Council (GATS) is a collaborative platform for recyclers, manufacturers, brands, policymakers, academic institutions and industry experts to address challenges related to circular economy practices. Founder-Director Parvinder Singh talks about the GATS mission to make the Indian textile and fashion industry more sustainable, competitive, and future-ready.

A couple of friends and a stated goal — to fuse nature, technology, and science to redefine how materials are produced and used globally. The sophomore project was an “indignant” reaction at the colossal fashion waste during an internship which has since gone commercial with clients in the fashion, automotive and packaging industries. Revoltech’s hemp-based and biodegradable LOVR works as an ingredient brand for sustainable leather alternatives. texfash.com talks to its CEO and one of the Co-Founders Lucas Fuhrmann to know more.

A just-published Apparel Impact Institute (AII) report named India as a crucial region for impactful decarbonisation interventions and outlined solutions for mobilising sustainable financing, stating that with the right monies, manufacturing can play a key role in meeting the country’s climate targets, especially the emissions-intensity target of 45% below 2005 levels by 2030. texfash talks to AII President Lewis Perkins to learn how India’s apparel manufacturers are pursuing decarbonisation and how it can be financed at scale.

Designing for death! You read it right. And then an exhibition that encourages visitors to consider end-of-life decisions and how their choices can impact human and environmental well-being. Dr Sherry Haar, a natural dye and design scholar, investigates all of this and more to generate awareness about green burial through her fibre art.