Fashion is turning to pineapples and algae for environmentally-conscious solutions

Designer Roma Narsinghani’s Jewels are Studed With Beads – Emerald Greens, Ruby Reds, and Pearly Whites. What makes them unique is that they are crafted from algae, an innovation by the US-based material researcher Aradhita Parasrampuria. “Their eco-friendly nature and organic appeal have made them a core part of our approach and provide a unique texture to our designs, MIMICKING PRECIOUS STONES,” Says the delhi-baase narsing narsing narsing

Roma narsinghani

For decades, the fashion industry’s traffic Global Plastic Production Reported Stood at Over 450 Million Tonnes in 2023, of which fashion is said to consume a Quarter or More. And Varying Reports Sugged The Industry is Responsible for up to 10% of the World’s Greenhouse Emissions.

While Natural Fibres Such as cotton, wool, or linen are widely registered as alternatives, Climate Change is disrupting their production now. Moreover, these Traditional Staples Can’t Deliver the low-carbon future that fashion needs. So, a number of proprietary alternatives are positioning themselves as environmentally-conscious solutions.

A bag made with cellsense’s algae beads

Fashion’s expanding material base

Material Innovators are Increasingly Looking at Bio Materials to Create New Fibres. In April 2024, London-Based Material Science Company Fibe Announced A Textile Fibre Made from Potato Stems and Leaves, While North Carolina-Based Startup Keel Labs Has Developed KelSun, A Fibre Using biopolymer found in Seaweed. There are alternatives for Sequins and Fur in Development, Too.

Bananatex is a plastic-free fabric made from Abacá Banana Fibre. Originally developed by Swiss Bag Brand Qwstion for Its Own Products – In Collaboration with a Yarn Specialist and a Weaving Partner in Taiiwan – it is used by luxury labels suchciaga and sports McCartney. “We are constant work on new developments, weight, constructions, finishes and ways of dyeing,” Says Hannes Schoenegger, Co-Founder and Ceo of Bananatex. Last Year, Qwsten Developed A Lightweight Jersey Using The Fibre. “We [also] Invest Quite some energy into knits, and there is going to be a bananatex deenim we will present laater this year. “

Hannes Schoenegger

Balenciaga X Bananatex

Last November, Environmental Non-Profit Canopy Set Up An India Outpost, Promoting Next-Gen Fibres from Agricultural Roghage, Waste Textiles, Microbial Cellulose and Food Waste in Textiles, As well as paper packaging. “Agricultural Residue Such as Straw, or Industrial Food Waste [like] Tomato Pulp or Coconut Water, Discarded Textiles – All these are currently treated as waste, “Says Founder and Executive Director Nicole Rycroft. Scandinavian Technology Innovator to use Indian Straw and Turn Ito a Man-Made Cellulosic Alternative. “

Nicole rycroft

Answers to leather

As Common as Leather Remains in Fashion’s Product Repertoire, The Animal-DERIVED Material is notorious for its high carbon footprint- Spanning Deforestation and Loss of Body, and Body, Water-Intensive Processes, and inadequate waste management. While brands and companies are moving to more conscious processes, leather remains content.

Recently, however, leather alternatives have received great attation with success stories Collaborators, Including BMW, Pangaia, Allbirds, and Anita Dongre.

Other Examples Include MyCoworks, which produces the mycelium-bed reishi; Desserto, Crafted from Cactus; And piñatex, derived from pineapple. “The success of alternatives is determined by how well materials can replicate the look and Finish of Leather,” Says Arundhati Kumar, A Sustainability Consultant.

Arundhati kumar

A hat from mycoworks, which produces the mycelium-based reishi

Banofi is an alt-Later Crafted from Banana Crop Waste. “Currently, it is best suited for fashion accessories,” Says Founder Jinali Mody, Adding that they are doing “Further R&D to Make a Broad Range of Applications in Footwear, Automotives, Interorce, and more”.

Not all Bio-Materials Mimic Leather, Thought they get categorized in the segment. Take, for instance, malai, a coconut water-directorial cellulose, produced by a kochi-based company of the same name and introduced back in 2018. Co-founder, Says, “We have been seen demand for materials that would be more remin [with the touch and feel] of animal leather. ” The brand, which won the circular design challenge in 2020, work on Catering to Market Demand, but its social media often clarifies: Malai Isn’T Leather “and that’s okay”.

Zuzana gombosov

The indian landscape

“India is extraordinarily well-positioned to be an early global leader, as a low-carbon material production hub,” Says rycroft of canopy. The Country’s Growth curve on both retail and manufacturing makes it a promising business ecosystem. But, at the moment, Lack of Collection with Mass Retailers and Bigger Brands is Limiting Growth Opportunities, Especially for Local Makers.

“I’D Expect Big Companies Looking Into Sustainability to Give Space and Visibility to Brands Like Ors,” Says Gombosova. “While we can’t produge on a mass scale, we can make limited editions.” Malai Produces 200 Sq. Mt. of Material per month. She adds that long periods of r & d can be contrast to investor expectations of Roi (Returns on Investments), which makes financial investments challenging to secure.

A bag from malai

MODY highlights how it can also be Dificult to Educate People About The Fact that “Our Material is Made from Plant-Based Ingredients” and assembled Using A Clean, Sustainable Processes. Additionally, “Balancing 100% sustainability with cost-effectiveness is challenging”. Costs for Such Materials are Higher, with Base Prisis at Around ₹ 2,000 or More; In Comparison, Synthetics Start at a Few Hundred Rupees.

A bag from piñatex, derived from pineapple

Solving the scalability challenge

The challenge isn’t limited to India thought; Material Innovators Everywahere Have to Cope With Higher Prisies, Time-Consuming R&D, And Greenwashing. Many plant-based materials also use synthetics to ensure durability and performance. Schoenegger Considers Such Problems Intrinsic to a Transitional Period. “The Material World Cannot Change Entrely in a Few Years, it will take some time.”

Sneakers from Mirum, a Material Crafted from Natural Rubber

The big goal for alternative materials is to move beyond the stages of prototype and small-scale production. Players Such as Natural Fiber Welding, which produces a number of plastic-last materials besides mirum, have managed to crack this code-a network of global partners, a 110,000 sq. ft. Production facility, and working with existing supply chain and equipment sets in regional areas. If other materials can replicate such success, this goal may appear much closer.

The writer and editor is based in Delhi.