Our bio-based material ELEVATE is crafted from grains
UNCAGED Innovations, founded in 2020 by entrepreneur Stephanie Downs and biomedical engineer Dr. Xiaokun Wang, is a pioneering biomaterials company dedicated to creating sustainable alternatives to animal-based and plastic products. Leveraging Dr. Wang’s extensive experience in collagen research and biotechnology, the company focuses on developing high-quality, scalable, and eco-friendly materials that meet industry demands without compromising on performance or ethics. In an interview with Fibre2Fashion, CEO Stephanie Downs discusses the company’s innovative approach, which aims to redefine material standards across various sectors, including fashion and automotive industries.
What inspired the creation of UNCAGED Innovations, and how does its mission align with the global push towards sustainable innovation?
UNCAGED is a collision of passion and purpose. My journey started 25 years ago, volunteering with animals, which led me to uncover the harsh reality of factory farming, particularly its toll on both animals and the environment. I went vegan and committed myself to reimagining a better way. Animal leather is one of the most environmentally destructive textiles, with the cattle industry responsible for 14.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, hide tanning relies on toxic chemicals that poison workers and ecosystems. UNCAGED is a bio-based leather alternative made from grains, proving that luxury, performance, and sustainability can co-exist.
Can you elaborate on the sustainable alternatives UNCAGED provides compared to traditional leather, and how these materials contribute to environmental preservation?
We have created the world’s first grain-based leather alternative at scale. At the heart of our innovation is ELEVATE, developed using our proprietary technology platform BioFuze, which allows us to mimic the texture and durability of traditional leather without the environmental fallout. By fusing structural proteins from grains with bio-based elements, we replace animal collagen with fibral networks that deliver high-performance material without compromise.
Our material generates 95 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions, uses 89 per cent less water, and consumes 71 per cent less energy than traditional animal leather. Unlike most leather alternatives, UNCAGED’s material is toxin-free—no tanning, no plastic and no pollution.
How has the market responded to your sustainable materials, and what industries have shown the most interest in adopting them?
Leather is a $150 billion industry, and change is coming fast. Next-gen leather is already a $647 million market, and the demand for vegan leather is soaring at a 49.9 per cent CAGR. The appetite for sustainable luxury has never been stronger.
Our material ELEVATE is ultra-light yet durable, flexible yet structured, and therefore tailored to the needs of the most demanding industries. It can be fine-tuned for everything from buttery-soft handbags and couture garments to high-performance automotive interiors and next-generation footwear.
We are actively prototyping with global luxury and automotive brands that believe in our goals and want to adopt a more sustainable ethos. Fashion, footwear, and automotive are moving towards sustainability, and UNCAGED is leading the charge.
How important is collaboration between material innovators and end-use industries (e.g., fashion, automotive, furniture) for driving large-scale adoption of sustainable alternatives?
Collaboration is the catalyst. Luxury fashion, automotive, and footwear brands need materials that meet their standards. We provide the solution, but it takes partnerships to bring it to scale, so co-creation is key.
The brands that thrive in the future will be those that embrace innovation now. The ones that wait will be watching from the sidelines.
What are some of the key challenges you face in promoting sustainable materials over conventional alternatives, and how do you overcome them?
Leather has long been the gold standard of luxury; however, many do not realise that conventional leather is not just an animal hide; it is laced with up to 20 per cent plastic. The tanning process is also highly toxic, polluting water systems and endangering workers.
At UNCAGED, we knew there had to be a better way. Our bio-based material ELEVATE is crafted from grains, completely free from tanning, biodegradable, and toxin-free. It is luxury without compromise.
We wanted to challenge the myth that nothing can rival the look, feel, and performance of animal leather. We spent years refining a formula that delivers the rich texture, resilience, and elasticity demanded by high-end fashion, automotive, and beyond. Led by my co-founder, Dr. Xiaokun Wang, and our R&D team, we developed a product with no plastics and no shortcuts.
What are some common challenges in building a sustainable supply chain for innovative materials, and what solutions are being explored?
Scaling sustainability requires more than innovation; it requires infrastructure. The biggest hurdle is bridging the gap between cutting-edge materials and existing manufacturing pipelines.
Our solution is a plug-and-play approach. Our ELEVATE material integrates seamlessly into existing production methods, ensuring brands can adopt sustainability without re-engineering their supply chains. We are already able to produce millions of square metres per year. This is how biomaterials companies can drive real change—by making it easy, seamless, and profitable to use next-gen materials in product manufacturing.
What specific steps does UNCAGED Innovations take to ensure a fully sustainable lifecycle for your products, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life disposal?
At UNCAGED, sustainability is a commitment from start to finish. Our bio-based material, ELEVATE, starts with renewable grains, sourced responsibly. Our manufacturing process is clean—no toxins, no plastics, no waste. And at the end of its life our material is biodegradable, returning to nature without leaving a trace.
How does UNCAGED Innovations educate consumers and stakeholders about the benefits and importance of sustainable materials?
At UNCAGED, we believe that education is empowerment. We engage through storytelling, including bold campaigns, deep-dive research, and collaborations that put our material in the hands of visionaries. Most consumers, and even brands, are unaware of the environmental impact and use of plastic in the conventional leather industry, and they are shocked when they learn the truth.
Our partnerships with fashion houses, automotive giants, and next-gen designers create tangible proof that luxury and sustainability are no longer opposing forces—they are one and the same.
What are the most exciting trends or breakthroughs in sustainable material innovation that you believe will shape the future of the industry?
The intersection of biofabrication and luxury is where the future is being written. Next-gen materials will not only replace conventional leather but outperform it, with lighter and stronger materials. The new frontier in material innovation has begun, with innovators creating customisable textures, enhanced durability, and even self-repairing biomaterials.
Sustainability should not be an afterthought. Brands that fail to recognise this and do not adapt will be left behind.
How do you see UNCAGED Innovations evolving over the next five years?
We are already at full-scale production, something most alternative leathers cannot claim. In the next five years, we are aiming for global expansion. With collaborations in progress with the world’s largest fashion and automotive brands, we are capturing market share in fashion and automotive, and the next wave includes footwear, accessories, and interiors. Industry is shifting, and we are the ones shaping its future.
