Fashion For Good to host 12 new innovators next 12 weeks

Two years since its founding, the Fashion for Good-Plug and Play Accelerator Programme continues to support promising start-ups developing innovations set to disrupt and drive the transformation of the fashion value chain toward a more circular and regenerative system. In this sixth batch, new focus areas, including fitting solutions, reusable packaging, recycling, reworking and intelligent machinery take centre stage, complimenting the innovations from previous batches which comprised of new materials, dyeing and finishing, circular business models and traceability to name a few. The innovators will receive mentoring, guidance on impact assessments, funding support and market validation from programme partners to spur the implementation of their innovations at scale, said Fashion For Good in a press release.

The selected innovators of the sixth batch are: Cadel Deinking, Cocoon Biotech, The Fabricant, Frankie Collective, PreSize, RE-NT, Resortecs, Returnity, Smartex, Sozie, Spintex and Unspun.

Cadel Deinking removes printed ink and labels from plastics and through mechanical recycling can produce high quality, high recycled-content pellets. The de-inking technology produces pellets of similar quality to that of new plastics and can be used in the same applications as new material.

Cocoon Biotech has developed a bio-technology platform designed to produce a bio-compatible silk protein. Their platform dissolves raw cocoon silk, postconsumer silk waste and supply chain waste into a liquid protein solution from which fibre, liquids and gel materials can be produced.

The Fabricant is a digital fashion house leading the fashion industry towards a new sector of digital only clothing - wasting nothing but data and exploiting nothing but imagination. The Fabricant specialises in photo-real 3D fashion design and animation which can be used in digital fashion editorials, digital clothing and occasional collections.

Frankie Collective is dedicated to reworking excess products into high- demand streetwear styles. Vintage garments and overstock that would otherwise end up in landfill are salvaged and reworked into contemporary items.

PreSize is a 3D body scanning technology that uses any smartphone's camera input to find the best fit to the users' individual body. Unlike other smartphone fit solutions, PreSize is completely web-based and uses a video of the consumer to estimate key points of the body, ensuring a higher level of accuracy in measurements.

Based in Germany, RE-NT offers a circular, white label rental service and online platform. Consumers have access to the latest fashion which they can rent and brands can still engage with their audience without having to deal with operations and logistics.

Resortecs produces a dissolvable stitching thread for easy repair and recycling of garments. Used in attaching trimmings, such as zippers, buttons and fasteners, the threads are aimed at garment repair, recycling and reusing materials from unsold stock and dissolve when exposed to heat.

Returnity creates custom designed, reusable and recyclable shipping packaging for individuals and businesses, providing a sustainable packaging solution for a better customer experience and engagement.

Smartex uses a combination of IoT sensors and AI/machine learning software for the real-time inspection and detection of defects in fabric production. The technology helps textile manufactures improve production yields reducing defective production down to 0.1 per cent.

Sozie's approach to sizing is to use real-life consumers to produce fit and style feedback for garments that match the potential buyer's size and body type. 'Sozies' are given 24 hours to find garments in retail stores and report back with photos, style comments and experience in fit. In time, a library is produced and shoppers can instantly browse content from consumers that match their body type.

Spintex, a spin out from the University of Oxford, manufactures pure and strong silk fibres. Fibres are spun from water-based solution of dissolved silk fibres, sourced from amongst others, post-consumer waste streams. The technology platform can create bespoke, next generation fibres and materials.

Unspun is an on-demand apparel company that uses 3D scanning and fit algorithms to generate digital consumer sizing. Using the 3D information, they create a pair of customised jeans that fit perfectly through 3D weaving. The technique eliminates back-end inventory, reduces wasteful processes and ultimately increases the lifespan and wear-ability of your garments.

Fashion for Good is the global initiative that is here to make all fashion good. It’s a global platform for innovation, made possible through collaboration and community. With an open invitation to the entire apparel industry, Fashion for Good convenes brands, producers, retailers, suppliers, non-profit organisations, innovators and funders united in their shared ambition.

At the core of Fashion for Good is its innovation platform. Through the Fashion for Good-Plug and Play Accelerator, it gives promising start-up innovators the expertise and access to funding they need in order to grow. Its Scaling Programme supports innovations that have passed the proof-of-concept phase, with a dedicated team that offers bespoke support and access to expertise, customers and capital. The Good Fashion Fund catalyses access to finance to shift at scale to more sustainable production methods.

Fashion for Good also acts as a convener for change. In October 2018 the Fashion for Good Experience has opened the world's first interactive tech museum dedicated to sustainable fashion innovation. In its hub in Amsterdam, Fashion for Good also houses a Circular Apparel Community co-working space, creates open-source resources like its Good Fashion Guide about cradle-to-cradle clothing.

Fashion for Good's programmes are supported by founding partner C&A Foundation and corporate partners adidas, C&A, Bestseller, Galeries Lafayette Group, Kering, Otto Group, PVH Corp, Stella McCartney, Target and Zalando. (PC)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India