Thanks to fast-developing technology and growing investment in material innovation, the creation of sustainable alternatives to replace traditional fabrics is gaining momentum in fashion. And given that the production and processing of standard materials make up most of fashion’s carbon footprint, it’s no wonder. Textile manufacturers, once concerned primarily with performance and price, are now introducing a range of materials to cater to surging consumer demand for sustainability and ethical practices.
Designers, too, are embracing a more sustainable way forward, experimenting with varied and unconventional materials to create products like Swiss knitwear brand FTC’s seaweed-derived cashmere, French luxury house Hermès’ shopper bag made from mycelium, pineapple leaf-based leather alternative, Piñatex; and Taiwanese textile company Singtex’s coffee ground yarn. These environmentally-friendly fabrics are catching the attention of the next generation of shoppers.
But in a system designed to maximize growth and profit over the minimization of detrimental environmental impact, billions of dollars’ worth of capital and further innovation are needed to achieve the industrial scale that would enable alternative materials to compete. However, giving a second life to existing materials (including consumer waste like plastic and fabric cutoffs) presents an opportunity for brands and designers to experiment with fabric innovation in a less economically stressful way.
Due to a lack of resources, designers on the continent have, more often than not, sought to find such innovative solutions—from repurposing old fabric or adopting a slower production model that consists of traditional production techniques and made-to-order collections.
Read on to discover the brands making the case for a thriving, innovative, sustainable textile industry emerging in Africa.
A model wears The Tank Set. Photo via @nkwo_official.
Strips of denim used by NKWO to create their garments. Photo via @nkwo_official.
One of the garments NKWO makes using the Dakar cloth. Photo via @nkwo_official.
Model wears the limited edition 100% cotton quilted ‘bag one.’ Photo via @nuun_concept_space.
T-shirt made from a blend of 6 500ml plastic bottles and 100% cotton, wrapped in the nuun-developed water-soluble plastic sleeve. Photo via @nuun_concept_space.
A model wearing some of nuun’s eco-conscious apparel. Photo via @nuun_concept_space.
A model wearing nuun’s eco-conscious apparel paired with a 100% cotton quilted hat. Photo via @nuun_concept_space.
The Reform Studio tote made from 58 recycled plastic bags. Photo via @reform_studio.
Each Reform Studio tote bag contains a label detailing what it’s made of. Photo via @reform_studio.
A model wears the Multi Zebra Rebel Mini Tote Bag available for sale. Photo via @reform_studio.
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