What: Next-gen materials are becoming more important.

Why it is important:  It highlights a significant shift in the fashion industry towards sustainable materials, which is crucial for reducing the industry's environmental impact and achieving long-term sustainability goals.

The latest fashion season has seen a significant shift towards next-gen materials, with an increased focus on sustainable innovations like recycled textiles, seaweed fibers, and mycelium. Major brands such as Burberry and Ganni are now incorporating these materials into their regular collections, marking a departure from previous years when material innovations were mainly limited to proof-of-concept products or capsule collections. This change is crucial for reducing fashion’s environmental footprint, as raw materials account for the majority of a brand’s emissions. Despite setbacks, like the bankruptcy of Renewcell earlier this year, the momentum around sustainable materials is gaining pace.

Several designers showcased new material innovations during fashion month, with Circ, Ecovative, and other startups collaborating with established brands to integrate sustainable fabrics into their collections. Christian Siriano, Patrick McDowell, and Karoline Vitto, among others, featured garments made from biotech and plant-based fibers. Brands are now beginning to scale up production, moving beyond limited runs, but challenges remain in making these materials widely available. With initiatives from designers like Stella McCartney and partnerships such as Ganni’s Fabrics of the Future, there’s hope that these next-gen materials will become mainstream, pushing the industry closer to its sustainability goals.

With new brand partnerships, next-gen materials are picking up steam