Innovations creating a waste-free fashion industry awarded
From food crops, smart stitches and 3D-modelled clothes, to advanced recycling processes and biodegradable clothes with health benefits. On March 20, five innovations that can help speed up the shift to a circular fashion industry were awarded the third Global Change Award, sharing a 1 million euro grant from the non-profit H&M Foundation.
The annual challenge is looking for tomorrow’s game changers, and the third edition attracted 2,600 entries from 151 countries – a truly global and strong movement to create a fashion industry operating within the planetary boundaries. Looking at all entries this year, they provided strong engagement in digitalization, smart processes, and some new and unexpected materials.
The result of the online vote:
- €300,000: Crop-A-Porter by Circular Systems (US) – Making sustainable bio-textiles by using left-overs from food crop harvests.
- €250,000: The Regenerator by RISE IVF (Sweden) – Separating cotton and polyester blends, turning them into new textile fiber.
- €150,000: Algae Apparel by Algalife (Israel) – Turning algae into bio-fiber and eco-friendly dye that is also good for the skin.
- €150,000: Smart Stitch by Resortecs (Belgium) – A dissolvable thread that makes repairing and recycling a breeze.
- €150,000: Fungi Fashion by MycoTEX (the Netherlands) – Custom-made clothes made from decomposable mushroom roots.
Besides innovations with potential to have a positive impact on the industry and planet, the Global Change Award is looking for scalability, that the idea is economically sustainable and novel and how well suited the team is to make a difference.
The year-long Innovation Accelerator Programs provides a toolbox of skills, networks and exposure to help the winners actualise their ideas, maximise performance and get industry access.
Progressing fast
Two years after winning the Global Change Award, we checked in with Resortecs to see where they are at.
“We need brands to go bold and take our pilot to the next step. Invest in our company at this stage. We really want to take over the industry in disassembly of garments and textiles. The risk is limited, and we need the money now.”
Vanessa Counaert, co-founder Resortecs
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