Ep. 85: Decentraland

Cotton accounts for roughly 65% of the fibres present in wardrobes worldwide. It is therefore a key discussion topic in the textile industry’s transition towards a sustainable future. 

In episode 96 WTiN’s Textile Innovation Podcast, we speak with Alia Malik, chief development officer at Better Cotton, about the company’s drive towards a traceable supply chain. Better Cotton is a world-leading sustainability initiative for the natural fibre. Its mission is to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment.

Better Cotton already accounts for 22% of global cotton production. Malik speaks to WTiN about the company’s 2030 strategy, within which it launched Better Cotton Traceability at the end of 2023, to make it possible to trace Better Cotton back to its country of origin. She explains how the market is demanding more information and how this aligns with the company’s efforts to help farmers access these markets and generate sustainable livelihoods. 

If you’d like to learn more, please visit bettercotton.org.

You can listen to the episode above, or via Spotify and Apple Podcasts. To discuss any of our topics, get in touch by following @wtincomment and @abi_wtin on X, formerly Twitter, or email aturner@wtin.com directly. To explore sponsorship opportunities, please email sales@wtin.com.

This month, WTiN speaks with Daniel Rufenacht, chief executive officer at Bluesign. Based out of Switzerland, Bluesign partners with brands, manufacturers and chemical suppliers, from fibre to finished product, with the aim to make safer workplaces and textile products that are less impactful on the environment and people. 

Rufenacht talks about the difference between a standard and an index – and why one is far more superior, why collaboration is integral as the current period continues to evolve when it comes to the planet and textiles, and most importantly: how to stay ahead of legislation. 

Contact Bluesign at bluesign.com/en/. To discuss any of the topics in the episode, get in touch by following @wtincomment and @rubyatwtin on X (formerly Twitter), or email rpenson@wtin.com directly. To explore sponsorship opportunities, email sales@wtin.com.

This month, WTiN speaks with Kris Cody. Founder and chief executive officer at PAKA, a company paving its own path with natural fibres since 2015. The idea of PAKA and traceable alpaca wool came after Cody was in Peru as part of a backpacking trip. After returning home, he booked a one-way flight back over to Peru and lived among the alpaca farmers and their families before starting the company. Now, nine years later, the company has hit a number of impressive milestones.

One year after a kick starter campaign that raised over 1700% of its initial target, PAKA released its first activewear: BREATHE, which was forged in partnership with SeaLegacy. Just last year, PAKA released its first traceable alpaca hoodie releases, in partnership with AIA, followed by the release of PAKAFILL® - an ‘ethical’ insulation for clothing.

Contact Cody at pakaapparel.com. To discuss any of the topics in the episode, get in touch by following @wtincomment and @rubyatwtin on X (formerly Twitter), or email rpenson@wtin.com directly. To explore sponsorship opportunities, email sales@wtin.com.

This month, WTiN speaks with Graham Stewart. He is the man behind a holistic patent-pending process called Fibre 52. The Fibre 52 process is holistic from prep to dye, and mill tests around the globe show it’s consistently repeatable. It also is integrated with no added machinery or upfront investment. Stewart talks about certification, sustainability, how the Fibre52 process came to be and how it can help manufacturing processes.

Contact Stewart at fibre52.com. To discuss any of the topics in the episode, get in touch by following @wtincomment and @rubyatwtin on X (formerly Twitter), or email rpenson@wtin.com directly. To explore sponsorship opportunities, email sales@wtin.com.

This month, WTiN speaks with Ishan Chathuranga – an e-textiles engineer based in Ontario, Canada. Chathuranga has more than eight years’ experience in electronic textile product development, failure analysis, and manufacturing. Chathuranga delves into the issues around scaling e-textiles, stages of development and the need for plug-and-play technology and standardisation.

To discuss any of the topics in the episode, get in touch by following @wtincomment and @rubyatwtin on Twitter, or email rpenson@wtin.com directly. To explore sponsorship opportunities, email sales@wtin.com.

Talk of the metaverse, blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) has taken over the textile industry as of late. This month, WTiN speaks with Eric Benoist – a technology and data specialist at Natixis, a Corporate investment banking company headquartered in Paris, France. 

We talk about synthetic biology, how AI can help in terms of sustainability and the ethics that go alongside merging science with textiles. To discuss any of the topics in the episode, get in touch by following @wtincomment and @rubyatwtin on Twitter, or email rpenson@wtin.com directly. To explore sponsorship opportunities, email sales@wtin.com.

When looking for more circularity within the textile & apparel industry, most look to existing fibres and ways to elevate them. Keel Labs were on the hunt for something new and looked to the ocean. On this episode of Textile Innovation, WTiN talks to Tessa Callaghan, the chief executive officer and one of the co-founders behind Keel Labs. 

Based in the US, the company has an eye for innovation, starting with its seaweed-derived yarn called Kelsun that holds a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to legacy fibres. Created using an abundant polymer found in the kelp, Callaghan says Kelsun harnesses the renewable and regenerative power of the ocean. 

To discuss any of our topics, get in touch by following @wtincomment and @rubyatwtin on Twitter, or email rpenson@wtin.com directly. To explore sponsorship opportunities, email sales@wtin.com

The way most of us know fungi best is by mushrooms. Ecovative’s innovation, AirMycelium, is expanding the possibilities of working with mushrooms. This month, WTiN talks to Gavin McIntyre, co-founder of New York-based company, Ecovative. There is huge demand for sustainable and planet-friendly leather alternatives that feel, look and perform like the real thing. Ecovative has a specialised soft goods division called Forager that approaches the problem by using its AirMycelium technology to grow durable, synthetic-free and totally vegan materials for the fashion industry.

Grown in only nine days, Forager’s AirMycelium hides have a naturally high tensile strength, tear resistance, durability and other traits that are equal to animal leathers. If you want to get in touch with Ecovative, you can find them at forager.bio. To discuss any of our topics, get in touch by following @wtincomment and @rubyatwtin on Twitter, or email rpenson@wtin.com directly. To explore sponsorship opportunities, email sales@wtin.com. 

This month, World Textile Information Network talks to Edwin Keh, the CEO at the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel or HKRITA ⁠— an applied research center for the textile, apparel and fashion industries. It says it’s goal is to engage in useful research, explore enhancements and create new values, applications and solutions for the challenges in the marketplace and in society. 

Ruby talks to Keh about Industry 4.0, sustainability and some of the innovations that the institute is working on. Like the apron made of a material that eats carbon from the air while it’s being worn, an extremely absorbent textile that could help farmers and the world's shortest supply chain that could fit into two 40ft containers. 

Since opening in 2006, the institute fulfilled its vision of being a leading center of excellence in research, development and technology transfer in fashion and textile industry. Keh shares a multitude of knowledge and insight with WTiN during the episode. You can listen to the episode above, or via Spotify and Apple Podcasts. You can find out more about HKRITA by heading to hkrita.com.

To discuss any of our topics, get in touch by following @wtincomment and @rubyatwtin on Twitter or email rpenson@wtin.com directly. To explore sponsorship opportunities, please email sales@wtin.com.

This month,  World Textile Information Network talks to Joel Furey, the founder and chief commercial officer at Noble Biomaterials. The intelligent materials company is based out of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the US and is the home of both Ionic+ and Circuitex – antimicrobial and conductivity solutions.  

Its silver-based wearable technologies are used across the textile spectrum from military to performance apparel and healthcare. Furey tunes in from the Electric City to share the company’s latest innovations as well as giving his insight and giving a sneak peek at what is coming next for Noble.  

You may recognise some of the big-name brands that use Noble’s anti-odour technologies, from Lululemon and Athleta to Anta and Mack Weldon, as well as other technologies that are used by NASA, Boeing and Lockheed Martin. 

Furey also talks about sustainability and what the company does to minimise its effects on the planet – including using predominantly recycled silver from electronics, for example, in its technology. 

You can find Noble Biomaterials by heading to noblebiomaterials.com, or you can get in touch over Twitter by following @noble_advantage.  

To discuss any of our topics, get in touch by following @wtincomment and @rubyatwtin on Twitter or email rpenson@wtin.com directly. To explore sponsorship opportunities, please email sales@wtin.com.