Features

Gender division in fashion is more a factor of culture and aesthetics than one of practicality, and the oversized fit is very contemporary — in fact comfortable, cool with the possibility to use elastane-free fabrics. That’s the USP of Andrea Bonfini’s Fade Out Label which is also about patchwork, cuts, handcrafted quality and of course intensive work.

Here’s a weaver-designer deconstructing and redesigning everyday garments in a new way, pushing too for an equal division between the textile-making process and the fashion design process, as very often, the textile maker is rather invisible compared to the fashion designer. texfash in conversation with the Swedish Kelly Konings of the eponymous Kelly Konings Textiles.

The 8IGB Founder and Creative Head Ruben Bissoli feels fashion with its craving for what feels authentic will see a return to its roots: craftsmanship, artisanal techniques, and a greater emphasis on the human touch. So, says he to texfash, that he is exploring more of handmade elements in his bid to reconnect with the art of creating something truly unique and tangible.

Here’s a brand that envisions a future "exactly as it is now” albeit with “a greater expansion” but always limited to where the founders “can reach in person!" texfash talks to Davide Biondi, the man behind a classic denim label — Hen’s Teeth — from Pescara in Italy.

The Finnish city of Lahti, some 100-odd km to the north of capital Helsinki, has made stupendous progress through its incentive-based collection of textile waste, and has now launched a design competition on how to tackle discarded textiles.

Innovations, business, and lots more — Munich Fabric Start gets going on 18 July as the fash frat descends on the Bavarian city to source collections for Autumn/Winter 2024/25. Participating in these events is not just about showcasing something new each time; it's about fostering an environment of growth, exploration, and staying at the forefront of positive change. 

As the demand for near-shoring slowly gathers steam both for reasons of political compulsions and logistics issues, there is one country that is ready to make the best of it: Colombia. The country is both steeped in traditional textiles and is just as modern in its approach to environmental issues. But, can Colombia live up to the promise that the future holds? The first of a three-part WireFrame series from texfash.com.

Away from petroleum-based fabrics, comes an innovation — a fibre made from polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic made from corn, under the brand name Highlact. Could it be the best material to replace polyester in terms of quality, cost and supply? texfash.com explores.

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel's (HKRITA) novel Garment-to-Garment (G2G) Recycle System shows that integral and closed-loop garment recycling can indeed be done, and sans any water and chemicals, but no big-time manufacturer or brand has been able to use this innovation at the industrial or mass scale. A texfash.com Special.

The Innovative Business Practices and Economic Models in the Textile Value Chain (InTex) project of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is helping to improve resource efficiency and promote circularity in textiles in regions far from the glare of Big Media. The underlying idea is simple: empower local stakeholders.