Interviews

Inspiring new products, innovative content and future-oriented themes is what Munich Fabric Start promises, even in these times of uncertainty. Frank Junker, Creative Director & Partner, Munich Fabric Start Exhibitions GmbH elaborates in this one-on-one with texfash.com.

Fifteen years ago, when Fashion Takes Action (FTA) was established as a non-profit, ‘sustainability’ as a term wasn’t in vogue. Now while some brands are clearly leaders and taking big risks and others are much slower to engage, what has worsened is that there are brands not genuinely invested in making change and are marketing to consumers as if they are. This increased level of greenwashing ultimately affects those who are on the right track. Kelly Drennan, Founding Executive Director of FTA, talks to texfash.com on their agenda for sustainability.

The Swiss textile recycling project Texcircle, which ended a month ago, showed exactly how a group of organisations can make it work together by contributing their own know-how, efforts, finances and materials. Tina Tomovic, Senior Research Associate of the project at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, which helmed the project, and Prof Brigitt Egloff tell texfash.com how the project worked, and what should be the way forward for textile recycling.

The much-awaited VORN – The Berlin Fashion Hub kicked off last month. The Hub intends to become just that—a hub—for positive change in the fashion industry. The Hub would be a physical and digital space to create, communicate and teach collaboratively. Marte Hentschel, Co-CEO (Operations & Business Development), tells texfash.com what the Hub will look like.

The idea of Stony Creek Colors (SCC) took roots when Founder and CEO Sarah Bellos understood the difficulties that brands face when trying to integrate plant-based dyes into their designs. Today, SCC produces the world's only 100% certified plant-based indigo. An in-depth interview with Bellos about dyes, transparency and climate change.

As the versatile denim continues to evolve as a key player in the fashion industry, the two-day Denim Première Vision beginning 23 November at Milano has been dynamically designed to serve as a natural link between the different elements of the value chain and a strong fashion attitude. Fabio Adami Dalla Val, Show Manager, Denim Première Vision talks to texfash.com.

The STeP EcoLab is a four-year project funded by the European Union under the SWITCH Asia II Programme. The Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP) is a project partner with its key competences: sustainable value chains, hand- and footprint assessments, multi-stakeholder engagement, as well as participatory strategy development and design and communication. Project Manager Pawel Zylka talks cashmere and herders.

A clothing bank that distributes pre-loved clothing to the needy in the Czech Republic's capital Praha has taken on the onerous task of delaying post-consumer waste from going to landfills. The Operations Manager of Oděvní Banka (Clothing Bank), Veronika Kyptová, elaborates.

In 2012, a charity was set up in Australia which embodied ideas of circular fashion long before it was to become a catchphrase. Thread Together dwelt on the simple idea of donating rather than disposing of unsold clothing. Today, it provides new wardrobes to at least 2,500 people every week, and has diverted over 3,000 tonnes of clothing from landfill. Chief Executive Officer Anthony Chesler tells texfash.com the saga that Thread Together has stitched.

The ITMF award that the Green Machine received in September is only the latest feather in its decorated cap. Developed by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), the Green Machine has been making waves since its launch in 2016. Katherine Chan, Director (Business Development) at HKRITA, talks about the challenges that had to be encountered, and the excitement that the Green Machine has generated.