A Look at The Sustainable Angle’s Latest Future Fabrics Expo
The Sustainable Angle wrapped its latest Future Fabrics Expo (FFE) on Jan. 25, leaving the industry with lots to be excited about where future fabrics are concerned.
The expo, which is a showcase of commercially-available fabrics and materials that leave a lower environmental footprint.
The show’s aim, The Sustainable Angle has said, is to help yield a fashion industry where creativity and designing for sustainability positively contributes to both the environment and local communities.
And the Future Fabrics Expo continues to work toward that aim.
“We have expanded massively, especially in the last 18 months,” The Sustainable Angle founder and director Nina Marenzi said. “It shows simply in the size of the venue—it is three times as big, now 22,000 square feet. Plus we have added 12 booths of best practice mills and suppliers sitting alongside the curated showcase of Future Fabrics Expo.”
What’s more, there’s a selection of manufacturers, plus a seminar space that can accommodate 150 people and a selection of fashion brands, one curated by Arizona Muse x RCM Studio and one supported by The Lenzing Group. The innovation hub at the Expo is also three times larger and exists in collaboration with Fashion for Good.
“We show the whole journey from fiber to frock!” Marenzi said.
The biggest challenges in the market today, according to Marenzi, is sourcing.
“Sourcing is still not straightforward for brands,” she said. “Lack of educational background information, all this is made super easy at the FFE.”
Mozart Tsang of Mozartex, China, who was a “core exhibitor” at the Expo and highlighted the benefits as he saw them.
“After a successful show last season, now we wanted to have more contact with sustainable brands, including exposure for our full range of TENCEL™ Lyocell and TENCEL™ Luxe branded fibers,” Tsang said. “It is also a chance for us to highlight our new website.”
Adding a designer’s perspective, Pernille Nadine, designer and creative director for SØSTER STUDIO, said, “For our previous collection we sourced almost all our fabrics at the Future Fabrics Expo by The Sustainable Angle in London. It was such a great place to find new and innovative materials with a reduced environmental impact as well as cruelty-free materials, all in one place. We are coming back again this year to source materials for our next collection and to learn more.”
The Future Fabrics Expo has functioned as a filter of sorts, Marenzi said, by selecting the best suppliers with the best quality and a low environmental footprint.
“All the added information per fabric, explaining why these materials are more sustainable, is very helpful,” Marenzi said. “Visitors feel inspired, motivated and equipped with the tools to create fashion that has not only got a lower environmental impact but is positive on the planet and communities.”
For Lenzing’s part, supporting the show was just another step in its work toward a less impactful industry.
“Lenzing Group is passionate to support The Sustainable Angle’s FFE in their mission to educate, connect textile mills and suppliers with designers, brands and retailers to create a more responsible and sustainable fashion industry,” said Lenzing business development manager Oya Barlas.
For many, the Expo proves a high point for a sector that’s transitioning to a better version of itself.
“I think the new revolution of fashion industry will come with being aware of the value of natural sources that we have,” said Giray Sepin, a designer at the Expo. “So we have to get conscious about the material [that] can [be] easily decomposed, biodegradable and sustainable in nature. I’m feeling grateful to participate The Sustainable Angle’s 8 Future Fabrics Expo which point that consciousness out for the future generations.’