Sustainability
Future Fabrics Virtual Expo
The Future Fabrics Virtual Expo showcases individually selected sustainable fabrics that are an alternative to today’s most used textiles, which are predominantly made from polyester and conventional cotton fibres.
The production and processing of textiles are polluting water, air, and soil, wasting energy and natural resources, and impact upon human health as a result of being in contact with toxic substances.
A diverse range of natural and man-made materials suitable for mid to high end, mainstream, and independent fashion companies have been chosen to showcase on the Future Fabrics Virtual Expo, which are selected according to our environmental criteria, quality, design, and innovation. These fabrics demonstrate an on-going commitment to improved performance across the supply chain, which includes fibre cultivation, and processing, spinning, weaving, knitting, bleaching, dyeing and finishing. All individual fabrics are provided with background information on how they have been produced with a reduced environmental impact.
The materials address the following environmental principles which were established with the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, and in addition, ethical and local production, recycled materials, and entirely certified supply chains are taken into consideration.
The Sustainable Angle’s Environmental Criteria
To act as indicative guidelines to introduce key environmental issues, The Sustainable Angle have developed a number of criteria which are used to select materials in curating the Future Fabrics Expo. These criteria recognise some of the most pressing resource issues and environmental impacts that relate to the fashion supply chain. We work with best-practice suppliers and innovators who demonstrate positive action in one or more of the following areas:
Biodiversity - Grown source materials created using organic and regenerative principles that respect and support biodiversity. This includes raw material sources that preserve high value eco systems (such as ancient and endangered forests).
Water - Materials created in systems that reduce, recycle, reuse and treat water to ensure water courses and ground water are not depleted or polluted. The use of progressive methods and technologies to significantly reduce water inputs across the supply chain. This may involve programmes that improve water quality and access to clean water for local communities.
Energy - Materials suppliers that demonstrate concrete actions to transition away from fossil fuels, both as a raw material, and as a source of energy. This includes materials grown with regenerative agricultural practices that have the potential to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Waste - Materials produced by reducing or eliminating waste at every stage in the textile production process, demonstrating exemplary recycling and re-use practices, following circular models and cradle to cradle principles. Including the identification of waste streams that can be regenerated in to new material.
On some qualities you may also see the symbols below:
SWAP – This indicates that within the blend of fibres there may be a percentage of non-preferred fibre. The supplier offers the opportunity to replace conventional fibre content for responsibly produced alternatives (e.g. organic cotton, closed-loop regenerated or recycled fibres).
ATTENTION ! – The material blend has a high percentage of conventional fibre content, however, the quality was selected because the manufacturer demonstrates either the use of innovative sustainable fibres, implementation of new technologies, or a difference in processing techniques that reduce its overall impacts.
ATTENTION ! – This material blend has a percentage of fibre content from sources that rely on industrial agriculture practices including synthetic chemicals as inputs. However, the quality has been selected because the manufacturer demonstrates either the additional use of innovative sustainable fibres or implementation of new technologies that make a difference in processing techniques to reduce its overall impacts.
SWAP – This indicates that within the blend of fibres there may be a percentage of non-preferred fibre. The supplier offers the opportunity to replace conventional fibre content for responsibly produced alternatives (e.g. organic cotton, closed-loop regenerated or recycled fibres).
Please note: The information presented on our fabric cards and posters are correct to the best of our knowledge at the time the information was produced. Please verify with the supplier before placing orders.