Algae apparel and fungi fashion: the fashion designers championing ethical clothing
The Global Change summit celebrated ethical designers in the world of fashion
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FASHION fashion
Stockholm recently hosted the Global Change Award summit, an event that honours ethical designers in fashion. The event was set up by the non-profit H&M Foundation and received 2,600 applicants from 151 countries. From those applicants, a shortlist of five winners took home a €1 million grant between them. Winners also get the chance to join a year-long fashion program. Crop-a-Porter took home €300,000 for their eco-friendly efforts. The brand uses leftovers from food harvests like sugar cane and banana skin. It’s something CEO Isaac Nichelson calls “the agraloop”, Vogue reports.
Another brand, The Regenerator, reuses fabrics already in circulation. It take blended materials and separates them into two usable textile fibres. Then there’s Algae Apparel, a company that uses antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients to create an eco-friendly fabric. Green label Smart Stitch separates its materials to recycle them for future designs. Finally, Fungi Fashion makes 3D-printed fashion that’s grown from mushrooms. The apparel is fully biodegradable, with founder Anilea Hoitink telling Vogue “When you are fed up with your T-shirt, you can just bury it”.