On March 27, the "Sustainable Innovation Forum: Future Materials and Design" hosted by the Social Responsibility Office of the China National Textile and Apparel Council (hereinafter referred to as the "Social Responsibility Office") was held in 751D∙PARK, attracting a large number of industry experts, designers and business representatives who are concerned about sustainable development to participate in the future development direction of materials and design. This forum is not only a place for knowledge exchange, but also a platform for inspiration and creativity. By sharing experiences and showcasing innovations, participants not only deepened their understanding of sustainable development, but also broadened their knowledge of future industry trends.
Expert Insights: Trendy Materials and Sustainable Design
The forum invited Hu Kehua, Deputy Director of the Social Responsibility Office of China National Textile and Apparel Council, Ren Wenjie, Business Development Manager of Lenzing Group China, Ma Lei, Group Sustainability Manager of Eastman (China) Investment Management Co., Ltd., Zhang Li, Marketing Manager of Asia Pacific of Eastman (China) Investment Management Co., Ltd., and Sun Xuefei, Professor of Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, to give keynote speeches on future materials and design, and opened a special discussion on the sustainable development of future materials. The meeting was presided over by Ms. Zhang Wenya, the responsible office of China Textile Federation.
Interpreting Science Fantasy in Fashion: Materials for a Sustainable Future
white paper
At the forum, Hu Kehua, deputy director of the Social Responsibility Office of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, focused on the preview report of "Science Fantasy in Fashion: Materials for a Sustainable Future". Initiated by the China National Textile and Apparel Council, the report was released in Shanghai in March 2024 after three years of polishing. On the occasion of China International Fashion Week, Director Hu introduced the main content and vision of the report to the participants. Director Hu pointed out: "The closest thing to fashion and science is materials. How should our industry evolve in the future to meet people's pursuit of fashion while also being sustainable?" The report project has brought together manufacturers, brands, universities and other institutions over the past three years to set up a virtual lab to educate the industry and the public about the future direction of materials.
In the past, the materials used by humans have been consuming resources that the Earth has accumulated over the past billions of years. We are looking forward to a new model in which humans can create resources autonomously and use technology to give them new energy. This new model is likely to rely on the development of biotechnology.
The path to innovation from an industry leader
At the forum, Ren Wenjie, Business Development Manager of Lenzing Group China, shared the sustainability strategy of the world's leading materials company. She introduced Lenzing's key sustainability indicators and science-based targets set in 2023, as well as the company's innovations in the circular economy, alternative materials, and the industry-first Fiberfibre ™ technology. Ms. Ren pointed out that more than 90% of carbon emissions in the textile industry come from the upstream textile value chain, which provides a huge opportunity for Lenzing to help customers reduce carbon emissions, further leverage the circular economy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve the environmental performance of the entire value chain, and promote social well-being.
Ma Lei, Group Sustainability Manager of Asia Pacific Region of Eastman (China) Investment Management Co., Ltd., said: "Our clothes should be glorious in life and great in death!", adhering to the concept of "making sustainable fibers within reach", Eastman launched Naia's™ innovative fiber products. This product is made from sustainably sourced wood pulp and recycled waste and contains 60% recycled content. The texture of the fabric is similar to that of silk, but it is more environmentally friendly. Eastman has partnered with Patagonia to address the global textile waste crisis by increasing the proportion of recycled materials in its products. At the same time, Eastman continues to invest in reducing carbon emissions from its manufacturing processes to achieve its goal of reducing the carbon footprint of its product portfolio by 40% by 2030.
A blend of design and culture
Professor Sun Xuefei from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology said: "The role of designers is very important, and it is an intermediate link that links the upstream and downstream of the industry. She emphasized the importance of sustainable design, proposing the idea of combining traditional Chinese wisdom with modern sustainable practices. Professor Sun introduced some ancient concepts, such as the Chinese concept of "harmony between man and nature" and traditional plant dyeing techniques. Practical approaches to sustainable design, such as the use of recycled materials, traditional handicrafts, attention to and protection of minority cultural diversity, and the reduction of textile waste through design innovation, are proposed. Professor Sun Xuefei presented a variety of sustainable design strategies, such as zero-waste design, upcycling, multi-wear, and reconstruction, with the aim of achieving sustainability throughout the textile and apparel value chain, including the use of recycled materials, traditional handicrafts, the preservation of ethnic minority cultural diversity, and the reduction of textile waste through design innovation, and emphasized the importance of sustainable design in the future fashion industry.
Cutting-edge exploration of future materials
In the panel discussion, the panelists shared their views on "Science Fantasy in Fashion: Materials for a Sustainable Future". Professor Sun Xuefei said that he is full of expectations for future materials, and the bio-based materials mentioned in the report are possible. There are already designers abroad who have tried to use mycelium to cultivate materials, and her own students are also exploring the possibility of cultivating materials for traditional Chinese medicine residues.
Zhang Li, Asia-Pacific marketing manager of Eastman (China) Investment Management Co., Ltd., believes that future materials are facing great challenges. The report provides a lot of ideas, especially the mention of seaweed, mycelium, and carbon dioxide materials is eye-opening. Although the road to turning ideas into reality is a difficult one, we firmly believe in the direction of the future.
Ms. Ren Wenjie said that we should not be limited by the bottleneck of current technology, and new materials in the future may not necessarily be completely innovative products, but may be iterations of existing products. For example, the Lenzing Group is currently launching an innovative product in terms of fiber content, and instead of eliminating the wood pulp component, we have added recycled content in the right proportion, giving waste a second life. We believe that in the future, it will be possible to produce iterative products at low cost, and at the same time, product performance will be improved.
When it comes to the expectations of the industry, Professor Sun Xuefei said that there are already excellent front-end enterprises leading the way, and domestic enterprises will follow up and learn. However, consumers still need to be more educated. It is expected that more activities in the field of sustainable development will be focused on closely linking the upstream and downstream links of the industry.
Looking forward to the future: the integration of industry and education
Ms. Sun Li mentioned that Eastman has established a good cooperative relationship with domestic fashion colleges and universities to provide sustainable fabric resources for design students. This collaboration not only provides students with more hands-on opportunities for sustainability, but also provides them with a platform to learn about and apply new materials. Through this collaboration, students have access to the latest eco-friendly fibers and innovative fabrics, allowing them to incorporate more eco-friendly elements into their design work. This helps to develop students' awareness and sense of responsibility for sustainable development, laying a solid foundation for their future career development.
epilogue
The forum put innovation and sustainability at the forefront, with a particular emphasis on the close link between fashion materials and sustainable design. Through keynote speeches and panel discussions, attendees delved into the challenges facing the industry and the future of development. This not only provides important ideas and inspiration for the development of the sustainable fashion industry, but also inspires us to look forward to the future!
Scan the QR code to read the full preview of Science Fantasy in Fashion: Materials for a Sustainable Future
END