Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1510018
H ave you heard of Human Material Loop? I learned about the Dutch company recently on an epi- sode of Articles of Interest, a terrific podcast hosted by Avery Trufelman which offers a well-researched and wonderfully off-centered approach to reporting on textiles. e "Human" in Human Material Loop refers to hair, a resource the firm harvests and processes into a yarn that can be used to make garments. ink so, cozy "blonde" sweaters. Human Material Loop explains it provides a sustainable solution by developing a tech- nology based on what is considered "waste" material; human hair is abundantly available, non-toxic, lightweight, thermoregulating, and non-irritating to skin. Further, the company's hair-derived yarn has potential to integrate into production systems for high-performing products across various industries. And so, another all-natural, eco-alternative is born. Considering what we've witnessed in the past few years in our industry — functional fabric makers bringing forth materials made from seaweed, peppermint, mushrooms, pineapple, cactus and banana plants, for ex- ample — maybe Human Hair Loop is on to something. Trufelman wonders, "Is our future destined to be about alternatives, and if so is this the right path forward?" Innovation centered on lowering our in- dustry's collective carbon footprint is not just the right approach, it's the only way forward when you realize the amount of legislation looming, supply chain transparency prior- ities and consumers' growing awareness of the impact of fossil-fuel product on climate change. However, the reality is, without major investment in research, systems, contemporary business models and progressive leadership, today's new and exciting bio-based materials will struggle to scale. And great ideas, let alone marginal ideas like hair-harvested jackets, won't matter. e good news is that this issue of Textile Insight is loaded with developments that are helping suppliers achieve major sustainabil- ity goals by cutting emissions, conserving resources and protecting worker rights. Our contributors do a great job reporting on this trend. Debra Cobb and Kathy Swantko highlight tech advances in their respective Technology and Education stories. Sue Blecher explores new territory in sustainable dyes in her In the Studio article, while Louisa Smith travels to China to profile a brand's "Smart Factory." And in his Out of Context column, Kurt Gray questions the complexity of ridding our clothes of forever chemicals. I've been covering the textile marketplace long enough to recall a pre-sustainability era, and the following decades when sustainability became a "thing" resulting in an eco-generation boom. But discussion has always centered on long-range plans to achieve sustainable solutions. Guess what: e future is now. And thankfully the textile community is commu- nicating sustainability in the present tense. Cheers, Sustainability in the Present Tense TEXTILE TALK / EMILY WALZER 4 • Textile Insight ~ Fall 2023 textileinsight.com A textile leader for 40 years Since 1983, we've developed and sourced the world's best sustainable textiles, all to help you innovate better apparel and reach new customers. conceptiii.com