#Sustainability

2021-01-21

Fashion for Good is looking for creatives to make sustainable fashion for the project grow talent

Nature is often the source of inspiration in the fashion world, but unfortunately, it is also plundered for fast fashion. The system behind the fashion industry must change; a circular industry is the answer and new materials that are more sustainable than current conventional fabrics are an important part of this.

That’s why Fashion for Good is starting the GROW talent project, a 3-month programme from July 2021 – in which innovative biomaterials are used to create the next generation of sustainable fashion, showing the future of fashion in an exhibition at the Fashion for Good Museum on Rokin in Amsterdam from October 2021.

GROW TALENT

In collaboration with fashion designer Iris van Herpen and a professional jury, comprising of Vogue editor-in-chief Rinke Tjepkema, creative directors of Nina Ricci Rushemy Botter and Lisi Herrebrugh, and designer and inventor Daan Roosegaarde, Fashion for Good is looking for creatives to participate in the project. The selected design talents will use biomaterials, such as “silk” made from orange peels, fibres made from banana plants and “leather” made from cork, corn, coconut husks and rice to name a few, to create sustainable fashion. In addition to the designers, Fashion for Good is looking for content creators to capture the design journey and share this with the outside world.

“The global challenges we face are signs of bad design. We are damaging Mother Earth with our CO2 emissions and rising sea levels. Let’s design together and come up with techniques to get out of this. ” – Daan Roosegaarde

Fashion designer Iris van Herpen kicks off GROW talent in July 2021, presenting a unique creation crafted from material made by Orange Fiber (a silk-like fabric made from orange peel waste), which will be showcased later this year.

The 3-month programme offers personal guidance from the jury, as well as mentors such as fashion designer Reuben Selby, exhibition designer Harm Rensink and the Fashion for Good team.

The final creations and content will be presented in an exhibition at the Fashion for Good Museum on Rokin in Amsterdam from October 2021, and open to an international audience through virtual tours.

“The creativity of a new generation of designers defines the future of fashion and shapes the soul of Vogue. I see it as our job to help develop new talent and provide a platform in Vogue.” – Rinke Tjepkema

The GROW talent project is a part of Fashion for Good’s upcoming, year long theme GROW, which dives into the world of sustainable biomaterials and through a series of exhibitions and programming. To find more information about the GROW talent project, exhibition and jury visit: https://fashionforgood.com/grow-talent/ and check out the Fashion for Good Press Portal for images and material.

CALL FOR CREATIVES; HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

Creatives can apply on the Fashion for Good website https://fashionforgood.com/grow-talent/ no later than 31st of March 2021.

Follow the progress of the project on our Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/FashionforGood/

The GROW talent project has received funding from the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking, under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the project Allthings.bioPRO, grant agreement N° 887070, as well as the support of the Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst.

INCLUSIVITY

At Fashion for Good, we are proud of our Good Fashion community and focus on partnerships with a focus on creating a positive impact and building positive change worldwide. We value having a diverse team with different viewpoints and believe we need to do things differently to drive innovation and drive change. We are an international team, currently with 11 nationalities, dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome to be themselves and do their best. We assess all candidates for the GROW talent project – together with the jury – purely on the basis of their creativity, qualifications and experience.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

Hohenstein publishes 2025 Sustainability Report

The testing and research service provider Hohenstein has published its latest sustainability report, outlining key progress and strategic initiatives. The report focuses on ambitious CO₂ reduction targets, the company’s new mission statement and the systematic expansion of sustainable services for customers worldwide.

Global Standard gGmbH launches second public consultation for GRTS Draft 2 for the textile industry (1–30 April 2026)

Global Standard gGmbH is pleased to announce the release of Draft 2 of the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS) for its second public consultation. The consultation will be open from 1 April 2026 to 30 April 2026, inviting stakeholders across the textile and apparel value chain to provide input and contribute to the further development of this new Standard.

BTMA backs global growth while investing in future UK leaders

As one of a number of new initiatives launched this year, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is launching the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, has implications that extend across sourcing, competitiveness and long-term trade dynamics, believes BTMA CEO Jason Kent.

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.

ECCO introduces first shoe featuring innovative protein-based fibre

ECCO, in partnership with Spinnova, announces the launch of the limited edition ECCO BIOM® 720, a first-of-its-kind shoe utilising an often overlooked leather by-product, transformed into a protein-based fibre. The fibres are produced using patented technology that advances material innovation while reducing waste and supporting full resource use across the leather and textile industry.