Challenge the Fabric (CTF) 2026 is set.
As fashion’s search for lower-impact materials accelerates, CTF will bring stakeholders across the man-made cellulosic fibers (MMCF) supply chain to Paris this May for its sixth annual gathering.
The cross-industry initiative will return May 26–27 for two days of keynotes, panels and networking focused on scaling next-generation fiber solutions and strengthening collaboration across the value chain. Hosted by Ekman Group and organized with the Swedish Fashion Council (SFC), the annual symposium brings together brands, manufacturers, NGOs and policymakers working across the MMCF ecosystem, from forest sourcing to finished garments.
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This year’s program will open with a keynote from Achim Berg, managing director and founder of independent think tank FashionSights, supplying a global outlook on the fashion industry. Speakers slated for the event include representatives from Altri, Aeoniq, Armedangels, Canopy, PDS Ventures and Lenzing.
“Six editions in, CTF has established itself as a critical platform for advancing the MMCF industry,” said Nina Elmersson, vice president of Innovare at the Ekman Group. “CTF 2026 brings the right voices together to challenge the status quo, align the value chain, and accelerate real, measurable progress across the MMCF value chain.”
The event’s agenda reflects a sector contending with both momentum and uncertainty. One panel, titled “Sustainability on Hold? Fashion at a Crossroads,” will examine whether economic pressures and shifting regulatory timelines are slowing brands’ environmental ambitions. Another session, per the agenda, will focus on traceability technologies—including the use of physical tracers to verify fiber origins across MMCF supply chains.
Armedangels’ keynote, titled “Nature Over Oil: A Blueprint for Post-Fossil Fashion,” will outline the German eco-fair brand’s push to replace fossil-based synthetics with cellulose-derived alternatives in its denim and outerwear categories, for example.
Alongside the main program, CTF will also host a collaborative seminar to expand the conversation around transparency and supply-chain accountability. The MMCF Multi-Stakeholder Forum will comprise Textile Exchange, Canopy, Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Founded in 2018, Challenge the Fabric connects the fashion, textile, and forest industries to scale the use of wood-based fibers.
