Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering news from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.
Aifunghi
Netherlands-based design team Aifunghi debuted during the 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen.
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The brand’s first collection—aligned with the festival’s theme of keeping it real—turned sustainable principles into functional furniture, spanning 10 pieces including seating, tables, lighting and upholstered furniture.
“Our mission was to start with a clean slate,” said Aifunghi’s co-founders, husband-and-wife Marije and Bart Schilder. “We envisioned furniture that not only genuinely embodies sustainability but disrupts traditional practices and sets a new benchmark for luxurious and environmentally responsible design.”
Also announced were strategic collaborations with material innovators Savian and Agoprene. The former delivers on plant-based alternatives to fur and plush upholstery, while the latter provides seaweed-based comfort foam as an oil-free, biodegradable and low-carbon upholstery material.
“We often say Savian is crafted through a combination of fiber science, textile technology and savoir-faire; this has been truly realized through this collection,” said Roni GamZon, co-founder and chief commercial officer at Savian by BioFluff. “Working in collaboration with nature is the ultimate luxury.”
At the foundation of Aifunghi’s ethos, the company said, is a mycelium-based composite (MBC). This material combines hemp fibers and “the natural binding power of mycelium” to deliver durable and compostable (and recyclable) furniture.
“Nature doesn’t produce waste, and neither should we. Aifunghi’s commitment to building sustainability into every decision is inspiring,” said Celine Sandberg, co-founder of Agoprene. “Collaborating with them reminds us that no single material or solution will fix everything, but many great ones working together can.”
Sugarcup
Sugarcup is recognized as the first-ever plant-based bra cup mass-produced, Gelmart and Braskem said.
The intimate apparel industry is getting even closer with Sugarcup. Developed by Gelmart International in collaboration with Braskem, a Philadelphia-based polypropylene producer, the collaborators said Sugarcup is considered the world’s first mass-produced, plant-based bra cup.
The innovation in intimates is produced using Braskem’s carbon-negative “I’m Green” biobased polymers and made from over 70 percent renewable sugarcane. It can drop a product’s carbon footprint by up to 83 percent—depending on foam variation and style—compared to polyurethane (PU) pads. The foam is 100 percent recyclable, the partners said, with foam waste (alongside plant byproducts) ready for reuse. Sugarcup’s ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), meanwhile, is certified by the global sugarcane platform Bonsucro.
While the initial version of Sugarcup, formerly known as BioFoam, initially launched in August 2021 as part of Gelmart’s nascent sustainable intimates brand, Kindly, stocked solely by Walmart. To expand on its reported success, Gelmart spawned Fullstride Ventures as the private-label intimates manufacturer’s venture capital and brand incubator. Its strategy, according to a February 2021 release, focuses on co-founding lead investors and manufacturing partners at Seed and Series A investment stages. Last year, the corporate venture arm introduced NanoFoam, the second generation of Sugarcup’s foam upgraded for improved performance and adaptability across additional styles, while BioSoft Foam, the latest generation “engineered for superior technical performance and greater environmental benefits,” was introduced earlier this year.
Hyphyn
The New York textile producer developed the market’s reportedly first biodegradable vinyl as a “mindful material innovation” that prioritizes both performance and environmental responsibility. Ideal for seating applications, the coated upholstery textile is embedded with a patented enzyme system that, in combination with its proprietary resin formulation, creates a biodegradable performance material.
“True innovation isn’t just about creating something new—it’s about rethinking what’s possible,” said Iwan Nassimi, executive vice president at Nassimi, the company behind Hyphyn. “Hyphyn reimagines vinyl’s lifecycle, offering the performance the industry relies on while solving the long-term environmental impact challenges no other vinyl has addressed.”
At the end of its useful life, then, Hyphyn reportedly biodegrades 90 percent within two years in landfill conditions. Because this enzyme is only catalyzed in anaerobic landfill conditions—aka it sits dormant while the material is in use and only breaks down into inert gases and non-toxic biomass when buried—Hyphyn’s appearance and performance are that of traditional vinyl upholstery.
As that biodegradation happens, the company said there aren’t any toxins or microplastics left behind as Hyphyn biodegrades. Instead, the material converts into inert landfill gases—methane and carbon dioxide—that are reclaimed and potentially transformed into energy. Beyond biodegradation and soil safety, Hyphyn’s tests for incineration and dioxin release report that the material emits over 99.5 percent less dioxin than conventional vinyl.
“Hyphyn isn’t just about where a product begins or how it performs,” Nassimi said. “It’s about where it ends up—and what it leaves behind.”
Hyosung
Sustainable textile solutions provider Hyosung’s Fashion Design Center (FDC), which explores style trends around the world to guide brands and retailers, reported the key trends shaping swimwear styles for Spring/Summer 2026 as health and wellness, the rise of sports tourism and a budding love for sustainable products.
Consumers are increasingly prioritizing self-care and travel for sport, according to Gary Oh, general manager of Hyosung FDC. It’s driving demand for versatile, multi-function apparel crafted from sustainable materials to enhance their experiences.
Hyosung, the world’s largest manufacturer of spandex by market share, said it provides a broad portfolio of solutions that meet these forecasted trends as well as brand and retailers’ varying needs.
“Advancements in sustainable design—particularly through the integration of recycled materials and high-performance, long-lasting fibers—are driving innovation across the industry,” said Claire O’Neill, Hyosung’s director of European brand marketing, textiles, “delivering measurable value to brands and meaningful product differentiation for consumers.”
Swimwear brands introducing collections made with Hyosung’s Creora and Regen textile solutions for 2026 include Panache, Speedo, Yamamay, Curvy Kate and Hanna Andersson, among others.
Panache will introduce suits featuring 100 percent recycled PalmTree fabric, made with Regen Spandex across five styles. Hyosung’s Regen is completely recycled and RCS-certified, made from the reclaimed waste from its spandex manufacturing process. Speedo, too, used 100 percent recycled Regen Spandex to introduce the first fully recycled four-way stretch board short.
Yamamay’s Basic Essential swimwear collection will be made with FishTale, a new-generation fabric developed through a partnership with Hyosung and Hung Yen Knitting & Dyeing. FishTale fabric is made from a blend of Hyosung Regen Ocean post-consumer recycled nylon (partially sourced from discarded fishing nets) and 100 percent recycled Regen Spandex.
Several of Curvy Kate’s collections, along with Hanna Andersson’s children’s swimwear line, will feature Hyosung’s Creora Highclo Spandex. Developed for chlorine resistance, Creora Highclo offers greater durability than conventional spandex commonly used in swimwear, with superior compression to preserve the garment’s shape and fit.
“For Spring/Summer 2026, the future of swimwear is where fashion, performance, and sustainable choices all come together,” said O’Neill. “We are happy to help provide brands solutions to deliver pieces that fit the way people really live, move and travel.”
Desserto x OtterBox
Smartphone case brand OtterBox has teamed with Adriano di Marti’s Desserto on another collection of plant-based accessories: the Cactus Leather Embroidery Collection.
“When designing the line, we were aiming for heritage styling that evoked a sense of nostalgia, so we kept coming back to the idea of embroidery for its timeless appeal and creative touch,” said Erika Johnson, senior color material finish designer at OtterBox. “After extensive product testing, we are confident that we have created a line that is both delicate and durable for a one-of-a-kind look that’s effortlessly chic and eco-friendly.”
Available in two designs—Pickleball Club and Amalfi Lemon—the case is fully wrapped in a plant-based leather alternative derived from nopal cacti.
Desserto’s nopal cacti varieties are grown on a plantation in Zacatecas, Mexico, where they can flourish without intervention. They support a biodiverse ecosystem and the Desserto farm reportedly absorbs 8,100 tons of CO2 while only generating 15.3 tons annually. Thanks to its strong molecular bonding, the company said, Desserto offers a high resistance to abrasion alongside durability.
Continuous Composites
Advanced composite manufacturer Continuous Composites (CCI) has been awarded multi-million-dollar funding from the U.S. Air Force as part of a multi-year contract to advance the development of high-performance materials using the Spokane, Washington-based company’s patented continuous fiber 3D printing (CF3D) technology. This process uses rapid-curing resins and continuous fibers to create a moldless manufacturing method for composites.
Divided into two parts, the funding’s first phase is focused on establishing baseline materials and a performance validation campaign to benchmark CF3D-produced components against traditional manufacturing methods, such as those used for materials like carbon-carbon. CCI said the second phase will support the expansion of the first phase’s efforts by enabling full-scale component production and testing.
