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.
Spiber x Botto Giuseppe
Japanese biotechnology startup Spiber announced a strategic partnership with Italian mill Botto Giuseppe following the first successful development of 100 percent Brewed Protein yarn.
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Since beginning their collaboration in 2023, the two have worked to “unlock the full potential” of Spiber’s Brewed Protein fiber. The partnership resulted in developing yarns containing between 20-50 percent Brewed Protein fiber (combined with cashmere) as well as 100 percent Brewed Protein worsted yarn.
“We are delighted to start this new collaboration with the development of such a high-tech fiber,” said Silvio Botto Poala, CEO of Botto Giuseppe. “It is a highlight in our sustainability journey.”
Founded in 2007, Spiber is best known for its synthetic material platform of bio-based, biodegradable substitutes for animal-derived inputs like wool, leather, fur and cashmere. Brewed Protein is produced through microbial fermentation, using agricultural feedstocks as the raw material. Botto Giuseppe is the first European mill to successfully develop and market yarn entirely made of Brewed Protein fiber, now available for purchase.
Rester Oy
Finnish mechanical textile recycling company Rester Oy has successfully raised roughly $5.14 million (4.9 million euros) in its second funding round.
“The completion of our funding round marks a significant milestone in Rester’s journey to drive and scale efficient usage of diverse, recovered textile materials, by developing circular solutions for a wide range of applications,” said Joachim Colliander, CEO of Rester. “We are thrilled to have gained the support of major existing shareholders, including Lindström Oy and Tesi as well as new investors, who share our vision. The successful closing of the funding round highlights the attractiveness of Rester’s business and prospects.”
Rester, a forerunner in building textile recovery value chains, offers solutions that can be used to process end-of-life textiles and by-products of manufacturing into recycled fibers and raw materials. During the process, the textiles are “opened mechanically” back into fibers, which various industries can use as a virgin replacement. Operating as Northern Europe’s largest mechanical recycling facility, this funding will accelerate Resters’ growth by expanding its international customer base while still focusing on product development initiatives.
“The company relies on modern and scalable technology, while controlling a portfolio of expandable raw material supply agreements,” Rester said. “With the new funding, the company is poised to take further steps in elevating its position as an industry forerunner by entering new product segments, while extending geographical presence.”
Spinnova x Ask Scandinavia
Spinnova and Ask Scandinavia collaborated on a naturally dyed tote bag. The resulting Nova tote is made with fiber containing 30 percent wood-based Spinnova fibers and 70 percent cotton, naturally dyed the shade amber by Natural Indigo Finland with raw materials derived from the European coffee roaster Paulig.
“The Ask x Spinnova bag is a testament to Nordic design and innovation, where timeless design meets pioneering textile technology,” said Anette Cantagallo, Ask Scandinavia’s director of design and sustainability. “Crafted with Spinnova’s revolutionary technology and Natural Indigo Finland’s coffee waste dyes, it highlights how design is elevated by forward-thinking materials to shape the future of more purposeful fashion.”
Spinnova previously announced its strategy would also focus on fiber market development, on top technology sales and development. The collaboration with Ask Scandinavia and Natural Indigo Finland is an example of this strategy: increasing Spinnova’s addressable market by introducing handbags and natural dyeing as add-ons to the fiber product application range.
“Spinnova is excited to participate in a collaboration that tackles issues within textile fiber production, fabric dyeing and product design,” said Shahriare Mahmood, chief product and sustainability officer at Spinnova. “It has been great to witness how innovators are sticking together to create products with a holistic sustainability story. We are also pleased with how well our fibers respond to natural dyes.”
Toyoda Gosei x Asics
Global rubber and plastic manufacturer Toyoda Gosei has teamed with Asics to produce a collection of kicks made with the leather remnants from the steering wheel manufacturing process. The resulting SkyHand OG sneakers will be available to buy from Ascis’ website next month.
This is the Toyota Motor Corporation affiliate’s second collaboration with Asics, following the airbag-fabricated sneakers from January 2023.
“To use materials with as little waste as possible, original techniques are incorporated in this project, such as combining small pieces into a patchwork,” the duo said in a statement. “Steering wheel punching remnants generated at Toyoda Gosei’s plant in Vietnam are used in this project, and Asics is using these remnants in shoes also manufactured in Vietnam, reducing not only waste but also CO2 in the transport of the remnants.”
Loomia
Loomia, a technology company that adds intelligence to everyday apparel and footwear, has teamed with the nonprofit Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) to debut the Gentoo Heater.
Engineered for “ultra-cold environments,” the Gentoo is a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based resistive heater that maintains optimal performance even at temperatures as low as -60°C. Designed for textile integration, the heater combines comfort with reliability in extreme conditions.
“Helping Loomia and other companies shorten [its] time to market is the purpose of the Product Accelerator for Functional Fabrics [PAFF] program,” said Sasha Stolyarov, AFFOA’s CEO. “Heating technology like the Gentoo Heater will play a major role in the future of high-performance textiles to protect Warfighters and civilians in extreme temperatures.”
Gentoo’s selective TPU placement allows for breathability when laminated onto knit or woven textiles, according to the partners, while its four-way stretch capability ensures easy integration into garments. The Gentoo Flexible Heater can also be laminated into trims or fabrics of choice and has demonstrated consistent performance after 20 wash cycles, with only about a 10 percent resistance change under delicate settings and hang drying.
Loomia and AFFOA will introduce the heater via a webinar scheduled for next month.
Hologenix
Hologenix is bringing its infrared technology, Celliant, back to portable light therapies company Sunlighten for a collection of performance bedding and activewear apparel.
Celliant converts body heat into infrared energy, in turn increasing local circulation and cellular oxygenation, in turn promoting faster recovery and improved overall wellbeing. The second collaboration combines Sunlighten’s infrared wellness experience with Hologenix’s science-backed infrared textiles.
“We are thrilled to continue growing our partnership with Sunlighten, a brand that shares our goal of bringing wellness innovation to the forefront,” said Seth Casden, co-founder and CEO of Hologenix. “This collaboration not only builds on the success of our first product launch of the Sauna Linen Collection, but also underscores how our infrared technology can be infused into a wide range of product categories to transform how we experience wellness.”
The brands first worked together on a sauna linen collection, with accessories—like bath towels, throw pillow covers and cushion covers—for infrared saunas. Now, the two are venturing into the activewear and bedding categories.
“Partnering with the Hologenix team has been a natural fit from the start as we share a mutual passion for creating groundbreaking infrared products for wellness enthusiasts,” said Aaron Zack, co-founder and CEO of Sunlighten. “The success of our first collaboration demonstrated how much consumers value products that seamlessly integrate wellness in their everyday routines.”
The infrared performance sheets (starting at $199) feature Celliant-infused fibers intended to regulate temperature, enhance sleep quality and promote faster recovery, the materials science company said.
“Saunas and sunshine aren’t the only sources of infrared heat—the human body emits it, too,” Hologenix said in a statement. “By infusing Sunlighten fabrics with Celliant, this natural energy is harnessed. Tiny minerals from the earth blended into the fibers capture body heat, transforming it into full spectrum infrared that’s reflected back into skin.”
The men’s collection features a T-shirt ($59) and a pair of shorts ($69) available in various colors made with advanced infrared fabric technology to optimize comfort, enhance circulation and improve endurance. The women’s collection features a sports bra ($69), tank top ($59), leggings ($109) and shorts ($69)—all intended to support active lifestyles.
“With this new collection, we’re taking that innovation a step further as we enter the bedding and activewear apparel categories, empowering people to feel better and live life to the fullest through the transformative power of infrared technology,” Zack said. “Together, we will continue to expand in this area to meet our consumers’ needs.”
