The fashion world of oranges, bananas, nettles, seaweed and coffee.

A new vision is emerging in the textile world, a vision of greater sensitivity and awareness. Vegetable yarns, biotechnology and natural ingredients are driving a radical change, pushing the sector to reflect on environmental impact and social responsibility. A neologism, "Econogy", which combines economy and ecology, has turned the spotlight on the concept of sustainability. Among the emerging trends, "New Sensitivity" stands out, a mix of innovative materials, technical fabrics and proposals born from research that highlight the pioneering role of textile transformation.

There are three roads that lead to more sensitive production: plant-based fabrics, technology for virtuous optimization of textile cycles and the biotechnological use of natural ingredients. “Future Materials” are the absolute protagonists, with an approach aimed at renewing and restoring resources, with an eye on the environment.

The world of fabrics is experiencing an era of incredible diversity, with the possibility of creating synergies between food and textile production systems. Being "eco-friendly", green, eco-sustainable or friend of the earth, today more than ever, is a necessary condition for our future and to guarantee future generations all the conditions and resources necessary for survival.

The solution for this eco-friendly revolution is called bio-manufacturing, the official definition of which is, "the production of living and non-living biological products starting from raw materials such as cells, molecules, extracellular matrices and biomaterials". In simpler words, it is the development of products made exclusively from organic materials and therefore 100% biodegradable.

The combination of fashion and technology has therefore become the driving element of a continuously evolving system, which seeks to satisfy the demands of customers with clear expectations and needs that can only be satisfied by an offer of increasingly competitive and innovative products. To increase its competitiveness, the textile industry must on the one hand enhance traditional production through products with high performance characteristics, and on the other promote the use of textile materials in those industrial sectors where flexibility, lightness, resistance can bring significant applications to very high added value.

Among the latest innovations, the "Seacell" fiber stands out, a revolutionary textile solution derived from the cellulose of marine algae. Its peculiarity lies in the unique composition, where algae extracts and silver ions are permanently integrated into the cellulose fibre. This combination not only gives the fabric natural antibacterial properties, but also promotes a sense of well-being. Seacell fiber is the result of sustainable harvesting of seaweed in Europe and stands out for its patented chemical process. The algae, harvested in an eco-friendly way, are dehydrated and pulverized before being incorporated into a natural cellulose compound. This process occurs through an innovative technology that ensures the harmonious fusion between cellulose and algae, giving life to Seacell™ fibres. A strength of Seacell is the provenance of the seaweed, harvested from the exceptional Icelandic fjords.

This unique ecosystem offers marine algae rich in precious substances. Compared to other natural sources, Icelandic fjords have a high content of minerals, vitamins and trace elements. The production of Seacell involves an advanced process in which seaweed cellulose is dissolved and incorporated into celluloses from other plants. The end result is fibers characterized by high strength and a low percentage of shrinkage, giving the fabric durability and versatility.

Another example of the transformation of biodegradable elements is given by Japan, where since the thirteenth century bananas have been used to create a very light fabric, "jusi", still used to make kimonos. Jusi is a cotton-like product whose raw material essentially comes from the "stems" to which the bunches of bananas that farmers leave in the garden after a harvest and usually thrown away are attached. The stems and leaves of the tree are removed and transformed into a flexible fiber.

Other interesting examples: nettle is not only used in soups, since as early as the Second World War the Germans used nettle fiber as an alternative to cotton to make their uniforms, as the textile market was dominated by England, the then country enemy. Today nettle has effectively entered the world of fashion thanks to various European projects, including the Italian Grado Zero with the 100% nettle fiber jacket. The advantages of this fiber are notable: it does not need fertilizers and requires little water for cultivation, thus classifying it among the most sustainable fibre.

Among the fibers of cellulose origin obtained from plants there is Orange Fiber, the first fiber obtained from the citrus "pastazzo", i.e. that moist residue that remains at the end of the industrial production of citrus juice. With a silky appearance similar to acetate, the fabric is also biodegradable.

A very recent innovation, fabrics made using coffee waste allow rapid absorption of sweat, protect against harmful sun rays and eliminate odors, making them excellent for applications in the sportswear sector.

Algae, bananas, nettle, orange, coffee… at the service of the fashion world. Innovation thus confirms itself as the most responsible, successful and competitive choice for offering the market eco-sustainable and quality items for a fashion that looks to the future. While on the one hand it must be admitted that many of the innovations are still in the prototype phase and have limitations, on the other hand research shows us that it is possible to imagine a future different from the present we are experiencing. There are always alternatives, you just need to look for them and (obviously) invest in them. It is from this perspective that we make it a priority to preserve what we have, the world we live in, nature and the environment.

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