Greener Threads: The Next Generation of Sustainable Fabrics
The recent launch of the Ventete inflatable bike helmet is a great prompt for thought on innovation in cycling apparel and gear. Recognised by the Financial Times as the headwear that could “revolutionise” the market, this portable, fits-in-your-pocket helmet has already won the Luminary prize and three Innovation in Sport awards this year. Promising improved safety and cyclist confidence, this innovation seems to tick all the boxes. Except, it is made from nylon.
As the world faces significant sustainability challenges, every attempt for change and innovation should have a positive impact our planet and communities. With sustainable materials on the rise, apparel designers are enabled to step away from materials with extensive environmental footprints and instead commit to sustainable sourcing and practices. In this article, we explore some truly exciting sustainable materials and consider how, in a few years, our helmets, saddles, and fleeces could be made of lab-grown cotton, mushroom roots, or pineapple leaves.
Mind the trend: Sustainable materials are on the rise
The sports apparel industry plays a pivotal role in our global efforts to nurture a sustainable future for generations to come. Commonly made with synthetic fabrics such as nylon and polyester, sportswear can cause more negative environmental consequences than conventional clothing. The materials’ performance benefits such as breathability, flexibility, and quick-dry properties commonly outshine their fossil-fuel origins, their tendency to shed microplastics into water sources, and the thread of waste left behind after their use. With raw materials being a significant contributor to apparel brands’ climate impact, it is no wonder that we are seeing increased development within the sustainable materials space. As global sustainability regulation tightens, we would expect to see more and more sportswear and cycling brands looking to source such materials and innovating for the good of our planet.
But what are sustainable materials? In reality, there is no absolute definition of what makes a material sustainable; even those with the lowest environmental and social impacts could bring about unintended future consequences if overused. Broadly, we think of sustainable materials as those that reduce impacts and improve benefits for climate, nature, and people against conventional equivalents. From alternative natural fibres and recycled materials to the creation of new materials altogether, the future of sustainable apparel is an exciting space to keep an eye on.
A new generation of bio-based materials
We are taking a leap into exploring new bio-based materials and how these could be used within the cycling space. Here are three exciting stories that will have undoubted success in the future. Introducing Galy Cotton, Mylo, and Piñatex.
Galy Cotton: Setting the pace in cellular agriculture
You may have heard that it takes 2,700 litres of water to make a single cotton t-shirt, just like the ones we wear to cycle through the park on the weekend. Given that this is enough to meet one person’s drinking needs for 2.5 years, a viable alternative would support us in tackling water scarcity by reducing agricultural demand for freshwater supply. Boston-based start-up Galy has come up with just that. The start-up is growing cotton in a lab by using biotechnology and less energy-land-intensive methods. At an industrial scale, the production of Galy Cotton uses 99% less water and 97% less land than conventional cotton, emitting 77% less CO2. The award-winning start-up has attracted investment from across the apparel industry and has the potential to revolutionise the traditional clothing and sportswear industry. We cannot wait to wear our lab-grown cotton t-shirts on the next bike ride.
Mylo: From fungi to fabric
Bioengineering company Bolt Threads puts fungi at the centre stage, transforming mycelium, the “connective tissue to all life on earth”, into a material that looks and feels like animal leather. Long admired and widely researched, mycelium is the root-like network of fungal strands that thread through the soil and interweave with tree roots. Bolt Thread’s Mylo leather is made of thousands of mycelium strands via efficient processes that make use of renewable energy and vertical agriculture techniques. Widely recognised within the apparel space, Mylo has already been used in Adidas trainers and Lululemon yoga mats, hinting at an exciting future utilisation within the sports apparel space. Despite Mylo’s currently paused production, mycelium-based materials hold significant potential, ready to be explored.
Piñatex: Pineapples take the lead
A usually discarded waste product after harvest, pineapple leaves have found their new calling. Inspired by circular economy principles, Ananas Anam utilises pineapple leaf fibre to produce a leather-like material named Piñatex. Featured in CNN’s Going Green series as a groundbreaking innovation, Piñatex has already been used by over 1,000 brands. Amongst fashion, accessories, and upholstery applications in brands such as Nike, Hugo Boss, and Hilton Hotel Bankside, Piñatex is also finding its place within the cycling space via the Riva Cycles saddles, ribbons, and grooves.
Looking ahead
The outlook is positive. Sports apparel is moving in the right direction with considerable innovation taking place within the sustainable materials space. We do hope that the pace will pick up in good time and that consumers, like you and I, will be able to purchase apparel and gear which do not break our stride towards a more sustainable future.
Truth is that modern innovators have taken on a significant task. The path from idea to consumer is long and difficult and there are many elements to balance – from social and environmental impacts to product safety, durability, scalability, affordability, and many other. It is difficult to create something that ticks all the boxes and then bring it to the market. But with our planet in its current state, we need every cyclist to wear t-shirts from lab-grown cotton and mushroom-root shoes, while cruising on their pineapple-leaf-saddled bike.
More about Hudjo
Hudjo is an Airbnb-style platform that offers a network of trusted locations around London where you can park your bike safely and securely, eliminating the risk of theft.
We encourage cycling and active travel across the city by providing you with a worry-free opportunity for bike parking within the spare spaces of small businesses such as cafes, bars, shops, and offices.
