How The Fashion and Textile Industry Is Embracing Technology, With Alex Chan Of The Mills Fabrica
This is the 16th episode of the podcast Deep Tech: From Lab to Market where Founders and Investors share how ‘deep tech’ innovation can go from lab to market. It is available on Apple Podcast and other platforms,
It is hosted by Benjamin Joffe, Partner at SOSV, a global early stage fund focused on deep tech. SOSV runs multiple accelerator programs including HAX (intelligent hardware) and IndieBio (life sciences). To hear about new episodes, sign up to the newsletter or follow us on twitter at @LabToMarket.
The fashion and textile industry is at a turning point
First, it is one of the most polluting due to its use of chemicals (polyester, dyes, etc.), large amounts of water, long-distance logistics, and waste (defective products and unsold inventory that ends up burnt or in landfills.
The Covid-19 pandemic put pressure on both retail and supply chains.
In this episode, we talk with Alex Chan, Co-Director of The Mills Fabrica about the industry’s growing appetite for innovation.
Key topics
In this conversation, we talk about:
The growing interest of the fashion and textile industry for deep tech to improve productivity, reduce its environmental impact, and build more resilient supply chains.
Examples of solutions for digital fabrication, on-demand and local production (including 3D printing).
New and sustainable biomaterials,
Technologies for defect prevention or waste recycling.
Finally, we discuss strategies and resources for startups to successfully engage with the apparel industry.
About The Mills Fabrica
The Mills Fabrica is a Hong Kong-based global investment fund and industry platform focused on fashion and lifestyle.
It invested in over a dozen startups related to ‘TechStyle’ — combining technology and lifestyle.
It also published two excellent and free reports on ‘Techstyle Innovations’ and ‘Covid-19: Reconstructing the Apparel Value Chain’.
The Mills Fabrica was founded as part of the Nan Fung Group, a large Hong Kong-based conglomerate that started in the textile industry in the 50’s, and is now spanning property development and management, shipping, and more.
Disclosure: The Mills Fabrica is an LP in SOSV IV.
For other episodes covering ‘old school industries’, listen to our podcasts with Robert Gallenberger (btov Partners) and Kelly Chen (DCVC).
Companies
Disclosure: SOSV, TheMills and Nan Fung portfolio companies are marked.
Algalife: Textile pigments and fibers from algae — TheMills
AlgniKnit: algae-derived, biodegradable yarns and textiles — SOSV
Bolt Threads: Sustainable Fashion Biomaterials and Fabrics — Nan Fung
Evrnu: Novel engineered fiber made from discarded clothing — TheMills
Huue (fka Tinctorium): Sustainable, petroleum-free indigo dyes — SOSV, TheMills
Kniterate: digital desktop knitting machine — SOSV
Mango Materials: Biopolymers from methane — TheMills
MycoWorks: Mushroom-based leather — SOSV
Presso: Dry-cleaning and disinfection robot — SOSV
Renewcell: Technology for fabric recycling — TheMills
SmarTex: Real-time defect detection for textile production — SOSV
Unspun: On-demand, custom jeans from 3D body scans — SOSV, TheMills
Other References
Covid-19: Reconstructing the Apparel Value Chain: Report by TheMills Fabrica.
Techstyle Innovations: Report by TheMills Fabrica.
Fashion for Good (Amsterdam): Platform for sustainable fashion innovation
Global Change Award: Back by the non-profit H&M Foundation to make the entire fashion industry circular.
Shima Seiki: A global leader in knitting machines.
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14. How Khosla Ventures Invests In Deep Tech — Kanu Gulati and Rajesh Swaminathan
13. Australia’s Deep Tech Ambitions — Phil Morle (Main Sequence Ventures)
12. Funding Science Fiction That Works — Habib Haddad and Calvin Chin (E14 Fund of MIT Media Lab)
11. How to Select Industrial Partners — Robert Gallenberger (btov Partners)
10. Science Entrepreneurship — Xavier Duportet (Eligo Bioscience & Hello Tomorrow)
The Dawn of the Deep Tech Ecosystem by Hello Tomorrow and BCG
Deep Tech Investors Mapping by Hello Tomorrow
Deep Tech Trends Report, Hardware Trends Reports and Hardware Investment Outlook by SOSV