In the quest for a more sustainable fashion industry, the materials we use to make our clothes matter more than ever. While polyester, cotton, and wool still dominate the market, a new wave of next-generation fibers is emerging. These innovative materials are designed to reduce environmental harm and improve biodegradability, while helping us rethink our relationship with clothing.
So, what exactly are next-generation fibers? And why should you care?
Key takeaways
- Next-generation fibers aim to reduce fashion’s environmental footprint by being biodegradable, renewable, and less resource-intensive than traditional fabrics.
- Materials like Piñatex and Mylo™ offer animal-free and waste-based options, but many still require plastic coatings for durability. Fully circular, plastic-free solutions like Mirum® and Infinna™ show strong potential but remain limited in scale.
- Challenges such as high production costs, limited availability, and exaggerated sustainability claims hinder widespread adoption. Verified certifications (e.g., Cradle to Cradle, FSC, GRS) are crucial for transparency and consumer trust.
- Next-generation fibers are not just new materials, they represent a shift in how clothes are designed, produced, and disposed of. When combined with better consumption habits and ethical practices, they can help drive a regenerative, climate-resilient fashion industry.
What Are Next-Generation Fibers?
Next-generation fibers are alternative materials created to solve the environmental and ethical issues caused by “traditional” fabrics like cotton and synthetic fibers. These fibers often come from unexpected sources (like mushrooms, pineapple and seaweed) and are developed using cutting-edge science and biotechnology.
Their goal is simple: create fabrics that are lower in carbon emissions, use less water and chemicals, and are fully biodegradable or recyclable – to be more sustainable.
Some of these fibers are bio-based (made from plants or microorganisms), while others are regenerated (transformed from waste into usable material). Many next-generation fibers are still in early production stages, but some are already making their way into our closets.
Why Do We Need Next-Generation Fibers?
It’s no news that the fashion industry is one of the world’s most polluting industries. Traditional materials are a huge part of the problem. Take cotton, for example, it uses huge amounts of water and pesticides, and let’s not get started with polyester, a fiber that is made from fossil fuels and is well known for shedding microplastics into our oceans.
Next-generation fibers aim to do better, both for people and the planet. They can reduce reliance on fossil fuels, protect biodiversity, lower carbon emissions, enable circular fashion systems, and much more.
In other words, they’re part of the solution in building a regenerative, climate-resilient fashion industry.
Top Next-Generation Fibers to Know
Here are some of the most exciting nex-generation materials today:
1. Piñatex
- Made from: Pineapple leaf fibers.
- Description: Piñatex is a leather alternative made from the leaves of pineapple plants, which are considered a waste product of the existing pineapple harvest. This helps reduce waste and gives farmers a new way to earn money. Piñatex is strong and flexible, making it a popular choice for bags, shoes, and jackets. However, like many plant-based leathers, it’s not entirely biodegradable, as it’s coated with a thin layer of plastic (PU) to make it last longer. This shows one of the main challenges with new leather alternatives: they often still rely on plastic to improve strength or water resistance.
- Reasons why we like it: Animal-free, waste-based, and less toxic than traditional tanning processes.
- Brands that are using/have used it: Hugo Boss, H&M, Svala, Sezane.
2. SPINNOVA®
- Made from: Wood pulp and agricultural waste.
- Description: SPINNOVA® is a fiber made from renewable materials like FSC-certified wood or agricultural waste. Unlike viscose or lyocell, it’s produced without harmful chemicals or a dissolving process. Instead, cellulose fibers are mechanically spun into yarn. This innovative method uses very little water, creates no harmful side streams, and results in minimal CO₂ emissions. SPINNOVA® is fully biodegradable and recyclable. It can also be blended with other fibers and used in products like jeans, T-shirts, jackets, and accessories.
- Reasons why we like it: Chemical-free process, closed-loop production, FSC-certified wood.
- Brands that are using/have used it: Adidas, Arket, Luhta.
3. Mylo™
- Made from: Mycelium (mushroom roots).
- Description: Mylo is a bio-based leather alternative grown from mushroom roots in controlled lab conditions. It looks and feels like real leather and has already been adopted by big names like Stella McCartney and Adidas. Like Piñatex, it’s not entirely biodegradable, as it’s coated with a thin layer of plastic (PU).
- Reasons why we like it: Renewable, compostable, and doesn’t rely on animal agriculture.
- Brands that are using/have used it: Adidas, Stella McCartney, Lululemon.
4. Infinna™ by Infinited Fiber
- Made from: Recycled textiles and cellulose-rich waste (like used cotton).
- Description: Infinna™ is a virgin-quality circular fiber made 100% from cotton-rich textile waste, such as worn-out clothes, otherwise destined to landfills or incinerators. Infinna™ has the natural and soft look and feel of cotton, and it can be used either on its own for 100% recycled garments or blended with other fibers. “Perfect on its own, blends like a dream.”
- Reasons why we like it: True circularity, as it closes the loop for textile waste.
- Brands that are using/have used it: Inditex (Zara’s parent company), PVH (parent company of Tommy Hilfiger).
5. Mirum®
- Made from: Natural rubber, plant oils and waxes, natural pigments, and minerals.
- Description: Mirum is a plant-based, plastic-free leather alternative developed by Natural Fiber Welding (NFW). Unlike many vegan leathers that still contain polyurethane or PVC, Mirum is entirely petroleum-free and made without toxic solvents.
- Reasons why we like it: 100% plastic-free, recyclable, made from natural and renewable resources.
- Brands that are using/have used it: Stella McCartney, Allbirds, Bellroy.
6. Bananatex®
- Made from: Abacá (a type of banana plant).
- Description: Bananatex is the world’s first durable, technical fabric made from banana plants grown without pesticides or irrigation. The abacá plant is naturally self-sustaining, and the fiber is strong, water-resistant, and biodegradable.
- Reasons why we like it: Pesticide-free farming, biodegradable, plastic-free alternative to synthetics.
- Brands that are using/have used it: Stella McCartney, Balenciaga, QWSTION.
Barriers to Overcome
Despite their promise, next-generation fibers face challenges:
- Scaling production: Many of these materials are still in the early stages of scaling up. Challenges like high costs, limited supply chains, and production consistency are real.
- Proving performance: Will the materials last, wash well, and hold shape?
- Overcoming greenwashing: Not every “eco” label is as sustainable as it seems.
That’s why transparency and certification will play a key role in helping consumers understand what’s genuinely sustainable. Look out for trusted certifications like Cradle to Cradle, Global Recycled Standard (GRS), FSC Certification, OEKO-TEX.
The Bigger Picture
The best thing about next-generation fibers is that they aren’t just about new materials. They demand a new way of thinking about fashion. From designing for disassembly (so clothes can be recycled) to thinking cradle-to-cradle, not cradle-to-grave, brands and designers need to integrate circular principles.
Next-generation fibers alone won’t fix fashion’s sustainability crisis, but they are an essential piece of the puzzle. Combined with lower consumption, better garment care, and ethical labor practices, they can help build a fashion industry that protects people and planet.
Final Thoughts
The next time you go shopping, take a moment to check the label. Is it cotton? Polyester? Or maybe something new, like pineapple leather or fiber made from bananas?
Next-generation fibers are not science fiction anymore. They’re here, and they’re changing fashion from the inside out.
As these innovative fabrics evolve, one thing is clear: the future of fashion is circular, regenerative, and grown, not mined or extracted.
And it’s about time.
Did you know about next-generation fibers? What do you think of them? Let us know in the comments below!