Recently, the French luxury goods giant Kering decided to cooperate with the think tank Albini_Next and the Austrian biotechnology company Vienna Textile Lab to conduct research in the Kering Material Innovation Lab (hereinafter referred to as MIL). ) to accelerate the development of alternative dyeing solutions based on 100% natural processes.
Currently, traditional synthetic dyes based on petroleum dominate the fashion industry. However, as the sustainability of product raw materials and processes increasingly becomes a criterion for consumer purchasing considerations, more and more brands are beginning to invest in more sustainable textile dyes.
MIL will take the opportunity of this alliance to focus on research and testing the application of microbial pigments, especially microorganisms derived from plant or mineral materials, in various textiles. This results in the development of natural, biodegradable and non-toxic alternatives to textile dyes.
Karin Fleck, CEO and founder of TextileLab Vienna, said: “Collaborating with industry leaders like Kering and Albini will help us gain a deeper understanding of how our microbial dyes perform on different fabrics. We learn from this collaboration We have learned a lot, which allows us to further optimize the manufacturing process and align with industry standards.”
About Kering Materials Innovation Laboratory MIL
In 2013, Kering Group created MIL, which focuses on the entire supply chain and is responsible for the procurement and supply of raw materials, spinning, weaving and the development of sustainable dyeing processes in the production process. MIL is currently working with several industry-leading start-ups to test a number of innovations, including dyeing and processing solutions, as well as leveraging biotechnology and extracting new fibers from agricultural waste.
The MIL database carefully archives raw material suppliers and their fabrics, and currently has more than 3,800 certified organic fabric and fiber samples, including alternative leathers, sustainable fabrics, and natural, cellulose, and synthetic fibers.
MIL has also developed a sustainability rating system internally, using the Kering EP&L tool to assess the environmental impact of specific raw materials or fibers, and support suppliers in obtaining appropriate environmental certifications to drive change throughout the industry.
Currently, MIL provides sustainable raw materials to the brand creative teams of Kering Group, such as Gucci, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta. At the same time, the group Active consideration is also given to optimizing traceability throughout the supply chain. (Source: French website Journal du Luxe, Kering official website)
Kering Group announced that all its brands will no longer use animal fur
As early as September 2021, French luxury goods giant Kering announced that it had decided to stop using animal fur throughout the group. Starting with the autumn 2022 collection, all of the group’s brands will no longer use animal fur. This means that Kering Group will usher in a “zero fur era”.
François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering Group, said: “For many years, Kering has been a pioneer in promoting sustainable development. Kering depicts a beautiful vision of sustainable fashion, and this vision is in line with the most stringent The environment is inseparable from social values and standards. When it comes to animal welfare, we have always been willing to improve the practices of our own supply chain and the entire boutique industry. Now it is time to go a step further and all collections of our group’s brands will no longer use animal fur. The world is changing, and so are customers. The boutique industry naturally needs to adapt to new changes.
Kering’s flagship brand Gucci announced in October 2017 that it would give up animal fur – covering mink, coyote, raccoon, fox, rabbit and Karakul big-tailed sheep, as well as other animals raised or captured for their fur. Behavior.
Starting from Gucci, many brands under the Kering Group, including Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen, Brioni and Saint Laurent, have gradually Decided to stop using animal fur.
Kering said it will continue to implement the animal welfare standards released in 2019 because this animal welfare standard involves other animal fibers and materials. In May 2019, Kering launched the first animal welfare standard for the luxury and fashion industry, aiming to promote industry practices and promote collaboration. Kering’s animal welfare guidelines cover all aspects of its entire supply chain, including how animals commonly used in the fashion and textile industries are treated, prohibiting intensive farming models, and prohibiting antibiotic treatments other than for rescue purposes.
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