by NEXT ROUND: Sustainable ready-to-wear brand Eile Amárach has raised $2 million in Series A funding from Una Terra.
Una Terra founding partner and chief executive officer Luca Zerbini will also join the board of Another Tomorrow, the brand founded in 2020 by former finance executive Vanessa Barboni Hallik and which has become a popular choice for celebrities.
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This is the fourth round of funding for fashion brand B Corp as it looks to expand. The early growth impact fund based in Zurich is focused on scaling circular economy solutions, as well as tackling biodiversity and climate change.
“Una Terra’s unique understanding of the intersection of the consumer, sustainability and circular landscape makes them an ideal partner for Another Tomorrow. Their lateral systems thinking approach to industry transformation and scalability, as well as their global reach, positions them as an optimal growth partner to scale our proven cornerstones,” said Barboni Hallik.
Zerbini highlighted the significant impact fashion has on the environment throughout the supply chain when revealing the investment. In contrast, Another Tomorrow focuses on sustainable sourcing and supply chain transparency, digital IDs that support traceability and authenticated resale.
“It’s encouraging to see a luxury brand apply a systems-thinking approach to create a comprehensive circular business model,” said Zerbini. “Another Tomorrow truly serves as a sign of positive change for an industry ripe for transformation, and better aligned with the values of a new generation.”
Elizabeth Giardina joined Eile Amrách as creative director in 2022. Key retailers include Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Holt Renfrew and Selfridges in the UK, among others.
During Paris Fashion Week, the brand presented its latest smart collection focused on workwear featuring plastic-free bio-based leather made from up-cycled bio-waste, no-kill silk and seaweed-based SeaCell, among other textile innovations.
TIP THE SCALES: Global Fashion Agenda has partnered with early stage investment fund PDS Ventures on a new program called Trailblazer, which seeks to fund a start-up with a scalable solution in the fashion and textile industry.
The winning company will receive an equity investment of up to $200,000, as well as commercial and operational support from PDS Group’s Positive Materials to get the innovation up and running.
GFA is the non-profit behind the World Fashion Summit held in Copenhagen each year.
Textile company Positive Materials also acts as a research partner for new ventures focused on low-impact textiles, helping with research and development, supporting brand collaboration and access to PDS Limited’s global supply chain.
A jury including executives from Ralph Lauren and H&M, as well as Fashion for Good, among others, will shortlist eight applicants. All shortlisted applicants will receive field training and the winner will be revealed at the Copenhagen summit on 22 and 23 May.
This year’s conference marks the 15th anniversary of the World Fashion Summit, with this edition billed as “Unlocking the Next Level” to identify the gaps and accelerate real solutions.
GFA highlighted the need for scale transformation of the industry to change the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
“In a time of significant economic challenges, it is more important than ever that the fashion ecosystem prioritizes investment in early-stage solutions so that we can bring them to fruition and bring them to life. Through this program and the support from PDS Ventures, GFA wants to help innovation succeed,” said GFA CEO Federica Marchionni.
PDS Ventures is a $50 million venture capital fund focused on startups driving change in the fashion sector, with investments in materials science, manufacturing solutions, circular economy, supply chain, traceability and technology solutions.
“There has never been a more urgent time than now for real industry support for climate-leading innovators with not only financial investment but most importantly, mentorship and support to unlock the scaling potential of early-stage innovators ,” said PDS Limited founder and executive vice chairman Pallak. The PDS portfolio includes Materra cotton regenerative tech, Evrnu recycled cotton and Nature Coatings, a pigment made from food waste, among other startups.
Applications for the program will close on 31 March.
IT’S A NEW WORLD: Textile recycler Evrnu is launching its first direct-to-consumer garment with a hoodie designed by Christopher Bevans.
Called the Hoodie 360, the garment is made from Nucycl Evrnu, made from shredded cotton textile waste. The unisex garment is made from 55 percent Nucycl and 45 percent Supima cotton.
Constructed using seamless 3D technology, it is fully recyclable, compostable and biodegradable. It also comes equipped with a QR code to help facilitate recycling.
“We are at an inflection point in the fashion industry where good design and innovation have come together to create a new standard,” said Evrnu co-founder and CEO Stacy Flynn. The company has previously collaborated with brands like Pangaia, and hopes that the direct-to-consumer approach can show shoppers the feel and quality of the content.
“Our collaboration with Christopher Bevans is the perfect way to demonstrate the power of our intention to create products that are in alignment with natural resources,” she said. Bevans participated in the project through its Bevans Design Studio.
The Evrnu process breaks down old clothes and extracts raw cellulose, which is then made into new fibers and yarns.
Bevans was named Eddie Bauer’s first creative director in 2022, and previously held positions at Billionaire Boys Club, Sean John and Yeezy.
REPAIR DEAL: Pamela Anderson has teamed up with responsible Los Angeles denim brand Re/Done to launch a 25-piece capsule collection made from recycled and upcycled vintage fabrics. The collection used low impact washes, regenerated cotton or untreated organic cotton, and apple leather instead of animal skin for back patches on jeans.
Simply called Re/Done & Pam, the collection is based on Anderson’s favorite basics, heavily focused on denim and T-shirts with prices ranging from $175 to $595. Re/Done has its own retail brand in Paris, the Hamptons in New York, Aspen and two stores in L.A. It is also carried in retailers such as Le Bon Marché, Selfridges and Net-a-porter.
Re/Done has upcycled nearly 200,000 pairs of Levi’s jeans since it was founded in 2014 by Sean Barron and Jamie Mazur.
Anderson, who recently went on to found the vegan skincare line Sonsie, worked with an all-female team including creative director Lolita Jacobs, director Java Jacobs, stylist Katie Burnett and the -makeup artist Cyndle Komarovski and photographer Lea Colombo on the ads.
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