Refiberd wins Trailblazer prize at the Global Fashion Summit
The Global Fashion Summit, hosted by the Global Fashion Agenda association, brings together global industry leaders, CSR stakeholders, and technology innovators to shape a more responsible future for fashion. The event serves as a catalyst for industry-wide change, encouraging decision-makers to turn sustainability ambitions into action.
For its 2025 edition, held from June 3 to 5 in Copenhagen, Denmark, the event attracted more than 1,000 decision-makers to explore "the barriers and bridges" to progress in sustainable fashion. Industry leaders shared insights on key challenges and innovations: Kering addressed human resources, Target discussed the relocation of value chains, Zalando tackled the harmonization of clothing size labeling, Re&Up and Lycra presented new material developments, and H&M, Lenzing, and Tommy Hilfiger focused on strengthening a circular value chain.
The Trailblazer Programme 2025 award placed a strong emphasis on circularity. The prize, which supports sustainable innovation in the fashion industry and attracted over 200 entries in its second edition, went to Refiberd.
The company, which previously won an eBay Innovation Award in 2024, stood out for its "high impact potential." The California-based company, founded in 2020, has developed a textile composition identification technology that combines spectral imaging and artificial intelligence. This tool enhances the textile recycling chain, improves garment authentication for resale, and ensures better material traceability.
The prize includes an investment of up to $200,000, along with support from PDS Ventures, the award's partner.
The Global Fashion Summit has become a key platform for retailers and manufacturers to showcase their sustainability initiatives. This year, Zalando presented a report on the importance of sustainability for consumers, Lycra introduced its Qira corn-based fiber, eBay highlighted its initiatives for unsold goods, and Fashion for Good and Arvind unveiled plans for a sustainable textile innovation center in India.
In the same spirit, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched its "Scaling circular business models" guide to encourage fashion executives to integrate circular models into their business strategies.
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