Sustainable fabrics made from wood-based fibre

The innovative method consumes 99 per cent less water than cotton production, and the fibre is completely recyclable

Spotted: Finnish lifestyle design company Marimekko and fibre technology company Spinnova have created what is being considered to be the first-ever printed clothes range, made of wood-based fibre. The Marimekko prototype outfits demonstrate the great potential of the fibre innovation to ensure a more sustainable future of the textile industry.

Marimekko and Spinnova have been collaborating on developing and commercialising new wood-based textiles since 2017. The method is considerably less of a strain on the environment than viscose or cotton production, for example.

Manufacturing textile fibre spun with Spinnova’s method consumes 99 per cent less water than cotton production. Furthermore, the fibre contains no harmful chemicals and is completely recyclable. It also has the potential to biodegrade quickly, which further reduces the environmental footprint of the fibre’s entire life cycle. 

The collaboration has also become one of the winners, finalists and honourable mentions of the 2020 Innovation by Design Awards. 

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