C&A and Zalando Join Altag® Fiber Club as First Brand Signatories

Fashion for Good and AltMat confirm the participation of two major European retailers, marking a commercial milestone for fibres made from agricultural waste.

C&A and Zalando have joined the Altag® Fiber Club as its first brand signatories, committing to develop their first styles featuring the next-generation fibre. Announced by Fashion for Good and AltMat, the development marks a step towards bringing fibres derived from upcycled agricultural waste into mainstream fashion retail.

Addressing the gap between sustainability goals and commercial adoption

Materials account for 91% of the fashion industry's total emissions and can represent up to around 30% of a product's cost of goods sold. Despite their importance to both environmental impact and business competitiveness, brands often face challenges committing to new materials without proven supply, while innovators need confirmed demand to scale production.

The Altag® Fiber Club was launched in June 2025 through a strategic partnership between Fashion for Good and AltMat. Its model pools resources and minimum order commitments from participating brands to distribute risk and create conditions for commercial scale.

Altag® fibre uses agricultural residues

Altag® is a natural fibre developed by AltMat using agricultural waste from food, medicinal and non-textile crops. The material is made from residues that might otherwise go unvalued or be burned in the field.

The renewable fibre is positioned as an alternative to conventional materials without requiring dedicated land or water use.

The Fiber Club aims to address barriers to wider adoption, including scalability, processing compatibility and cost competitiveness. The initiative builds on Fashion for Good's earlier Fiber Club with textile-to-textile recycler Circ in 2024, developed in collaboration with Canopy.

C&A and Zalando commit to first Altag® styles

C&A and Zalando, through its private labels, have confirmed their participation as founding brand signatories. Both retailers have committed to producing their first styles featuring Altag® fibre.

Their participation brings the material closer to commercial retail applications and provides the programme with input from established fashion retailers.

Brand participation to shape fibre development

The founding membership extends beyond purchasing commitments. C&A and Zalando will contribute insights into the technical requirements, consumer expectations and manufacturing realities associated with high-volume retail.

These inputs are expected to inform the ongoing development of Altag® fibre and its suitability for the participating brands' supply chains, products and customers.

The partnership brings together material innovation and brand demand as the Altag® Fiber Club works towards scaling fibres made from agricultural residues.