Innovate Textile Awards 2024 Winner Announcement

Innovate Textile Awards 2024: Honoring Innovation and Excellence in the Textile and Apparel Sector, Leeds, UK

The World Textile Information Network (WTiN) sponsored the Innovate Textile Awards 2024, which came to an end with a virtual ceremony honoring innovative developments and outstanding accomplishments in the textile and clothing sector. The event, which culminated in the coveted Innovation of the Year award, honored brilliance in five different categories: Material Innovation, Product Innovation, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Innovation, Sustainability, and Changemakers. Recipients conveyed their appreciation and provided insights into their innovative work.

Noble Biomaterials received the Material Innovation Award for their Ionic+ Botanical Technology, which honors developments in functional finishing and performance textiles. Noble Biomaterials’ “exceptional potential to disrupt the market and create far-reaching impacts” was praised by Mark Jarvis, managing director at WTiN, who also highlighted the company’s revolutionary contributions to functional textiles.

Allon Cohne, senior vice president of Ionic+ and chief marketing officer at Noble Biomaterials, said, “We are ecstatic to receive tremendous validation for our team’s hard work over the past couple years in developing Ionic+ Botanical and bringing it to market.” “This award is another important milestone for us, acknowledging the distinctive advantages Ionic+ Botanical provides to customers and our commitment to developing textiles that improve performance while also having a positive environmental impact.”

Fibrant received recognition in the Product Innovation category for their entry, EcoLactam®, which is part of their value chain partnership with Didriksons for advancing sustainable fashion. WTiN’s head of content, Madelaine Thomas, commended the group for their “commitment to reducing environmental impact through innovative material choices,” highlighting the significance of sustainability in contemporary textile design.

This accomplishment demonstrates our dedication to using creative, sustainable solutions to bring about significant change in the textile sector. Giovanni Henssen, business development manager for sustainability at Fibrant, stated, “Our partnership with Didriksons has been specifically recognized for its potential to reduce environmental impact through our innovative product: EcoLactam.” We are especially honored that this award recognizes our all-encompassing strategy for sustainability. It serves as evidence of what can be achieved when creativity, collaboration, and environmental awareness are combined. We are still dedicated to pursuing our goal of developing creative, sustainable solutions that have the potential to revolutionize our sector.

The Manufacturing and Supply Chain Innovation Award recognised Digital Clothing Limited for its Fashion Big Data Platform for Sustainability Compliance in Supply Chain Management. This pioneering platform simplifies compliance with Green Deal regulations and Digital Product Passport (DPP) requirements. “Their initiative is both promising and impactful, offering a valuable tool for businesses navigating sustainability standards,” said Jarvis.

“We are deeply honoured to receive the Innovate Textile Award for Manufacturing and Supply Chain Innovation from WTiN. This recognition highlights our shared vision for a more sustainable, transparent, and connected fashion and textile industry,” said Tim Jun Li, CEO, Digital Clothing Limited. “At the heart of this journey is the Fashion Big Data (FBD) platform, a PaaS solution designed to drive innovation while digitally connecting stakeholders and processes across the textile value chain in real-time—from raw materials, fibres, yarns, fabrics, garments, brands, retailers, and consumers.

“By integrating Digital Product Passports, advanced technologies such as AI, real-time data analytics, and product performance modelling algorithms, we aim to enable seamless traceability and compliance with eco-design standards. This award is a testament to the power of collaboration, and we warmly invite everyone to join us in shaping a more sustainable future for the fashion and textile industry.”

The Sustainability Award was presented to Fibre52 for its innovative dyeing process, the sustainability advancement cotton has long needed. Thomas applauded Fibre52 for integrating green technologies into a sustainable system, calling it “a truly valuable and impressive achievement in sustainable innovation.”

“We are proud to receive this prestigious award from WTiN,” said Laura Thornquist, president of Fibre52. “By collaborating with industry partners, we are driving meaningful change in the way cotton is bleached, using a more sustainable and gentle approach. This not only benefits the environment but also results in better end-quality fabric. While change can be challenging, the Fibre52 team is inspired by the commitment of our partner brands and manufacturers who are embracing our innovative process.”

The Changemaker Award honoured Alpine Group for their inspiring work on Fighting Period Poverty with Dignity Kits. “This initiative, rooted in sustainability and social impact, is giving millions of girls and women the dignity and freedom they deserve,” said Thomas, acknowledging the circular model that transforms textile waste into life-changing solutions.

“We are delighted to have been honoured with this award for our Dignity Kits program, which addresses the critical issue of period poverty—a challenge faced by millions of women and girls worldwide,” said Clare Woodford, VP of sustainability and impact for Alpine Group. “To date, we’ve reached 150,000 women and girls, setting us well on our way to achieving our UN commitment of reaching 250,000. Together, we are proving that innovation and compassion can change the world—and this is just the beginning.”

The highlight of the evening was the Innovation of the Year Award, presented to Coldenhove for their revolutionary Texcol®—a pigment transfer paper designed for printing on natural and synthetic fabrics like cotton, linen, silk, and nylon. Texcol® makes it easy to produce bright, long-lasting designs on textiles without using any water, cutting down on waste and helping the environment.

“Winning this award is a major milestone for Coldenhove,” said Ron Sportel, Innovation & Development Manager. “We expect that the Texcol® technology will create the same market development as we did with the introduction of dye sublimation paper 25 years ago, once again reshaping the textile printing landscape.”

Jarvis concluded the event by reflecting on the evening’s remarkable achievements: “Each of you have brought something truly unique and valuable to the industry. Your passion and dedication inspire transformative change, and we are grateful to celebrate your accomplishments.”

WTiN extends its gratitude to the distinguished panel of judges for their invaluable contribution in evaluating groundbreaking innovations within the textile industry. The panel brought together exceptional expertise in sustainability, technology and design.

Judges include:

The Innovate Textile Awards 2024 once again spotlighted the groundbreaking work shaping the future of the textile and apparel industry. Congratulations to all winners and participants for their contributions.