Leading bio-materials company Nanollose Limited (ASX: NC6) has unveiled its world-first garment made from 100% Tree-Free and Forest-Friendly Nullarbor lyocell fibre.
The garment was designed by Australian fashion designer Lee Mathews and will be launched in collaboration with leading man-made cellulosic fibre manufacturer Birla Cellulose at the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen on June 7 and 8
Lee Mathews is a leading fashion designer in ethical womenswear. Founded in Sydney and now with four Australian retail locations, Lee Mathews has grown to become a global fashion force selling throughout Australia and several respected international platformsi.
Birla Cellulose is a global leader in sustainable fibres and operates with an integrated value chain from forest plantations to fibre production. Its operations span nine countries and 12 manufacturing locations globally. The fabric brands Liva and Livaeco are from the house of Birla Cellulose. These brands have become household names with major global brands, with a presence across several countries carrying Liva/Livaeco tags. Birla Cellulose is delighted to be part of this new journey.
The 100% Tree-Free Nullarbor fibre was made in collaboration with Birla Cellulose at its R&D facilities in India. The fibre was then spun into yarn by The Institute for Frontier Materials at Deakin University, Victoria, using standard industrial yarn making equipment.
The resulting Nullarbor yarn was then provided to Victorian knitwear developer, Knovus, who made two copies of the Lee Mathews designed garment and sample swatches using the latest zero-waste 3D knitting technology. The process demonstrated that Nullarbor lyocell fibre integrates seamlessly with existing industrial equipment to produce high-quality garments.
The production and promotion of this 100% Tree-Free Nullarbor garment complements Nanollose’s first pilot production in February 2022 which led to the creation of 250kg of Nullarbor-20 Forest- Friendly fibre from a blend of 20% microbial cellulose and 80% conventional wood pulp and demonstrates the potential of the technology and resulting fibres.
The Global Fashion Summitii in Copenhagen is the leading international forum for sustainability in fashion and fosters industry collaboration to drive positive impact. Attendees feature influential voices in the industry including commentators, visionaries, researchers, politicians, designers, environmentalists, and journalists.
Launching at a widely respected global industry event provides Nanollose with the opportunity to unveil the new garment and promote Nullarbor to a wide audience of industry professionals. With Nanollose’s innovative processes providing a potential solution to some of the critical environmental issues facing the industry, particularly deforestation, the company anticipates an increased level of interest following the successful launch at the summit. Progress is being made across a number of business development initiatives as discussions with several potential partners including leading global fashion and textile brands continue.
This is an exciting opportunity for Nanollose to showcase what can be achieved by designers and fashion labels incorporating our Forest-Friendly Nullarbor fibres. To this end, Lee Mathews has incorporated several knits into the garment which highlight the properties and versatility of the fibre. We are also delighted to be able to share this opportunity with our colleagues at Birla Cellulose who have been instrumental in the creation of the fibre,” Executive Chairman, Dr Wayne Best, said.
