Fashion Week Spotlight: Turning food byproducts into fashion

Innovation Spotlight is Colectivo’s series authored by Lena Boudart, powered by insights from Going Green Media, dedicated to tracking real-world innovations already reshaping industries, from materials and energy to nature, infrastructure, and consumer systems.

As Fashion Weeks unfold around the world, they don’t just set aesthetic trends, they send powerful signals across supply chains, sourcing strategies, and consumer expectations. In this special Fashion Week edition of Innovation Spotlight, we turn our attention to this disruptive shift in fashion today: next-generation leather made from vegetables and food waste.

If you follow Patagonia from a business perspective, your first thoughts are likely their headline-grabbing statements like the 2022 declaration that "Earth is now our only stakeholder," or the iconic 2011 New York Times ad boldly telling consumers, "Don’t Buy This Jacket" in defiance of the Black Friday frenzy.

But if you’ve been reading along with us over the past month, you’ve discovered the deeper "why" behind these moves. Beyond the communications and campaigns that went viral lies the intentional, regenerative philosophy that fuels Patagonia’s unique approach to responsible business. At a time when commercial uncertainty and environmental threats are being felt acutely around the world, this book brings a fresh and positive perspective, upon which we could all reflect.

Our team often receives inquiries about recommended films, documentaries, and books that offer a deeper understanding of essential sustainability topics. To address this, we are launching the Colectivo Book Club this year, and invite you to follow along! We’ve put together a curated list of books that get you to think critically and creatively around things like global economics, eco-practices, ageing economies, mental health…

As the global community continues to prioritise sustainability and environmental stewardship, the European Union has taken a significant step forward with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). This regulation, initially proposed on March 30, 2022, reached a final agreement in December 2023 and will come into force on July 18, 2024. 

The ESPR is set to revolutionise how products are designed, produced, and disposed of across all EU Member States, with far-reaching implications for manufacturers, consumers, and public authorities.