Future Fabrics Expo 2023 will introduce a new Home & Interiors area, curated by British interior designer and paint expert Edward Bulmer and highlighting the environmental impact of home materials. “Natural paint makers and sustainable fabric weavers are fellow travellers, and we all need to pick up the pace in the face of the climate emergency,” explains Bulmer. “So, it is my pleasure to curate a collection of fabrics that are walking the talk and bringing much kinder colour into our lives.”
As seen at Milan Design Week, many fashion brands are pivoting to offer additional home and lifestyle offers, so this add-on at Future Fabrics Expo makes sound commercial sense for businesses looking to explore the territory in a sustainable way.
Future Fabrics Expo's Smart Home Interiors & Packaging Pivots
Published 20 June 2023
6 min read
This year’s Future Fabrics Expo (London, June 28) features a smart pivot into home interiors and an increased focus on packaging – broadening audience appeal for the dedicated annual sustainable textiles showcase. Here, we highlight the new features of the (usually fashion-focused) event, making it a go-to for those involved in responsible material sourcing.
Future Fabrics Expo 2023 will introduce a new Home & Interiors area, curated by British interior designer and paint expert Edward Bulmer and highlighting the environmental impact of home materials. “Natural paint makers and sustainable fabric weavers are fellow travellers, and we all need to pick up the pace in the face of the climate emergency,” explains Bulmer. “So, it is my pleasure to curate a collection of fabrics that are walking the talk and bringing much kinder colour into our lives.”
As seen at Milan Design Week, many fashion brands are pivoting to offer additional home and lifestyle offers, so this add-on at Future Fabrics Expo makes sound commercial sense for businesses looking to explore the territory in a sustainable way.
In addition, the event will be ramping up its packaging emphasis. The Packaging Solutions area is supported by Canada-based Canopy, and aims to inspire and educate industries to rethink the materiality of packaging, unsustainable dependency on forests as feedstocks, and how we can innovate to redesign systems and shift to low-impact circular solutions.
“Canopy is thrilled to partner with Future Fabrics Expo to showcase the varied, innovative, and available alternatives to forest-based packaging,” says Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director of Canopy. “These products are a win-win for our planet. They take sourcing pressure off vital forests, reduce waste, and provide low-carbon packaging for the 21st century.”
For more on responsible packaging solutions, see our recent Packaging Futures 23/24 suite of reports.
In addition, the event will be ramping up its packaging emphasis. The Packaging Solutions area is supported by Canada-based Canopy, and aims to inspire and educate industries to rethink the materiality of packaging, unsustainable dependency on forests as feedstocks, and how we can innovate to redesign systems and shift to low-impact circular solutions.
“Canopy is thrilled to partner with Future Fabrics Expo to showcase the varied, innovative, and available alternatives to forest-based packaging,” says Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director of Canopy. “These products are a win-win for our planet. They take sourcing pressure off vital forests, reduce waste, and provide low-carbon packaging for the 21st century.”
For more on responsible packaging solutions, see our recent Packaging Futures 23/24 suite of reports.
Another new feature of 2023’s Future Fabrics Expo is titled Revival of the UK Textile Supply Chain: Through a Sustainable Lens. Supported by luxury label Alexander McQueen, the curated display will spotlight the importance of heritage in the UK’s textile supply chain from farmers, herbal dyers and tanners to weavers, knitters and other artisans.
"For a number of years now, we have wanted to focus more on the UK. We have seen too many enterprises struggling and witnessed the ongoing loss of traditional skills,” explains Nina Marenzi, founder and director of the Future Fabrics Expo. “We felt it was time to show that sustainability can be an incredible driver, for innovation but also for [the] rejuvenation of many dying crafts and trades – in short, the revival of an industry that was born here in the first place. This will also enable our visitors to discover new partners, to become inspired and to join the materials revolution: it enables a redesign of everything we produce, but also recognises that we can look back to move forward."
Another new feature of 2023’s Future Fabrics Expo is titled Revival of the UK Textile Supply Chain: Through a Sustainable Lens. Supported by luxury label Alexander McQueen, the curated display will spotlight the importance of heritage in the UK’s textile supply chain from farmers, herbal dyers and tanners to weavers, knitters and other artisans.
"For a number of years now, we have wanted to focus more on the UK. We have seen too many enterprises struggling and witnessed the ongoing loss of traditional skills,” explains Nina Marenzi, founder and director of the Future Fabrics Expo. “We felt it was time to show that sustainability can be an incredible driver, for innovation but also for [the] rejuvenation of many dying crafts and trades – in short, the revival of an industry that was born here in the first place. This will also enable our visitors to discover new partners, to become inspired and to join the materials revolution: it enables a redesign of everything we produce, but also recognises that we can look back to move forward."
Visit Future Fabrics Expo 2023 for more information, and look out for our forthcoming sustainable fashion textiles report, publishing in August.
Visit Future Fabrics Expo 2023 for more information, and look out for our forthcoming sustainable fashion textiles report, publishing in August.