Woolmark links with ByBorre to "democratise" textile supply chain

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Nov 2, 2021

The Woolmark Company is having a busy time at present. Fresh from the launch of its Victoria Beckham knitwear collab, it’s also linked up with Levi’s and with Dutch textile innovation studio ByBorre.

This latter link-up sees it (and Parley for the Oceans) being a part of ByBorre’s innovative showroom launch. Called Window of Textile Opportunities (WoTO), it’s a new space open to all brands, emerging designers and young talent, “with a view to democratising the textile supply chain”. 

Woolmark said that traditionally, creative control within the supply chain is dictated first by fibre makers, to yarn makers, to textile manufacturers, “and finally to the creators — who are often forced to select from what has resulted from that chain”. This new process brings all components under one roof, “providing more control to creators — instead of placing them at the end of the conversation”.

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Other partners include supply chain specialists Santoni and Sudwolle and they’re aiming to create “an open-source mentality in the textile industry, [being] committed to responsible, low-impact access to textile design and production for all creators that work- or want to work with textiles”.

The new showroom hopes to “facilitate a unique program where leading industry changemakers give access to their knowledge, textile development processes, design tools and responsible ingredients”, Woolmark said.

Ultimately it could “enable and educate an entire generation of creators to design more fit for purpose and responsible textiles”.

And with that in mid, it has also formed partnerships with leading universities. They include FIT and Parsons in the US, Amsterdam Fashion Institute, London College of Fashion and others that will participate in the programme and host workshops, seminars and events. 

As for the Levi’s link-up, the brand has launched its Torsten Quilted, a sustainable boot designed in collaboration with The Woolmark Company, “guaranteeing performance and a lower environmental impact”.

The label is using Australian Merino wool for the inner lining of the boot that’s Woolmark-certified and designed to maintain structure and shape while drawing on the intrinsic qualities of the fibre. 

Woolmark CEO John Roberts said: “The inclusion of Merino wool in Levi’s boot not only highlights the versatility of the original performance fibre, but also shines a spotlight on the sustainable nature of the fibre, pursuing the company’s mission to inform and promote wool as the original eco and recyclable fibre”.