Materials Innovation Lab

In this video, Cecilia Takayama, former Director of the Materials Innovation Lab (MIL), shares insights into how Kering are approaching material sourcing. She has identified sustainable raw materials that meet luxury’s utmost standards of quality, and enable brands to integrate these into their fashion collections. This helps brands to find innovative sustainable material solutions and alternatives to harming people and nature.

The MIL is located in Northern Italy, and has a comprehensive library of over 2,000 certified fabrics which are classified against external standards. You previously heard Géraldine and Helen talk about the hidden complexities and issues associated with material processes and manufacturing at the raw materials stage. Cecilia discusses the importance and role of certifications and transparency across the supply chain so that you get an idea of the whole landscape.

Millions of people work in the fashion industry worldwide, yet in many cases people are paid less than half the amount considered to be a living wage. As discussed previously in the eight Issues under Wellbeing, fashion contributes to these injustices across its supply chain, and it is very difficult to find out and verify certain set standards. Certifications are useful in order to judge the sustainability aspects of a source and consider social responsibility. They are put in place to help designers make better design decisions and retain integrity.

Cecilia highlights the challenges that materials present in luxury fashion business, and perhaps some of you may have had to tackle similar problems in your work.