HONG KONG SAR -
Media OutReach
- 6 February 2023 - Fabrica X, the Impact Retail concept store operated
by The Mills Fabrica in Hong Kong, today announces its new campaign,
which over the course of six months, will celebrate innovations in
biomaterials in textiles and lifestyle products. Biomaterials are new
materials regenerated from organic waste through nature-based,
biological processes to create more sustainable products. Along with its
global partners, Fabrica X will enable Hong Kongers to learn,
experience, and purchase biomaterial innovations and products in fabric
materials, such as alternative leathers derived from coffee waste or
footwear made from wood.
Relaunched in July 2022, Fabrica X is an innovative concept store that
combines retail, education, and experiential discoveries through
different thematic campaigns related to sustainability. The Mills
Fabrica itself was grown out of Nan Fung Group's textile legacy in Hong
Kong, with a mission to accelerate innovations for sustainability,
environmental and social impact.
From lab to store, to closet – a one-stop-platform to bring new technology to everyday lives
Synthetic fibers today represent 65% of global fiber production, of
which 56% of fibers produced are derived from fossil fuels, according to
Textile Exchange's 2022 report. The huge amount of textiles produced
means an equally staggering amount is sent to landfills or incinerated
each year estimated at one garbage truck of textile waste every second.
This contributes to the release of greenhouse gas emission as textile
waste decomposes in landfills.
"Our first campaign in 2023 serves to showcase — and celebrate — the
wonders and progress made in biomaterials science. Today we are seeing
lab innovations transform into beautiful, practical, and biodegradable
fabrics, dyes, and materials spun into clothing,"
said Cintia Nunes, General Manager, Head of Asia, The Mills Fabrica.
"Fabrica X is putting the spotlight on biomaterials as we urge consumers
and businesses to rethink conventional textile materials, particularly
in our daily lives — and understand the real environmental and social
implications of their purchases."
Fabrica X aims to use its Impact Retail concept store not only as a
retail space for businesses to sell products made with sustainable
materials, but also to exhibit innovative biomaterial concepts and
fabrics where people can touch, feel and observe the materials. It
includes an experiential zone where people can get hands-on learning
experiences on transforming common food waste and natural materials into
new life. By doing so, Fabrica X aims to put this issue front and
center in Hong Kongers' lives, and urges businesses and retailers to
make more conscious purchasing decisions by seeing and understanding the
innovative alternatives that are available in the market today.
With an emphasis on hands-on education, Fabrica X will also showcase the
lifecycle and decomposition process of biodegradable fabric throughout
the campaign period of 6-months.
With support from Fidelity International, Biofabricate, and Lenzing Group
With a shared belief in building a more sustainable future, Fidelity
International is forming a collaborative partnership with Fabrica X, to
support and influence consumers and businesses to become more
sustainable.
"At Fidelity, we understand that every decision from investment to daily
wearables, has an impact for society. That is why we take an active
approach to sustainable investing, seeking to steer companies towards
decisions that will positively impact the greater good. United by the
goal of building a more sustainable future, we are proud to partner with
Fabrica X and lend our support to drive biomaterial innovation at home
and beyond to unlock new sustainable possibilities across industries. We
seek to become the catalyst to fundamentally change industry practices
to become more mindful of consumption choices," said
Ellie Tang, Director, Sustainable Investing from Fidelity International.
In addition to Fidelity International, Biofabricate, the global
authority in sustainable biomaterials, is the campaign's Knowledge
Partner – ensuring that educational contents used in the campaign are
verified, impactful, and not susceptible to greenwashing. Lenzing Group,
one of the world's leading supplier of specialty fibers for the textile
and nonwovens industries – with its flagship brand TENCEL
TM – provides ecologically responsible fibers for the exhibition.
Fabrica X is open to partnerships and collaborations with startups,
brands, corporates and investors from Hong Kong and around the world to
join its mission to promote materials sustainability, and to accelerate
development and adoption of innovative biomaterials.
The six-month showcase will feature global innovations that will change
the industry, including the incubatees and investees from The Mills
Fabrica, as well as a number of local, regional, and global innovators
who will unveil their innovative and sustainable materials made with
from fruit peels, seashells, mushroom, and many more, for the public to
feel and experience. During which, Hong Kongers can also shop from
featured brands which produce clothings and other goods made from such
biomaterials.