Maria Srivastava, chief impact officer at Pangaia, shares insights on the company’s sustainable practices and innovative materials at a recent presentation.
In a recent presentation focused on innovation within the fashion industry, Maria Srivastava, the chief impact officer at Pangaia, detailed the company’s commitment to sustainable practices through scientific advancements. The talk, titled “disrupting fashion one lab-grown fibre at a time,” highlighted Pangaia’s collaboration with various innovators, including a Japanese start-up that specializes in producing spider silk—an emerging material described as “soft as a cloud and hard as steel.”
Pangaia, which opened its first standalone store in the UK on Carnaby Street in July, was founded five years ago with a mission to accelerate the market introduction of scientifically innovative fabrics. Srivastava explained that the company’s initial breakthrough was the development of a T-shirt crafted from a blend of seaweed fiber and cotton, which was further enhanced with peppermint oil for its antibacterial properties.
“We were born out of desire to be a for purpose and sustainability-driven business, it is embedded into our existence, it is not a forced retrofit,” Srivastava stated during the presentation, which took place at a recent Summit event, with Drapers editor Jill Geoghegan moderating the session.
Addressing the brand’s unique approach, she added, “We do things a bit differently, bringing new things into the world, from all these incredible labs from all over the world.” According to Srivastava, Pangaia serves as a platform for labs to showcase their materials, especially those that may not have considered fashion as a potential application. “The feedback is that innovators appreciate an outlet to create products for. Some labs did not think they could use their material in fashion. This is what Pangaia exists for, as a shop window for what is possible,” she noted.
Pangaia’s innovative approach extends to its “powered by Pangaia” initiative, which assists other brands in developing merchandise that aligns with their values. The company has provided services to a diverse clientele, including luxury fashion houses, beauty brands, and charitable organizations.
One of the notable partnerships currently in development is with the UK restaurant chain Wagamama. Pangaia is repurposing the chain’s retired uniforms to create new staff attire, reflecting their commitment to sustainability. This collaboration follows previous efforts where Pangaia produced uniforms for Wagamama’s global staff.
As Pangaia continues to expand its offerings and collaborations, its focus remains firmly on integrating sustainability with cutting-edge fabric technology.
Source: Noah Wire Services
