Parley for the Oceans Ventures into Material Innovation with New Investment Arm

In a significant move towards fostering sustainability in fashion design, environmental organization Parley for the Oceans is launching an investment arm dedicated to supporting material innovation. Collaborating with renowned brands like Adidas and Dior to transform plastic pollution into product components, Parley aims to offer enduring financial support to emerging startups that focus on addressing environmental and social issues associated with plastic, as reported by Business of Fashion (BoF).

Expressing a commitment to introducing the next generation to innovative materials, Parley’s founder and CEO, Cyrill Gutsch, criticized existing investors, citing their undue influence on rapid commercialization driven by short-term gains. Leveraging its expertise in supply chains and strong connections with designers, Parley is positioned to bring novel materials to market.

As a testament to this commitment, Parley’s initial investment is directed towards Bananatex, a five-year-old company specializing in materials derived from banana plants. Gutsch encourages designers to collaborate with this sustainable material, emphasizing the pivotal role that fashion house designers play as advocates for initiatives like Parley’s.

Gutsch, having previously introduced banana plants to Dior’s menswear designer Kim Jones, resulting in the creation of a Dior coat from the material, underscores the influential role of designers in advancing sustainability within the fashion industry.