The journey to 'greenify' the fashion accessories industry

Before we reveal these 4 innovations, let's quickly recap that we've just finished our Innotrip - taking top university and institute leaders on the innovation study tour to Seoul

?? Co-organized by the National Innovation Center (NIC), BambuUP, and the Next Challenge Foundation (Korea), this program includes delegates from NIC, BambuUP, and 14 leading universities across Vietnam.

1. OCHIS: Redefining Fashion with Coffee Waste Sunglasses

The majority of eyewear in today’s market is made from plastic, often touted as recyclable. Yet, millions of pairs end up in landfills annually, exacerbating global pollution. OCHIS aims to change this narrative. Instead of relying on traditional plastics, the company has carved a niche in fashion by producing distinctive sunglasses from coffee waste. This creative approach not only introduces a novel fashion statement but also addresses waste management challenges, aligning with the sustainable fashion trend.

A standout feature of OCHIS sunglasses is their environmentally friendly materials. Rather than conventional plastics, OCHIS utilizes coffee waste—a rich, sustainable resource. This choice minimizes waste, protects the environment, and contributes to solving the coffee waste problem after consumption.

CEO Maksym Havrylenko's vision extends beyond coffee waste sunglasses. He initially explored using herbal materials like mint, basil, and soy before settling on coffee waste. In fact, various industries already use coffee waste for products such as furniture, ink, and biofuels, but Havrylenko pioneered its use in sunglasses.

The decision to use coffee waste was driven by two key reasons: its inherent dark color, perfect for sunglasses, and its abundant availability worldwide, with millions of tons generated annually.

Notably, OCHIS COFFEE made an impressive debut on Kickstarter, surpassing its $10,000 funding goal with $13,000 raised. The campaign attracted backers from the US, Europe, Japan, and Australia, with only about 10% from Ukraine.

OCHIS's primary goal is to promote sustainable and biodegradable product concepts, paving the way for a greener future in fashion and environmental protection. OCHIS sunglasses aren't just a fashion accessory; they symbolize a sustainable lifestyle, spreading the message of environmental conservation to consumers worldwide.

2. The world's lightest bag, comprised of 99% air

In their Fall/Winter 2024 collection, Coperni unveiled the "Air Swipe Bag"—a handbag composed of 99% air and 1% glass (specifically silica aerogel). Aerogel, also known as Alcogel, is a nano-material derived from silica gel and alcohol. It possesses remarkable properties, being the lightest solid material in the world that can withstand high temperatures and pressures—even capable of blocking a bullet. Essentially a "solid mixed with air," Aerogel is 90% air by volume, making it three times heavier than air but 1,000 times lighter than glass. Despite its primarily gaseous nature, Aerogel can support weights ranging from 500 to 4,000 times its own mass, making Coperni's Air Swipe Bag an embodiment of the lightest solid material on the planet. The bag measures 27 x 16 x 6 cm and weighs only 33 grams.

The design of the Air Swipe Bag is equally impressive, featuring a contemporary oval shape with a rounded handle for comfortable carrying. Available in various colors and sizes, it caters to diverse styles and needs.

Before making waves in fashion, Aerogel was first utilized by NASA in 1997 for its exceptional thermal and acoustic insulation properties, notably protecting the "Sojourner" spacecraft from extreme cold on Mars. On Earth, Aerogel adhesive is currently being researched for its application in thermal insulation windows.

Professor Ioannis Michaloudis, who collaborated on this bag, remarked, "When fashion integrates interdisciplinary craftsmanship, such as science, it can inspire many brands to innovate and produce environmentally viable solutions. Experimenting with unique materials can be a practical approach to fashion's role in saving our planet. Therefore, fashion brands should be open to new ideas and collaborate with fields like science to explore and invent high-value sustainable fashion products."

3. Jewelry from discarded electronic components

The disposal of electronic devices is accelerating, with each person on Earth averaging 7.6 kg of electronic waste in 2021, totaling a staggering 57.4 million tons globally, of which only 17.4% is properly collected, processed, and recycled. Rapid turnover in electronic consumption, such as frequent upgrades to new phones and quick discarding of cheaper devices, contributes significantly to electronic pollution. However, there's a silver lining: electronic waste is finding new applications in the fashion industry.

E-waste fashion represents a pioneering step towards sustainability and environmental friendliness. By repurposing electronic waste, Oushaba's latest jewelry collection not only minimizes waste but also promotes resource conservation and reduced energy consumption.

In early April 2023, Oushaba, based in London, unveiled a collection of jewelry crafted from recycled electronic components. This trend is gaining traction globally, as more fashion brands explore recycled materials derived from electronic waste.

Gillian Carr, a former Christie's auctioneer, founded Oushaba during the UK lockdown due to COVID-19, driven by reflections on the relationship between humans and electronic devices. She states, "Devices like phones not only connect us to the outside world but also hold personal memories and significance. I've always been concerned about their swift disposal—new phones sometimes end up in landfills within 18 months of being manufactured."

Teaming up with two partners, Carr collaborated with a prestigious jewelry workshop in Sicily, Italy, to salvage and transform old phones into exquisite jewelry pieces.

Carr's perspective mirrors a clear trend in the global jewelry industry. According to McKinsey's 2021 report, sustainability will influence 20-30% of luxury jewelry purchases by 2025. Additionally, over 43% of today's younger consumers favor brands that prioritize sustainability.

Embracing customer demand, young entrepreneurs are increasingly adept at leveraging recycling and upcycling opportunities. "At 16, during a school visit to a metal casting workshop, I learned about the precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum in mobile phone circuit boards," shared entrepreneur Eliza Walter. "This sparked my curiosity about the hidden values within electronic waste, particularly in jewelry craftsmanship."

Seven years later, in 2017, Walter launched Lylie—a jewelry brand using recycled gold from mobile phones and excess materials from dental industries (some of which are precious alloys used in dental fillings). Lylie gained recognition for its high-end jewelry collections made entirely from sustainable materials, complemented by recycled gemstones and lab-grown diamonds.

4. Shoes entirely made from recycled plastic bottles, completed in just 6 minutes

Plastic waste poses a critical environmental challenge, with only 9% of the 6 billion tons generated since the last 50 years being recycled, 12% incinerated, and a staggering 79% left to accumulate in landfills or pollute natural environments. In certain Indian Ocean islands, flip flops and other simple shoes contribute up to 25% of the ocean’s plastic waste. Addressing this issue, a startup has emerged, repurposing plastic waste into environmentally friendly fashion statements.

Rothy’s, based in San Francisco, USA, specializes in crafting incredibly chic footwear for women, entirely made from recycled plastic bottles. Founded by Roth Martin and Stephen Hawthornthwaite, the brand is renowned for its commitment to sustainability and innovative manufacturing processes.

The idea stemmed from observing women daily grappling with what to wear, prompting the founders to wonder why they couldn’t step into designing shoes themselves. The production process at Rothy's is equally impressive:

• Collection and Processing: Plastic bottles are gathered from recycling centers, undergo thorough cleaning and sterilization.
• Material Processing: The bottles are cut into small pieces, forming plastic pellets.
• Yarn Creation: These pellets are heated and stretched into soft filament fibers.
• Shoe Weaving: Using advanced 3D knitting technology, these filament fibers are seamlessly woven into shoes according to programmed patterns, colors, and sizes.

Notably, Nike adopted a similar method with its Flyknit line introduced in 2012. However, unlike Flyknit and other sports shoe models that use recycled materials crafted via 2D techniques, Rothy’s employs a seamless 3D knitting process—completing the entire shoe-making process in just six minutes—utilizing almost precisely the required amount of materials, with no excess waste.

Rothy’s shoes resemble fabric more than plastic, available in two styles: the Point ($145) and the Flat ($125), both machine-washable and drying in just 40 minutes. Rothy has a global customer base purchasing products online.

Moreover, Rothy’s shoes can be recycled again to create items such as gym mats, rubber shoe soles, or household floor mats. Roth Martin, CEO of Rothy’s, affirms: “To date, we have recycled over 50 million plastic water bottles to create our shoes. By creating yarn from plastic bottles, they are kept out of landfills and buried waste.”