Algalife has developed a range of dyes and fibers from seaweeds to make a positive impact on humanity and the planet. Co-founder and CEO, Renana Krebs, shared with journalist Fiona Haran about the company's mission of sustainability.
Renana Krebs has 15 years of experience working in a senior fashion design position - both in Germany and the UK, and during that time she has come to realize how polluting the industry is. Come on. So Renana decided to leave her senior position to form her own company - Algalife - with the aim of creating sustainable solutions for the textile industry.
Like its name suggests, the company was created to promote the use of aquatic algae, which are derived from a very unique and valuable ecosystem. From in-depth research into the benefits of this algae, Algalife has evolved into a new range of natural algae dyes and fibers that can be used in a wide variety of fabrics.
Krebs calls this a "3-good solution" because the company's products are not only good for the wearer's body, but also for the textile industry and the planet.
The importance of the project was first recognized by Krebs while she was working in the Far East, where she had seen rivers with chemical pollution from the production of textiles and clothing.
“I realized that I cannot let this continue. Only when we change materials can we change our lives, because workers are no longer at risk of chemical exposure ”
Through Algalife, Krebs and her team are calling for a fairer and more transparent path forward. "When I look at a garment, I usually look at the hand of the person who made it," she says. So for me it is a matter of understanding the process. I want people to ask questions, such as what they want to know on their dinner plate, I want them to know exactly what they're wearing; I want to know who makes the clothes for me and how it affects their lives.
Recently, the company launched a new brand name - Algaeing, a verb intended to describe the "proactive approach to a better future". “For Algaeing, it is at the core of sustainable production,” says Krebs. And for us it's a never-ending process, it's evolving towards a sustainable solution ”
Renana Krebs believes that the entire textile industry should work together to bring about a lasting change. Photographer: Tammy Bar-Shay
Green Roots
Krebs founded Algalife with his father, Dr. Oded Krebs - biologist, botanist and "pioneer in the field of agricultural technology" with more than 40 years of experience in the field of biology, providing consulting and planning services in the field of R&D (Research & Development). And as she explains, the influence of her father and the environment motivated her to grow up with a passion for nature.
“I grew up in a village in central Israel that has a tradition of agriculture, so I soon fell in love with the land and everything it creates,” says Krebs. This is where I come from and from there I have tried to bring it into my real world as a designer. I am in charge of four collections. Each set ranges from 80 to 100 designs - each design ranges from 1 to 3 million copies. To me, it's like you can't save until you see it. I realize that there are people behind these numbers, there are faces that we don't see. "
The alarming situation of the textile industry forced Krebs to act. "20% of global soft drink is polluted by weaving and dyeing, and 10% of the chemicals in our clothes will get into our skin and bodies," she said.
“So we decided to create a fabric to bring change not only for the fashion industry but also for the environment. Ultimately, we believe a new fabric needs to be the 'green engine' for our future.
Through its algae products, Algalife hopes to change the fashion industry and improve the environment. Photographer: Tammy Bar- Shay
Sources of algae
To obtain raw materials, Algalife has partnered with one of the world's largest algae suppliers to ensure they have the facilities to scale up production.
"We can find algae everywhere, but we don't take them out of the ocean, because that could cause ecological imbalances and you can't choose such a double-sided solution," says Krebs. .
The advantage of algae lies in that they are able to grow and develop fast only thanks to sunlight. And based on the company's patented algae formula, we are able to create both dye and fabric without generating any additional waste.
Krebs also added that "With just one formula, we were able to develop into two separate product lines, bringing a lot of benefits to the company." “We can also dye any fabric, and Algalife has also created a second generation of fibers that contain the natural color of algae, thereby completely eliminating the product dyeing step. This will be a breakthrough that will completely change your thinking. "
Algaeling has evolved into a "three good" mask with a filter of algae. Photographer: Tammy Bar-Shay
CREATE AGE NAME
In a short span of time, Algalife has created a lot of charisma based on business characteristics and access to media, as Krebs describes as a "game changer". "Forty to 50 emails have been sent from the top brands around the world, which gives the company the incentive to accelerate cherished projects in the future," she said.
The company has also participated in several industry competitions and won a number of awards such as the "Creative Company 2017" award, the "Vision" award, or the "Global Change" award ... Krebs considers these awards a great recognition, creating a real platform for startups to showcase their capabilities and potential.
It also highlights the value of teamwork, as everyone on Algalife's team comes from different industries - from garment and civil engineering, to biology and chemicals. trace. “This is the only way we can create a revolutionary product,” explains Krebs. We also have partners from all parts of the supply chain, to be able to understand the supply chain not only from the outside but also from within. ”
To get an accurate view and assessment of the market the company is targeting, Krebs said the company spent its first investment in R&D to demonstrate the feasibility and practicality of the project (POC: Proof-Of-Concept). “Over the past time, we have been very happy to be working and supported by great investors who always believe in what we are doing,” she added. She also said that further cooperation and creativity in the future will help the garment industry "narrow the gap" between startups, brands and manufacturers.
“There are a few differences between research learning and the actual needs of the industry,” she said. Hence, we need to create a 'bridge' between them. Since effective solutions to the above problem are in hand, we will find a way to build this 'bridge'. That is what I aim for, not only with Algalife but also for the textile industry as a whole ”.
Algalife is beginning to expand and refine its algae formulation with partners, already running trials and showing promising results. In addition to the algae fiber and dye products, Krebs revealed the company has developed a 'three good' mask with a filter in the middle made from algae, expected to launch next month.
When promoting the Algaeing brand, the company is now inviting fabric manufacturers and customers to be 'part' of the project, because for Krebs, cooperation is key to real change.
"The change comes not only from the supply chain, but also from customers and the government," she said. We cannot be part of the problem, we must be part of the solution and must always work together.
"The future of fashion becomes big thanks to seaweed - that's what I have always believed in"
https://vinatex.com.vn/algalife-xay-dung-mot-he-sinh-thai-ben-vung-cho-nganh-det-may/
Source: vinatex.com.vn
