Fashion for Good, in collaboration with The Microfibre Consortium, has launched Behind the Break: Exploring Fibre Fragmentation—a pioneering project aimed at identifying the root causes of fibre shedding from textiles and creating actionable solutions to reduce fibre pollution at the source.
The project unites industry leaders including adidas, Inditex, Levi Strauss & Co., Bestseller, C&A, Kering, Norrona, ON, Paradise Textiles, and Positive Materials, with Under Armour joining as a key project partner. Testing will be conducted across three labs—Paradise Textiles, Under Armour, and Northumbria University’s IMPACT+ Network—focusing on cotton knit, cotton woven, and polyester knit fabrics.
This initiative highlights the urgent need for upstream interventions, shifting the focus from post-release mitigation to prevention at the manufacturing stage. By addressing inconsistencies in current test methods and data gaps, the study aims to:
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Enhance testing accuracy and industry alignment
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Improve data correlation and expand testing databases
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Identify design and production practices that reduce fibre loss
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Provide actionable strategies to brands and manufacturers
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Support effective policy development on fibre pollution
Key industry voices, including Fashion for Good’s Katrin Ley, The Microfibre Consortium’s Kelly Sheridan, and innovation leads from ON, Paradise Textiles, and Positive Materials, emphasized the importance of science-led research and collective action to drive sustainable transformation.
