As guests at the forum, Zheng Dandan, General Manager of Corporate Communications at JIANGNANBUYI; Callie Clayton, Vice President of Global Apparel Sales at Spiber; and Zhang Han, Head of Brand Retail and Sustainability at Plug and Play China, held in-depth discussions around the theme “Nature’s Inspiration Library for Future Materials.” The forum was hosted by fashion influencer Yuyuzhangzou.

Through the discussions, participants agreed that close collaboration between brands and supply chains, the establishment of standardized testing systems, and the continued application and large-scale scaling of innovative materials are effective pathways to reduce costs and promote the wider adoption of new technologies.

JIANGNANBUYI and Spiber share a high degree of alignment in their approaches to sustainability, cultural values, and technological innovation. This collaboration represents not only innovation at the material level, but also a proactive commitment by fashion brands to the industry’s sustainable transformation and a meaningful exploration of future development pathways.

From technological innovation to ecological collaboration, and from breakthroughs in individual materials to systematic reconstruction, the “reboot” of the fashion industry is already underway. As more brands, technology enterprises, and platforms join this process, the development of next-generation material supply chains will continue to accelerate, driving the fashion industry toward a greener and more sustainable future.

From Future Fibers to Fashion Garments: The Chinese Debut of Brewed Protein™

As the core of this new cooperation, what makes Brewed Protein™ such a pioneering material?

According to Callie Clayton, Vice President of Global Apparel Sales at Spiber, compared with traditional cashmere, the production process of Brewed Protein™ can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 79%, water consumption by 97%, and land use by 99%, while achieving 100% biodegradability. This not only highlights its strong environmental performance but, more importantly, demonstrates how it skillfully combines the softness of cashmere with the strength of spider silk. The result is an optimal balance between comfort and functionality, showcasing the distinctive appeal of a true “future fiber.”

Over the past three years, Spiber has gradually advanced the commercial production of its independently developed protein fibers, following the launch of its first product in 2018. This autumn, the company collaborated with JIANGNANBUYI to jointly introduce a jacket collection made with Spiber’s protein materials, marking the debut of this “future fiber” in the Chinese ready-to-wear market. Among them:

CROQUIS has launched the Brewed Protein™ Wool Double-Faced Coat, crafted from high-quality 17.5-micron Super 120 worsted wool blended with Brewed Protein™ fibers. The fabric retains the warmth, softness, and natural luster of wool while incorporating the flexibility and environmental benefits of Brewed Protein™. With its refined hand feel and premium texture, it balances comfort and durability, delivering an elegant suede-like finish along with lasting structural stability.

JNBY has launched the Brewed Protein™ Fiber Double-Faced Jacket. The product blends Brewed Protein™ with high-count worsted wool yarn, achieving a balance of warmth, softness, sustainability, and low carbon performance. In terms of design, it continues JNBY’s minimalist aesthetic, featuring a collarless, one-piece cut and clean V-neck lines. This design highlights a natural, fluid silhouette while subtly refining the neckline and facial contours, making it an elegant expression of future-oriented high-end fashion.

Protein fiber is a new material with great potential. Through its cooperation with JIANGNANBUYI, Spiber hopes to allow more consumers to personally experience its innovative value and application possibilities. Clayton stated that this cooperation is not only an important step for Spiber to enter the Chinese market but also opens up new directions for the company’s future in-depth local cooperation. “We hope to join hands with more forward-thinking brands like JIANGNANBUYI to jointly promote the large-scale implementation of new bio-based materials, making sustainable fashion a truly accessible reality.”

From Independent Innovation to Ecological Co-construction: Multi-party Exploration of Future Material Implementation

However, translating cutting-edge technology from the laboratory to the market is far from easy. Referring to the collaboration with Spiber, Zheng Dandan acknowledged that the advancement of new material projects faces multiple challenges. First, there is the issue of cost, as innovative materials are generally priced at a higher level. Second, there are challenges related to team awareness and training, since designers, R&D staff, and production teams need time to learn, adapt, and fully understand the properties and application methods of new fabrics.

In addition, the standardization of testing and alignment across the supply chain are equally critical. New materials must undergo rigorous physical and chemical testing before mass production to ensure compliance with both national and corporate standards. At the same time, efficiently synchronizing the production cycles of upstream innovative materials with a brand’s biannual ordering schedule is another key factor influencing implementation efficiency.

To overcome these challenges, relying solely on a brand’s own capabilities is far from sufficient, and building an open and collaborative innovation ecosystem is essential.

As an industry-oriented technological innovation platform, Plug and Play China is committed to fostering co-creation and collaboration among diverse stakeholders within the ecosystem, thereby accelerating the practical application of cutting-edge technologies across industries. At the forum, Zhang Han shared the company’s latest progress in building a global technological innovation ecosystem. Currently, Plug and Play has established cooperative networks with a wide range of partners, including industry leaders, governments, industrial parks, and universities, and has invested in early-stage technology enterprises, continuously fulfilling its core role as a bridge and enabler.

Only through broader participation by brands, the advancement of localized production, and the extensive collection of consumer feedback can innovative future materials such as Brewed Protein™ gradually enter the mass market. It is reported that JIANGNANBUYI will further expand the application of low-impact materials, including biodegradable PLA and T2T (Textile to Textile) recycled cellulose, consistently building a diversified portfolio of sustainable materials to support the brand’s long-term sustainability goals.

It is worth noting that across the full lifecycle of the textile industry, the environmental impact of raw materials accounts for only about 30%, while a greater share of the impact arises from the production and post-processing stages.

Therefore, JIANGNANBUYI’s sustainability practices are not confined to the raw material stage but extend across the entire production process and post-processing. On the manufacturing side, the company actively selects partners that use green electricity and low-carbon equipment to reduce carbon emissions. In the post-processing stage, it mitigates environmental impact by strengthening chemical management. Looking ahead, JIANGNANBUYI plans to further introduce fully bio-based auxiliaries to continuously reduce the environmental footprint across the entire production chain and systematically advance the brand’s green transformation.

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2025 SHAN FUTURE FORUM: JIANGNANBUYI Partners with Spiber to Launch a New Era of Fashion with Future Fibers

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