Companies including Levi Strauss & Co., Gap, and Artistic Milliners have joined hands with Fashion for Good to improve the reliability of data related to fiber shedding in the textile industry.

The initiative, called “Behind the Break 2.0,” is the second phase of a focused research programme aimed at building greater confidence in fiber loss data, combining existing industry knowledge, and increasing supplier participation across the textile and fashion value chain.

The new phase builds on the work completed during Phase 1.0, which started in 2024. The earlier research examined the strengths and limitations of different testing methods used to measure fiber loss. It also studied how test results differed between laboratories and investigated the factors that influence fibre shedding in cotton knit, cotton woven, and polyester knit fabrics.

Through Phase 2.0, the partners aim to improve the accuracy and reliability of data, refine current testing methods, strengthen industry knowledge around selected fabric categories, and encourage wider supplier involvement to support larger-scale data collection.

Fashion for Good explained that the project is divided into four major work areas. These include a multi-laboratory “Round Robin” study to identify differences in testing practices, the selection of a standard reference fabric for laboratory calibration, a comparison of two sample preparation methods known as PU bonding and lock-stitch, and focused research activities on specific fabric types.