Harnest innovates trims to support circular fashion

Harnest, a vertically integrated Tier 2 and Tier 3 manufacturer based in Dhaka, has introduced the Responsible Trims Collection. The new platform is designed to help brands adopt recycled, next-generation, and biodegradable trims, threads, and accessory materials within existing supply chains at industrial scale.

The collection has been developed through partnerships with five material innovation companies, OceanSafe, Ambercycle, BlockTexx, Indorama Ventures, and Jiaren. Together, these partners cover areas including textile-to-textile recycling, advanced polymer regeneration, and biodegradable material development.

Assef Shaikh said trims are often one of the most ignored barriers in circular fashion. He explained that while brands usually focus on the main fabric, elements such as threads, elastics, and labels also play a major role in determining whether garments can be effectively recycled, recovered, or redesigned for lower environmental impact.

The first material introduced through the collection is OceanSafe’s naNea, a synthetic material developed as an alternative to traditional polyester.

Unlike conventional polyester, naNea has a polymer structure that allows it to biodegrade naturally in the environment instead of remaining for centuries. According to the company, the material biodegrades by more than 93 per cent within 99 days in marine conditions without creating persistent microplastics or releasing heavy metals. It can also be recycled together with PET materials.

Currently, naNea is available for use in sewing threads and elastics, with pricing and lead times comparable to conventional trims. The material has also received the Cradle to Cradle Certified Material Health Gold certification.