Biophilica has been selected as the winner of the 2021 Manufacturing Futures competition by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Fashion District for their unique ‘Treekind,' a totally plant-based, compostable leather substitute for the fashion industry.

The Manufacturing Futures prize, which was launched by the IET in collaboration with the Fashion District and the Fashion Innovation Agency at the London College of Fashion, UAL, was created to encourage technological innovations that address the manufacturing challenges that the fashion industry faces today.

It urged fashion and tech start-ups to develop propositions for new materials, manufacturing processes, waste management, supply chain, and logistics, transparency and traceability, end-of-use, and the circular economy, with a focus on developing propositions for new materials, manufacturing processes, waste management, supply chain, and logistics, transparency and traceability, end-of-use, and the circular economy.

Since May, ten shortlisted start-ups have received business and investment advice from industry and manufacturing professionals before pitching to a panel of judges comprised of representatives from Pangaia, H&M Co-Labs, Make UK, IBM, FIA, and the IET.

Biophilica was declared the winner for its Treekind innovative, a plant-based leather alternative for the fashion industry that is recyclable as green waste, home compostable, plastic-free, and estimated carbon-neutral. Biophilica will get a 15,000-pound cash reward as well as a one-year Mills Fabrica lab membership for rapid prototyping and experimentation as the winner.

In addition, IBM will provide bespoke business support based on design thinking to develop an action plan, and Common Objective will provide a 12-month company membership with global connections, premium intelligence, and sustainable fashion and manufacturing training courses.

In addition, Modern Synthesis, a biomaterials start-up that creates cellulose materials by culturing microbes, and Nanoloom, which creates biodegradable graphene fiber that sheds, was awarded the highly commended honors.

IET president Danielle George, said that engineering plays an important role in the world of fashion, and Manufacturing Futures gave us the opportunity to shine a spotlight on start-ups that are applying technology and science to tackle the urgent environmental needs of the fashion industry. They brought engineers and the fashion industry together to tackle some of the industry's most pressing problems, and these breakthroughs have the potential to dramatically reshape the future of fashion manufacturing.”

Clean Ocean Technology, ClearChain, 2DTronics, Nanofique Limited, Pattern Project, Petit Pli, and Terra Neutra were among the other finalists.

Fashion District director Helen La, said that manufacturing Futures 2021 has brought up truly cutting-edge start-ups with some ground-breaking technologies. They have a unique chance to work together, both within the business and with other sectors, to bring the brightest and most significant technologies to the industry to alter it.