Geopolitical unrest, rising costs and trade wars have tested the denim industry’s commitment to innovation. Yet pockets of innovation are gaining traction.
At Kingpins Amsterdam last week, industry experts discussed the must-have ingredients for scaling innovation. While long-standing business relationships can build trust and facilitate collaboration, they aren’t enough to innovate. Broader adoption requires accessible storytelling, measurable results and a solution-oriented approach that demonstrates how new technologies can address real-world challenges.
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Lowering adoption barriers has been a key focus for Huue, a Berkeley, Calif.-based biotechnology startup that uses bioengineering and microbial fermentation to convert sugar into sustainable, non-toxic indigo dye for denim.
Corinna Chen, CEO of Huue, said innovation breaks down when companies work toward new products but don’t understand how a large industry like the denim sector operates.
“They’re not looking for a science project,” Chen said about Huue’s clients. Instead, she said brands and players across the supply chain are looking for finished products that work in the factory.
“That’s the engine,” she said, adding Huue’s goal is to show that “we’re factory ready, that we’re manufacturing ready, and that we’re skill ready, especially for this industry.”
Challenges are prevalent in denim manufacturing.
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