Global Young Designer: PANGAIA

Global Young Designer: PANGAIA

Meet the science-backed collective future-proofing the global fashion industry.

This article first appears in Volume 33: Collective.



PANGAIA
is not a fashion brand. It’s a
collective
of scientists, technologists and designers striving
to disrupt the world of fast fashion one lab-grown fibre at a time.
Fittingly, its name comes from “pan”, meaning “all-inclusive”, and
“Gaia”, the personification of Mother Earth. Championing form and
functionality, its future-proof fabrics are put to use in a
kaleidoscope of tracksuits and conscious-cashmere loungewear
sets.

Signature hoodies are made from recycled cotton; constructed
from saltwater seaweed, self-cleaning T-shirts are infused with
odour-reducing peppermint oil; zero-waste trainers have been
produced using grape leather repurposed from the Italian wine
industry’s trash.



Place PANGAIA’s packaging in a home compost bin and it will
decompose within 24 weeks. No wonder this label is fast becoming
the sustainable streetwear of choice.

With a wardrobe full of collaborations – including one with
Jaden Smith’s JUST Water company and another with art collective We
Are Hairy People – the group has more than proven its commitment to
partnering with artists, start-ups and charities that share its
passion for reversing the climate crisis.

Here, we speak to Chief Brand Officer Maria Srivastava about
compostable fabrics, puffer jackets stuffed with wildflowers and
why science is the key to disrupting the waste-producing fashion
industry.


Tell us about the PANGAIA team.

We function as a global collective of scientists, designers,
thinkers and creators from all backgrounds and walks of life. We’re
building a new model of leadership which champions the team as
opposed to the individual. We are united by one vision and dream to
design a better future.

You describe PANGAIA as a science company rather than a
sustainable fashion brand. Why is that?

Our objective is to demystify science and showcase breakthroughs
in an accessible way. One of the reasons why PANGAIA came to be was
the realisation that fashion is among the world’s most polluting
industries. Our idea was to take planet-positive material
innovations and bring them to life through everyday products.

What are some of your biggest achievements?

Our most recent is the investment in Kintra Fibers, which makes
high-performance, “farm-to-fabric” yarns from a sugar-based resin.
Working together, we plan to develop a first-of-its-kind
compostable material that will be an alternative to the
petroleum-based synthetic fabrics that are used so widely at the
moment. It will set a new standard of transparency in the
synthetic-material supply chain. We hope this will become a model
not just for PANGAIA, but for the industry at large.


One of PANGAIA’s goals is to become carbon positive. What steps
are you taking to achieve this?

We have set clear goals designed to make a positive impact both
in terms of sustainability and philanthropy. These steps – which
include work on innovative materials, ocean health and elevating
human potential – are at the heart of everything we do. They’re
ambitious, but they help keep us accountable.

Our FLWRDWNTM technology is a great example of this. It’s a new,

vegan
, cruelty-free and fully biodegradable material made from
natural wildflowers – we call it “high-tech naturalism”. Our
Italian scientists have been developing it for more than ten years.
Its arrival presents a future in which a more sustainable fashion
industry can make use of existing natural materials, such as
agricultural waste, augmented by science and technology.

We also launched the Tomorrow Tree Fund in October 2020 with the
aim to plant, protect or restore one million trees around the
globe. For every PANGAIA purchase, a portion of the proceeds are
donated. So far, we have raised funds for more than 160,000
trees.

What’s next for the collective?

We have some big partnerships in the works that we are extremely
excited about. Our future plans include creating accessories,
jewellery, beauty, furniture and much more.



PANGAIA’s Conscious Guide to London

STAY

We’re big fans of Treehouse’s composting and recycling programmes. With
its outdoorsy atmosphere and reclaimed-wood interiors, this
Marylebone hotel is the best place to bed down.

EAT

The menu at West Kensington’s 222 Vegan is fully plant-based and takes
inspiration from a variety of cuisines. Think pumpkin-noodle salad
with coconut, lime and ginger.

DRINK

The cocktails at Pamela in Dalston are delicious, especially with a
vegan snack. Our top pick is the Des Barres, a punchy concoction of
fresh kiwi and jalapeno-infused vodka.

DO

Our favourite way to de-stress is at Yoga West in
Acton. This community-run studio is based in an old art-deco
factory. The friendly vibe and range of classes keep us coming
back.

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