#Sustainability

2025-01-09

Good Fashion Fund partners with K.K.P Fine Linen for new wet processing unit

The Good Fashion Fund, the Laudes Foundation and the Fashion for Good initiated fund managed by FOUNT, has made an investment in K.K.P Fine Linen Private Limited (“KKPFL”) – a leading Indian manufacturer and exporter of bed linen and made-up products from Namakkal. The 2.0 million US Dollar loan will support K.K.P’ investment in the installation of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) in their upcoming wet processing unit in SIPCOT, Perundurai, Tamil Nadu.

The investment in K.K.P Fine Linen will be towards the installation of a state-of-the-art biological effluent treatment plant (ETP) with a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system. The ETP will be part of the newly acquired griege fabric process unit in SIPCOT (Perundurai) with an installed capacity of 100,000 metres per day. The workers will be hired majorly from local communities, while gender and community development activities will be undertaken by the company alongside broader environmental and social sustainability initiatives.

With India becoming a prominent home textiles market for international and domestic brands, KKPFL is poised to take advantage of the momentum by backward integrating the processing operations, improving efficiency in manufacturing and increasing their revenue potential. The company would be able to cater to the needs of its customers by having end-to-end control of its products manufactured in the highest sustainability standards and regulatory requirements.

The ETP (and the processing unit) is expected to demonstrate positive savings, especially in the areas of chemical consumption, freshwater usage and material waste reduction in-line with stringent local pollution control norms. KKPFL (and KKP Group) also benefits from 100% renewable energy sourcing (solar and wind) of which close to 40 megawatts is from their in-house plant.

Speaking on the partnership, Sathesh Kumar Nallathambi, Managing Director of KKP Fine Linen Privated Limited, “We are beyond thrilled to partner with the Good Fashion Fund as the 2 million USD investment in our upcoming wet processing plant enables us to meet the rising demand for sustainable practices in the textile industry.

This strategic collaboration represents a pivotal moment in our ongoing journey toward a more sustainable future. With this investment, we are making bold strides to reinforce our commitment to sustainable practices, driving both long-term impact and growth within our company.

As leaders in sustainability within the home textiles manufacturing sector, this funding propels us forward. It ensures that we not only meet the demands of today but also lead by example in the sustainable fashion movement.”

Bob Assenberg, Fund Director of Good Fashion Fund commented “We are excited to venture into the home textiles segment in India through this investment in K.K.P Fine Linen, based in Namakkal. Through this partnership, we aim to accelerate and demonstrate the potential of sustainable manufacturing practices in the home textile segment.

KKPFL has proactively integrated sustainability in its strategy and operations and continues to strive for new heights as a young and upcoming bedding and made-ups producer. This partnership marks an important milestone for KKPFL and GFF.”

The Good Fashion Fund (GFF), is initiated by Fashion for Good and is a collaboration between Laudes Foundation, The Mills Fabrica and FOUNT complemented by Rabobank as lender to the Fund. The Fund provides long-term USD loans in addition to technical and environmental and social expertise to manufacturers in Asia, primarily India and Bangladesh. Financing is to be used to invest in impact equipment that deliver both economic growth and good fashion practice. The Good Fashion Fund has a blended capital structure with an actual fund size of USD 19 million. The Fund is managed by FOUNT, a leading impact investment firm from the Netherlands.

Current partners of the GFF also include Pratibha Syntex (India), Sri Kannapiran Mills (India), Progress Apparels (Bangladesh) and EPIC Group (Bangladesh).

www.goodfashionfund.com

Fashion for Good launches DW(O)R-X to navigate the emerging landscape of PFAS-free finishes

Fashion for Good announced the launch of Project DW(O)R-X, a collaborative initiative designed to benchmark PFAS alternative durable water- and oil-repellent (DW(O)R) chemistries. Responding to growing market demand for alternatives to PFAS‑based finishes, the project aims to generate reliable, comparable data that can support informed sourcing decisions and the assessment of emerging chemistries.

Closing the Footwear Loop reveals challenges and opportunities for circular footwear

The footwear industry faces one of the most complex circularity challenges in the fashion sector. A new Phase 1 report from the Fashion for Good initiative Closing the Footwear Loop, developed together with Circle Economy, provides new insights into the composition, condition and recycling potential of post-consumer footwear waste.

Project REWEAR investigates diverse economies of rewear as a global practice of circularity

Every year, European households discard millions of tonnes of clothing. Around a quarter of what gets separately collected is exported, much of it classified as rewearable. A significant share ends up in markets like Kantamanto in Accra, Ghana, where an estimated 15 million garments arrive every week. New research published today reveals what happens when that clothing arrives.

Solving the Feedstock Gap: Unlocking Post-consumer Feedstocks for Textile-to-Textile Recycling in Europe

Fashion for Good launches Project FAE (Feedstock Activation Europe) to develop the sorting and pre-processing infrastructure needed to channel non-rewearable post-consumer textiles into textile-to-textile (T2T) recycling at scale. The project is a practical response to one of the most pressing problems in textile circularity: making post-consumer waste a viable, commercially competitive raw material for recyclers.

Textile Exchange reports growth in certifications and industry engagement

Textile Exchange has published its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting continued growth in certified sites, industry participation and the development of its standards and membership structure. According to the report, more than 100,000 sites worldwide are now certified to Textile Exchange standards, more than three times the number recorded in 2020. Preliminary figures also indicate 12% year-on-year growth across the organization's current standards, including the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and the Responsible Animal Fiber standards.

More patterns, less effort: the MULTI-MATIC® at Rohleder

Rohleder is one of Europe’s most modern weaving mills. For over 80 years, the family-owned company has been developing and manufacturing premium fabrics for brands, retailers and private customers – 100% Made in Germany. This success is made possible by a consistent focus on design, quality, and functionality, as well as by continuous investment in state-of-the-art production facilities. Rohleder also relies on innovative technologies in warp preparation and has been collaborating with KARL MAYER for many years. As recently as 2023, a MULTI-MATIC® was delivered to the company’s headquarters in Konradsreuth.

BASF opens global diaper and superabsorbents performance lab in Mumbai

BASF has officially inaugurated its new Performance Lab for diapers and superabsorbents (SAP) in Mumbai on August 18, 2026, which will provide technical and application services to superabsorbent customers globally. The new lab of BASF’s Hygiene Solutions business has been established in less than a year and is part of BASF’s Innovation Campus Asia Pacific in Mumbai, BASF’s second largest R&D site in Asia Pacific established in 2017 under BASF Chemicals India Private Limited.

Naia™ from Eastman strengthens western hemisphere textile connections at Apparel Sourcing Show Guatemala

As brands and retailers explore more diversified and responsive sourcing networks, the Naia™ brand from Eastman is strengthening its engagement with the textile and apparel value chain across the western hemisphere. From August 18–20, the company will participate for the first time in Apparel Sourcing Show Guatemala, a regional meeting point for apparel sourcing, manufacturing and nearshoring.

Dornbirn GFC 2026 expands conference program with new thematic sessions

For 65 years, Dornbirn GFC has stood for innovation and is one of the world’s leading conferences in the fiber industry. From September 16 to 18, 2026, the international fiber community will meet in Dornbirn, Austria, to discuss current trends, technological developments, and forward-looking solutions. More than 600 experts from industry and academia from over 30 countries are expected to attend. With around 100 presentations by renowned speakers, a 2,5-day conference program, and three parallel presentation rooms with moderated sessions, Dornbirn GFC provides a first-class platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and international collaboration. Together, participants will generate ideas and impulses that will sustainably shape the future of the global fiber industry.