Innovations in Sustainable Materials and Fabrication Technologies for a Greener Fashion Future

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive review of innovations in materials, processing technologies, and manufacturing methods that can drive sustainability improvements in the fashion industry. Key focus areas include cellulose-based textiles, biopolymers, recycled and upcycled materials, non-toxic dyeing and finishing, digital fabrication, near-zero waste patternmaking, and distributed manufacturing. The review analyses technical capabilities, costs, limitations, and commercial readiness levels for different innovative approaches. It is argued that converging advances in materials science, biotechnology, digitalization, and engineering can potentially transform sustainability across fashion product design, development, and distribution. Adoption strategies, infrastructure requirements, skill needs, and policy measures to accelerate these innovations are discussed. The study concludes by emphasising the critical role of multi-stakeholder collaborations and systems thinking in scaling innovative technologies to make fashion industry production radically cleaner, renewable, efficient, and ethical.