July 7, 2025 ISPO Textrends awards innovations that design out waste from the start

What if you could keep cool in a shirt made of coffee grounds, or your jacket zipper didn’t need stitching? ISPO Textrends’ latest selections point to a future where design reinvents the basics to tackle waste and overconsumption in sportswear.

As overproduction and material waste remain major challenges in the apparel industry, ISPO Textrends’ Spring/Summer 2027 selections suggest a different approach – rethinking materials from the design stage. This year’s chosen fabrics and components address not just performance but what happens after a garment’s useful life.

Bio-based synthetics, mono-materials, and resource-efficient dyeing methods show how functionality can go hand-in-hand with long-term circular strategies. Designers and developers are being encouraged to work with materials that reduce dependencies on fossil fuels and simplify recycling.

Turning coffee grounds into coolwear and zippers into systems

Among this year’s top selections: a jacquard second layer by Singtex called Ice Café, which transforms post-consumer coffee grounds into a quick-drying, odor-resistant fabric with UV protection and breathability. Meanwhile, NOTAPE International’s zipper eliminates fabric tapes entirely, using injection molding to fuse teeth directly onto garments – redefining how closures are made.

Other awardees include:

• Heilongjiang Eppen New Materials: A base layer made of 76% plant-based polyamide, using low-temperature dyeing to reduce energy use.
• Bosideng Down Wear Ltd: An outer layer combining recycled polyamide, organic silk, and PFAS-free water repellency for thermal performance and stretch.
• eVent Technology: A 3-layer laminate with a plant-based membrane and fully recycled polyester structure, built for mobility and weather resistance.

Together, these innovations signal a shift away from designing for the short-term and toward performance textiles that aim for impact far beyond the point of sale.

Lead Image: NOTAPE International