Simplifyber Secures $3.5M Seed Investment to Reinvent How Clothing is Made, with Sustainable, Advanced Manufacturing
Summary
I set out to find the people that could make this a reality," remarked Simplifyber co-founder and CEO Maria Intscher-Owrang, who led a 20+ year career as a fashion designer and director at leading fashion houses, including Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, Alexander McQueen, Dirk Bikkembergs, and Edun. "We start with a liquid cellulose made in a lab, not in a mill which is then poured on specially-designed molds and dried, eliminating fabric waste altogether and allowing on-demand, stock-free service. We believe Simplifyber could be the apparel of the future: They are not only beautifully designed but have a low carbon footprint and are price-accessible, which is a significant differentiation from other sustainable clothing brands. "With its manufacturing of daily wear items such as T-shirts, Simplifyber aims to replace wovens and knits, which together represent a $25B market globally. Additionally, the company has collaborated on a pilot with HP to create molded shoe uppers, also from a custom formula derived from natural fibers.Simplifyber creates the "Apparel of the Future" through its soft, cotton-like biodegradable clothing and footwear that are made by injecting liquid into molds, without the need for cutting, sewing, or weaving; transforming the worlds Apparel and Footwear Industries through its proprietary fully-biodegradable material formula and sustainable additive manufacturing system.