Transformers report on barriers to bringing innovation to market
22/01/2026
The report details the various barriers to faster adoption of better practices, whether next-gen fibres or cleaner wet processes. These include organisational issues, from the siloed structures of major brands and retailers (notably between innovation teams and sourcing teams) to the relative short tenure of their chief executives, which doesn’t encourage long-term commitments.
The report provides three ‘readiness checklists’ designed to smooth relationships and align concerns for all three parties involved: suppliers, brands & retailers and innovators.
The report is fundamentally a guide for brands and retailers to help better understand innovation landscape and its requirements (mostly, but not only, funding).
A panel talk organised for the media launch brought together Saqib Shahzad, head of sustainability at Diamond Denim by Sapphire, and Tricia Carey, now of Avalo, who shared their experience in bringing innovative solutions to market. Mr Shahzad insisted on the time and resources, not only financial, that mills dedicate to implementing new processes, which add to the burden of developing better solutions.
To download the report, click here.
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