The Lycra Company and Qore are set to take the stage together at the Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2025, marking their first joint appearance at the leading sustainability forum for the fashion industry. Gary Smith, CEO of The Lycra Company, and Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore, will participate in a Fireside Chat titled “From Farm to Fashion” on 4 June, highlighting the launch of bio-derived Lycra fibre made with Qira.

The session, moderated by sustainability expert Amy Nguyen, will explore how the new Lycra EcoMade fibre is produced from annually renewable field corn and represents a significant advancement in bio-based apparel materials. The discussion will take place at 15:35 CEST in Copenhagen’s DR Concert Hall.

The two companies are principal sponsors of the 2025 event and will present an immersive virtual reality exhibit showcasing the fibre’s origins, including a tour of Qore’s new production site and surrounding cornfields in Eddyville, Iowa.

Bio-derived Lycra EcoMade fibre is the first commercially available elastane made at large scale using renewable content. With 70 percent of its material sourced from plant-based feedstock, the fibre offers the same performance and functionality as conventional Lycra products but with a carbon footprint potentially reduced by up to 44 %.

“This collaboration demonstrates how innovation and sustainability can scale together,” said Smith. “Partnering with Qore has enabled us to deliver a renewable fibre solution ready to meet the sustainability goals of global brands.”

Qore, a joint venture between Cargill and HELM AG, recently began operations at its new production facility. “With Qira now in production, we’re helping the industry shift away from fossil-based chemistries toward renewable alternatives,” said Veldhouse.

Summit attendees will have the opportunity to explore the technical and environmental benefits of the new Lycra fibre and learn how its integration requires no changes to current fabric or garment processes.

www.lycra.com

www.myqira.com