The LYCRA Company, a global leader in the development of innovative and sustainable fiber solutions for the apparel and textile industry, has announced its participation in the highly anticipated Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2025. This year marks a significant milestone as it will be the first time the company takes part in the event, which is widely regarded as the leading international forum dedicated to driving sustainability in the fashion sector.
As part of its involvement, The LYCRA Company’s CEO, Gary Smith, will be featured as a prominent speaker. He will take the stage alongside Jon Veldhouse, the CEO of Qore®, a biotechnology company responsible for the development of QIRA®, a revolutionary next-generation 1,4-butanediol (BDO) derived from annually renewable field corn. The two executives will engage in a thought-provoking conversation during a session titled “Fireside Chat: From Farm to Fashion”. Scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, at 3:35 p.m. CEST, the session will take place at the iconic DR Concert Hall in Copenhagen. Amy Nguyen—an acclaimed sustainability researcher, writer, and founder of the platform Sustainable & Social—will moderate the discussion.
Their Fireside Chat promises to offer attendees a rare behind-the-scenes look at the journey of bio-derived LYCRA® EcoMade fiber, an innovative elastane fiber that is poised to redefine how fashion brands approach sustainable materials. The session will focus on the collaboration between The LYCRA Company and Qore®, examining how their shared vision and technological synergy have enabled the development of a renewable alternative to conventional elastane.
A New Chapter in Fiber Innovation: From Cornfields to Closets
Bio-derived LYCRA® EcoMade fiber is engineered using QIRA®, a sustainable BDO made from Iowa-grown field corn. As the world’s first large-scale, commercially available renewable elastane, it offers a compelling alternative to traditional spandex fibers. Notably, the fiber contains 70% renewable content and maintains the same high-performance characteristics—stretch, recovery, and comfort—that the LYCRA® brand is known for. This makes it a true “drop-in” solution, requiring no changes to existing fabric constructions, manufacturing processes, or garment patterns.
The environmental benefits are equally impressive. According to a Cradle-to-Gate Screening Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) prepared by Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions, Inc. in June 2022, using LYCRA® EcoMade fiber made with QIRA® could potentially reduce the carbon footprint of traditional LYCRA® fiber by up to 44%. In addition, The LYCRA Company has secured patents for this renewable elastane technology in several global markets, including across Europe, giving it a strong foundation for scaling production and adoption.
“The development of this fiber represents a major leap forward for the fashion industry’s sustainability agenda,” said Gary Smith. “Our collaboration with Qore® exemplifies the power of partnership to bring transformative ideas to life. Through our joint efforts, we’re offering the market a renewable, scalable solution that doesn’t compromise performance or require trade-offs. This is innovation that’s both meaningful and actionable.”
Experiencing the Innovation: Virtual Reality at the Summit
In addition to the Fireside Chat, The LYCRA Company and Qore® are hosting an interactive exhibit at the summit, offering visitors a closer look at the bio-derived LYCRA® EcoMade fiber. One of the highlights of the exhibit is an immersive virtual reality experience that transports attendees to the Qore® production facility and the surrounding cornfields in Eddyville, Iowa. This digital journey allows fashion professionals and sustainability advocates to understand the agricultural origins and high-tech transformation that enable this sustainable fiber to come to life.
The exhibit underscores the companies’ shared commitment to transparency and education, offering valuable insights into how renewable raw materials can be leveraged to reduce environmental impact while maintaining commercial viability.
Qore®’s New Facility Ushers in a New Era of Bio-Based Production
Qore® is equally proud of its role in pioneering the next generation of sustainable materials. The company’s newly constructed facility in Eddyville, Iowa, officially began production of QIRA® last month. This $1 billion biomanufacturing investment represents a major step forward in the bioeconomy and will serve as the primary source of the renewable BDO used in LYCRA® EcoMade fiber.
“Our new state-of-the-art facility in Iowa is more than just a production site—it’s a symbol of progress,” said Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore®. “We’ve taken a renewable agricultural resource—field corn—and used it to create QIRA®, a high-performance ingredient that can fundamentally transform the way materials are made. With QIRA® now in production, we’re providing our partners with a reliable, sustainable alternative that’s ready for mainstream use.”
To celebrate this achievement, Qore® is planning a grand opening ceremony in July, inviting industry leaders, local officials, and sustainability stakeholders to witness firsthand the potential of renewable chemistry to address pressing environmental challenges.
Pioneering a Path Toward a More Sustainable Fashion Industry
The participation of The LYCRA Company and Qore® in the 2025 Global Fashion Summit sends a powerful message to the fashion industry: sustainability is no longer a niche endeavor—it’s a business imperative. With increasing pressure from regulators, consumers, and investors to adopt more responsible practices, the demand for sustainable materials has never been greater.
By introducing a commercially viable, renewable elastane fiber to the market, The LYCRA Company and Qore® are offering a concrete solution that meets both environmental and performance criteria. Their partnership serves as a model for how cross-industry collaboration—from agriculture to biotechnology to textiles—can deliver real-world impact.
“Fashion brands around the globe are setting ambitious sustainability goals, and they need innovative partners to help them get there,” added Smith. “With LYCRA® EcoMade fiber made with QIRA®, we’re giving brands a tool they can implement today to begin making meaningful progress.”
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