Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering news from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.
Uncaged Innovations
Natalie Portman joins Uncaged Innovations as a strategic partner and advocate for sustainable luxury.
Courtesy of Uncaged Innovations
Biomaterials company Uncaged Innovations has announced a partnership with Academy Award–winning actor and producer Natalie Portman. As an advocate for animal welfare and ethical consumerism, Portman will work with the “not-an-alternative” leather company to promote the adoption of sustainable, animal-free materials within the luxury and fashion sectors.
“We’re incredibly excited to have Natalie on board as a strategic partner as her voice and credibility bring powerful momentum to our mission,” said Stephanie Downs, co-founder and CEO of Uncaged Innovations. “Consumers and businesses alike are demanding sustainable alternatives and together; this collaboration aims to meet that challenge.”
Founded in 2020 by Downs and Dr. Xiaokun Wang, the New York startup’s flagship grain-based protein leather alternative, Elevate, cuts greenhouse gases by 95 percent, water usage by 89 percent and energy consumption by 71 percent compared to traditional animal leather.
“The biomaterials industry holds the key to a future where materials are regenerative and not destructive—but we are in a race against time to save our planet and evolve the leather industry,” Downs said. “By combining biotechnology with design thinking, we’re accelerating sustainable change without compromising aesthetics or performance.”
To make Elevate, Uncaged uses grain proteins fused with plant-based elements to create collagen-like scaffolding with its BioFuze technology. The ability to mimic the texture and performance of trad-gen leather proteins sets the material apart from competitors that rely on carbohydrate-heavy inputs, such as mycelium and apple skin.
“Uncaged is one of the most exciting businesses in the biomaterials space that I have seen. The significant market traction they have gained at such an early stage is proof of the demand for materials that are animal-free, luxurious and sustainable,” Portman said. “Stephanie and the team at Uncaged are redefining the leather industry for the better.”
Scaled for full roll-to-roll production, Uncaged has raised $7.9 million and partnered with global brands like Sans Beast from Australia and Melina Butcher from Germany, as well as Argentina-based leather bag manufacturer Humo Estudio, among others. In September, Uncaged buckled up with automotive group Hyundai Cradle and, the month prior, signed a proof-of-concept (POC) with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
“As a vegan, I’ve spent years advocating for animals; teaming up with Uncaged allows me to amplify that mission,” Portman said. “Together, we’re using what we each do best to inspire real change.”
Revoltech
LOVR was recognized in two leading sustainability and design competitions, selected from around 400 entries each, Revoltech said.
Courtesy of Revoltech
German startup Revoltech has won the German Sustainability Award and the German Ecodesign Award 2025 for LOVR: the Darmstadt-born company’s trademarked, circular hemp-based material that stands for “leather-like-without-plastic-vegan-residue-based.”
“These two awards send a strong signal,” said Lucas Fuhrmann, co-founder and CEO of Revoltech. “With LOVR, we demonstrate that materials made from agricultural residues can be a true alternative to animal- and fossil-based resources, without compromising on quality, durability or aesthetics. This combination is essential for accelerating the transition toward a circular material economy.”
Made from European hemp and plant-based additives, LOVR contains no plastic, no polyurethane (PU) and no polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Featuring a single-layer construction, LOVR is recyclable—and, depending on the application, compostable. The industrial production of LOVR earlier this year sold out completely, and the material is now in a further development phase, incorporating customer feedback into new formulations.
Revoltech said the next industrial production run is scheduled for early next year, with plans for expanding availability to additional sectors and use cases.
The jury of the German Sustainability Award (GSA) Products recognizes products that “make particularly effective contributions to sustainable transformation” across five sectors: climate, resources, nature, society and value chains.
For Revoltech, the jury particularly commended LOVR’s “combination of ecological performance, circularity and industrial scalability,” the GSA Foundation said. The material also won over the jury of the German Ecodesign Award 2025.
Otherwise known as the Federal Ecodesign Award, Bundespreis Ecodesign is the country’s highest national award for ecological design. Awarded annually by the German Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) and the German Environment Agency (UBA), the award recognizes products, services, and concepts that excel in design, environmental quality and innovation.
“LOVR stands out as a circular hemp-based material made from agricultural residues: pollutant-free, durable, recyclable and biodegradable,” said jury member Werner Aisslinger, a product designer and the founder of Studio Aisslinger. “With a low carbon footprint and industrial scalability, it sets new benchmarks for responsible material design.”
Hot Bodies
Presented by global brand practice Anak, the immersive exhibition will premiere a collection of 10 innovative heat-wear creations by creatives and designers from across the world.
Courtesy of Anak and the Design Singapore Council
With a future of rising heat on the horizon, global brand practice Anak presents “Hot Bodies,” an exhibition of heat-wear that “investigates innovative ways” the fashion industry can “radically reinvent” how humans cope with rising heat.
Opened Dec. 6 at New Bahru, “Hot Bodies” uses apparel design and wearables to rethink what it means to look, feel and be “hot” in the 21st century, the company said. Supported by the local government initiative SG Eco Fund and the Design Singapore Council, the exhibition showcases 10 specially commissioned pieces.
“Singapore [has] become an ‘air-con nation’ and I believe this is increasingly applicable to other nations across the world as temperatures continue to rise globally,” said associate professor Jason Lee, director of the heat resilience and performance center at NUS Medicine. “However, hiding indoors just isn’t a sustainable option. It harms our health and the planet. Our research asks: what if we made heat our ally instead of our enemy?”
The Sunshell by French graphic artist Jean Jullien is a ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) 50-rated cape that merges sun protection with play. The Cool Collar by Singaporean jewelry brand Tanchen Studio is a jade neckpiece that targets the neck and chest for hyper-efficient cooling. The Hardwear Jacket by Hong Kong workwear brand TMS.Site is a protective garment designed to address the acute needs of outdoor workers. The Self-Conditioner by London-based fashion designer Harri is a conceptual inflatable garment that encases the wearer in a cocoon of self-contained cooling.
These pieces premiered alongside other heat-wear items by Malaysian batik artist Fern, Ho Chi Minh City-based design studio The Idiot, Japanese contemporary menswear brand Front Office, the Spanish experimental studio Buj and the London-based design project Greater Goods with designer Jaimus Tailor.
“‘Hot Bodies’ is the natural continuation of Anak’s mission to showcase an Asian creative point of view to a global audience. With Good Threads, we explored how sustainability and fashion can intersect meaningfully through upcycled performance wear,” said curator Hanyi Lee. “The future of fashion and heat-wear must be reimagined so that we can thrive, not just cope, with a future hotter than ever.”
Aside from the exhibition of heat-wear pieces, the show also features an “emporium” of shoppable heated apparel items—such as handheld fans, sunstraps and UV keychain indicators—some of which are co-designed with creatives including Jaimus Tailor, Jean Jullien and Tanchen Studio.
“‘Hot Bodies’ is a thoughtful exploration of how design shapes the way we live in a time of rising temperatures and climate change,” said Jody Teo, director of marketing communications and outreach at Design Singapore Council. “Building off its exhibition preview held during Singapore Design Week 2025, we hope visitors will come and be inspired by how design and creativity can drive positive impact, creating innovative solutions for more resilient futures.”
