Paradise Textiles and its innovation partner Matter have been officially shortlisted for the Best Use of Technology for Good category at the Drapers Conscious Fashion Awards 2026, underscoring their pioneering work in tackling microfibre pollution and driving sustainable transformation in the fashion industry. The awards ceremony, one of the fashion sector’s most respected platforms for celebrating ethical, environmental, and social innovation, will take place on March 11, 2026, at the Hilton London Bankside.
The nomination comes after a standout year for Paradise Textiles and Matter, who together have accumulated several esteemed recognitions across global stages. In 2025, the duo jointly secured the Innovation Award for Industrial Filtration and the Environment Award at the Just Style Awards, and were named Tech Innovator of the Year at the Drapers Awards 2025. Matter also earned a finalist spot in the prestigious Earthshot Prize, a globally renowned environmental accolade celebrating solutions to critical planetary challenges. These achievements reflect a growing industry appreciation for technology-led approaches that improve environmental outcomes in fashion.
At the heart of the collaboration is Regen®, a cutting‑edge microfibre filtration technology designed to capture microfibre pollution at its source during textile manufacturing. Microfibre pollution, tiny synthetic fibres shed during production and washing, has been identified as a significant contributor to plastic pollution in oceans and waterways worldwide. Regen® was conceived as a scalable solution to this pervasive problem, and over the past four years, Paradise Textiles and Matter have refined the system to function effectively within real‑world industrial settings, with the first full installation scheduled for Paradise Textiles’ new mill in Egypt later this year.
The Best Use of Technology for Good award recognises fashion brands, retailers, or manufacturers that demonstrate how technological innovation has actively reduced waste, improved traceability, or delivered measurable sustainability benefits over the qualifying period. Judges assess nominees on clear objectives, impact, scalability, and market relevance, criteria that Paradise Textiles and Matter’s work with Regen® exemplifies.
The Drapers Conscious Fashion Awards, formerly known as the Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards, bring together industry leaders, change makers, and innovators from across the fashion ecosystem to celebrate progress toward ethical and sustainable practices. The awards are held in conjunction with the Drapers Conscious Fashion Summit, a day‑long platform for dialogue, learning and collaboration on topics ranging from circular business models and extended producer responsibility to traceability and supply chain ethics.
Different from traditional awards galas, the 2026 event format aims to foster an informal, engaging environment that prioritises connection, celebration, and discussion among peers. The evening features welcome drinks and networking, a Drapers Den pitch session highlighting emerging brands, and an energized awards presentation celebrating those driving meaningful change consciously.
The Drapers Conscious Fashion Awards cover a breadth of categories that together reflect the multifaceted nature of sustainability and ethical practice in fashion. These include awards for community initiatives, circular business models, textile innovation, supply chain sustainability, customer engagement, and empowering people, among others. The Best Use of Technology for Good category sits at the intersection of innovation and impact, aiming to elevate technological approaches that address key environmental and social challenges.
Winners of the 2026 awards will be chosen by an expert panel of judges drawn from across the fashion and sustainability sectors. The judging process involves rigorous evaluation, with an initial assessment by the Drapers editorial team followed by detailed review and deliberation by industry experts, ensuring that selections are based on merit, impact, and alignment with the awards’ core values.
For Paradise Textiles and Matter, the nomination reinforces a broader narrative within the fashion industry: that addressing environmental harm requires not just intention but implementable innovation. Regen® represents a nascent yet promising step toward mitigating one of the most persistent environmental issues tied to apparel production, and the shortlist recognition signals that technological solutions are increasingly valued alongside design and business model innovations in the journey toward sustainability.
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As the industry continues to grapple with complex challenges, including carbon emissions, resource depletion, waste, and the use of harmful chemicals, platforms like the Drapers Conscious Fashion Awards play a pivotal role in spotlighting approaches that are evidence-based, scalable, and responsible. Whether or not Paradise Textiles and Matter take home the award in March, their nomination places them among the forefront of innovators shaping the future of conscious fashion, a testament to the power of collaboration and ingenuity in driving meaningful, measurable change.
