The Fashion District Innovation Challenge Prizes are designed to find solutions to current industry issues, develop new innovations and support SMEs.

Sponsored by the IET, the theme for 2021 focuses on ‘Manufacturing Futures’, where the Challenge set out to uncover and support businesses with ideas that aim to revolutionise the fashion supply chain.

This year’s shortlist was selected by a panel of industry experts. Ten start-ups made the cut, showing “true innovation and the potential to change the future of manufacturing”.

Since May, the ten shortlisted entries have received business and investment advice from industry and manufacturing experts. Each pitched their innovations to judges from Pangaia, H&M Co Labs, Make UK, IBM, FIA and the IET, which was followed by an industry and investor supper in London on 7 September, where the winner was announced.

The winner was Biophilica for Treekind, an entirely plant-based, compostable leather alternative...