Meet the startups from our early-stage accelerator program

The Fashion for Good team interviewed Algenesis Lab's CEO, Dr. Stephen Mayfield, to learn more about the innovator’s story, technology, challenges, and successes and showcase innovations that are driving tangible change in the industry and leading the path to scale.

You might think the biggest challenge in running shoes is performance: speed, cushioning, energy return. The harder problem lies in material compatibility: how do you create a cushioned midsole that's light, responsive, and durable, while also being recyclable? How do you bond different materials together strongly enough to withstand thousands of impacts, but reversibly enough to separate them later? These aren't just design questions, but materials science problems. In this article, we unpack the hidden complexity of running shoes, the challenges of conventional materials, and where the highest potential for material innovation lies.

Stretching Circularity is a collaborative project initiated by Fashion for Good dedicated to accelerating the adoption of lower-impact elastane alternatives that are compatible with circular textile systems. By validating bio-based and recycled elastane solutions through pilot-scale testing and demonstrator garments, the initiative aims to remove one of the most significant technical barriers to a circular textile economy.