The LYCRA Company has introduced a major innovation in sustainable fashion with the unveiling of bio-derived LYCRA® EcoMade fiber at the Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2025. CEO Gary Smith joined Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore®—the manufacturer of QIRA®, a renewable ingredient derived from field corn—in a Fireside Chat titled From Farm to Fashion.
Held on June 4 at the DR Concert Hall, the session was moderated by Amy Nguyen, a leading sustainability researcher and founder of Sustainable & Social. The event marked the debut participation of both The LYCRA Company and Qore® at the world’s foremost platform for sustainable fashion discourse.
A Revolutionary Renewable Fiber
The LYCRA® EcoMade fiber is the first large-scale, commercially available renewable elastane globally. It contains 70% renewable content, made from annually renewable field corn, and is engineered to offer identical performance to conventional LYCRA® fiber—requiring no adjustments to existing fabrics or manufacturing processes.
According to life cycle analysis data from Ramboll Americas, the bio-derived version could cut the fiber’s carbon footprint by up to 44%, making it a viable one-to-one replacement for brands pursuing climate-conscious material solutions.
Smith highlighted the importance of collaboration in scaling green innovation:
“Partnering with Qore® has enabled us to transform sustainable science into a ready-to-deploy product for the fashion world. It’s a clear example of how aligned values can drive meaningful change.”
A Glimpse of the Future—Through Cornfields
Visitors to the LYCRA and Qore® exhibition booth at the summit were offered an immersive virtual reality experience, taking them from the Iowa cornfields to the newly opened Qore® production site in Eddyville, which began operations just last month.
Veldhouse, reflecting on QIRA®’s journey, said:
“This isn’t just about manufacturing—it’s about reimagining what sustainable supply chains can look like. We’re now producing a key renewable ingredient at scale in the heart of the U.S. farm belt, helping our partners redefine the materials of tomorrow.”
QIRA® will serve as the core building block for the bio-derived LYCRA® EcoMade fiber. The facility’s grand opening is set for July 2025 and marks a critical milestone for both industrial biotechnology and sustainable fashion.
Industry Impact
With global brands under increasing pressure to lower their environmental impact, the introduction of LYCRA® EcoMade with QIRA® positions both companies at the forefront of fashion innovation. Their debut at the Global Fashion Summit underscores how cross-industry partnerships—from agriculture to apparel—can yield scalable, sustainable breakthroughs.
More information is available at lycra.com/qira.
