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Textiles360

Material Innovation and Development

From emerging technology to commercial scale-up.

Discuss a project

Every product really begins at the yarn. My work sits at that starting point: identifying raw material trends and the material palette landscape, then turning that research into an innovation strategy that keeps a brand at the front of its category.

At lululemon I led premium performance and next-generation material development, including proprietary yarns, engineered functionality such as anti-odour, wicking, quick-dry, breathability and UV protection, and emerging areas such as wellness and restoration, cooling, aerogels and UHMWPE for strength and longevity. Newness captures the sale. Quality earns loyalty. The materials I develop are built to do both.

What this includes

Innovation in practice

  • 01

    Leading premium performance and next-generation material development, from emerging technology and market insight through to validation and commercial scale-up.

  • 02

    Trend forecasting and market intelligence, keeping you informed of the latest developments in materials.

  • 03

    Building and managing strategic material libraries and innovation roadmaps aligned to your brand’s product pipeline.

How we work

A clear path from brief to delivery

  1. STEP 1

    Insight

    Trend scouting across textile shows, trade fairs, trend services, retail and vintage, distilled into visually guided R&D direction.

  2. STEP 2

    Roadmap

    An innovation roadmap and material library structured around your product pipeline and franchises.

  3. STEP 3

    Develop

    Yarn and fabric development with polymer and fibre producers, spinners, chemical partners, knitters and weavers.

  4. STEP 4

    Validate and scale

    Fabric and garment testing, fit assessment and commercial validation so innovation lands in range, at scale.

Frequently asked

Questions about innovation

What kinds of materials have you developed?

Core performance bottoms fabrics, including the signature fabric behind lululemon Align; thermal comfort and water-resistant constructions; yarns with inherent functionality such as Far Infrared, anti-odour and wicking; and recycled textile-to-textile cotton and synthetic polymers.

Do you work with early-stage material technologies?

Yes. I take emerging technologies from first assessment through validation to commercial scale-up, and I can advise fibre and material start-ups on what brands need in order to adopt a new material.

What is a strategic material library?

A curated, documented set of approved materials, organised around your product categories, performance standards and price tiers, with a roadmap for what comes next. It gives design, development and sourcing one shared source of truth.

Ready to talk about innovation?

Email lisa@textiles360.net or use the contact form.

Contact Lisa