Highlighted at Global Fashion Summit 2026, the achievement reflects growing momentum behind next-generation materials that combine performance, sustainability, and commercial readiness.
The textile industry is entering a new era of transformation, driven by a surge of material innovation. What once began as pilot projects is evolving into scalable solutions, as forward-looking companies adopt systems thinking and industry leaders invest in building a more sustainable future.
As large-scale commercial production continues to develop, Hyosung TNC, the largest manufacturer of elastane by market share, believes that bio-based elastane can play a meaningful role in helping fashion brands reduce their reliance on fossil-based materials while maintaining the performance and functionality expected in stretch apparel that includes activewear, sportswear, swimwear, underwear, and denim.
To further elevate awareness of the Hyosung Bio Spandex story, the company collaborated with Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) as principal sponsor of its 2026 Global Fashion Summit (GFS) that took place May 5-7 in Copenhagen, gathering more than 1,000 influential attendees.
Under the theme ‘Building Resilient Futures’, Hyosung demonstrated how its bio-based spandex is progressing toward broader commercial adoption through infrastructure, supply chain integration and cross-sector collaboration. The company highlighted its new fully integrated production system in Vietnam, which converts sugarcane-derived inputs into Bio-BDO, Bio-PTMG and ultimately Bio Spandex within a single connected value chain backed by an investment of nearly $1 billion.
Hyosung’s participation at GFS included an on-stage panel session, a private leadership roundtable hosted in collaboration with GFA, and an Innovation Forum presence designed to bring Hyosung’s bio-based material journey to life for attendees.
Sora Yoo, Hyosung’s vice president of marketing, joined the panel to talk about decarbonization through the value chain. Ms. Yoo emphasized that transformation happens when every layer of the value chain moves together, which includes conscious consumers demanding better; brands making genuine sourcing decisions; mills and manufacturers acting on those commitments; and material innovators like Hyosung ready to supply.
“When that full chain is aligned, not just one player pushing alone, we don’t just inch forward, we reach the turning point and move through it,” said Ms. Yoo.
As part of its Summit programme, Hyosung exclusively aired its episode of Fashion Redressed II. The film, produced for Hyosung TNC by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions as part of the series presented by Global Fashion Agenda, exploring the journey from sugarcane field to finished spandex and the work involved in reengineering stretch materials away from fossil-based inputs.
The film is now available to watch here.
Hyosung is looking forward to exhibiting at Future Fabrics Expo in Brussels, June 24-25, 2026 where it will present its Bio BDO story and participate on a panel discussion titled Evolution of Next-Gen Fibres: Transitioning from Petrochemical to Bio-Based Feedstocks on Thursday, June 25 at 12 pm on the center stage.
