New Materials, New Possibilities: Designers Discuss Creative Opportunities with Bio-Based Materials

What happens when designers move beyond conventional materials?

As part of the Sustainable Fashion Week 2026 programme, Vegan Fashion Repository is hosting an online panel bringing together designers and fashion innovators actively working with next-generation, bio-based materials. Rather than focusing solely on the sustainability credentials of these materials, we want to explore what they make possible from a creative perspective.

How do new materials influence the way designers approach form, texture, construction and aesthetics? What opportunities do they create that traditional materials cannot? And what does it actually mean to design with materials that are still developing and evolving?

Through hands-on experiences of our panelists, we’ll look at the creative opportunities, challenges and discoveries that come with working with bio-based materials — and how material innovation is influencing the future of fashion design.

The date also coincides with World Day for Farmed Animals, making the conversation particularly relevant to the development of alternatives to animal-derived materials and the wider transformation of fashion.

LIVESTREAM Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/R-VkwpWX4-I?si=lUyXOCmdi0DJCScR

Meet the Panelists

Sarah Regensburger — Founder of Sarah Regensburger

Sarah Regensburger is the founder of her eponymous label, where fashion, art, activism and material innovation intersect. Her work explores alternatives including cactus leather, hemp and banana-based materials, challenging conventional approaches to material use and demonstrating their creative potential.

Emilija Balsyte — Founder of BALSAIS

Emilija Balsyte is the founder of BALSAIS, a Lithuania-based contemporary label creating ready-to-wear pieces from next-generation plant-based materials. BALSAIS explores how emerging material technologies can be translated into contemporary fashion while retaining a strong focus on design and wearability.

Paras Doshi — Founder & CEO of Doshi

Paras Doshi is the founder and CEO of Doshi, a vegan accessories brand creating high-quality, functional alternatives to traditional leather goods. After struggling to find a vegan belt suitable for professional wear, he began developing his own products, building Doshi around thoughtful design, durability and more responsible material choices.

Wiola Wiertel — Co-founder of Bohema Clothing

Wiola Wiertel is CMO and co-founder of Bohema Clothing, a Polish vegan footwear brand combining craftsmanship with plant-based materials. In 2019, Bohema became the first brand in the world to create footwear from cactus leather. Today, Bohema continues to work with emerging material technologies, translating them into contemporary footwear design while expanding its range.

Hosts (yours truly)

• Catherine Nhung
  Vegan Fashion Repository
• Kaja Nidecka
  Vegan Fashion Repository