From Discussion to Action: What You Missed at Challenge the Fabric Paris

On May 26 and 27, 2026, in Paris, Canopy's Senior Corporate Campaigners Eleanor Dinnadge and Sophia Yang joined brands, retailers, fibre producers, manufacturers, innovators, and policymakers at a cross-sector gathering co-hosted by Canopy, Textile Exchange, ZDHC, and Forest Stewardship Council ahead of Challenge the Fabric (CTF) focused on transforming the man-made cellulosic fibre (MMCF) industry from the inside out.

The stakes are clear: viscose, rayon, modal, lyocell, and acetate are fabrics worn by millions — and most are still made from trees, many sourced from Ancient and Endangered Forests. But the solutions to change that exist right now. By shifting to Next Gen feedstocks like waste textiles and agricultural residues, we can protect vital forest ecosystems without sacrificing the fibres the fashion industry depends on. The challenge is speed and scale.

The MMCF Multi-Stakeholder Forum brought the right people into the same room to discuss these issues. Here are a few key takeaways from the conversations:

• The importance of supply chain transparency and traceability for MMCF fibres should not be underestimated — highlighting potential sourcing risks and ensuring Ancient and Endangered Forests are not being impacted.

• There is a growing industry appetite to invest in alternative Next Gen feedstocks that help take pressure off forest ecosystems — all 600+ brands that are part of the CanopyStyle initiative have committed to support the scale-up of these innovative fibres.

• Cross-sector collaboration is critical to move pilot projects to mainstream scale — bringing together brands/retailers, fibre producers, innovators, spinners and weavers, NGOs, and other stakeholders.

Scaling these materials within the timescale the planet needs requires everyone to play their part. Events like Challenge The Fabric are proof that the ecosystem is ready — now it's time to invest and act.

Ready to be part of the solution?