MOMAD 2024 Levels Up Our Wardrobe With Sustainable Fashion

The September edition of MOMAD 2024 closed with a 5% increase in exhibitors compared to the previous year, solidifying its place as a key event in the fashion sector. Held in Pavilion 8 at IFEMA Madrid, MOMAD not only showcased the latest from 300 companies worldwide but also attracted international visitors from 61 countries. Again, this edition the event reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability with the Sustainable Experience Area, featuring companies that uphold high environmental, social, and economic standards. Not only did we find sustainable fashion there. The fashion shows that took place every day at the  far end of Pavilion 8 allowed us to discover new eco-responsible brands from across Spain as well as from other countries like Germany and Austria, that showcased their new collections there.

MOMAD also implemented initiatives to support entrepreneurship, such as the MOMAD Talents by ISEM competition, in which brands O Mareta and LELE emerged as winners. O Mareta is a sustainable clothing brand that promotes ethical and responsible fashion. On the other hand, LELE is a brand that also focuses on sustainable fashion, although with a different approach. Additionally, the EGO Program provided an accessible platform for young brands seeking a market boost.

New Clients, New Orders, New Friends  

Participating brands shared their impressions of this edition, and while the experience was positive, some noted areas for improvement. “It was our first participation, and it can be summed up in one word: success.” – said Oscar Varela, CEO at Fio de Martié. “Synergies have emerged with other like-minded brands, new clients, and valuable contacts that only Momad can provide. Of course, it was also a success in terms of organization.”

For Perpetum Mobile, a brand that works with natural fibers and prints inspired by Japanese culture, the fair was enriching in terms of new contacts and clients. However, the brand believes that sustainability section deserves more prominence, reflecting its relevance in today’s fashion. “I’ve gained new clients with new orders. Two from Portugal, one from Valencia, Madrid, Alcoy…, all prepared for the price because they are looking for something special. It’s not so much the sustainability pitch that sells, but the quality of the fabrics.” – declared Mireia, founder of the brand.

On the other hand, Bold Womban, a pioneer in sustainable fashion for breastfeeding women, expressed satisfaction with their first participation. “We are very proud to have presented a pioneering brand in sustainable fashion for breastfeeding women at MOMAD. We brought a product that stands out for both its novelty and functionality.” Their Bevy collection, designed for empowered women, includes swimwear and lingerie with a special focus on breastfeeding, featuring vibrant colors and recycled materials.

Off Connection, which creates products from textile waste from major brands, also found their participation in the fair rewarding, securing orders and valuable contacts. “This first participation in Momad has been very satisfying for us. In addition to securing some orders, we have made several very interesting contacts that we believe can help us promote the brand” shared the brand. Off Connection’s work also includes donating a percentage of profits to protect Borneo’s orangutans, reinforcing its ethical commitment.

“We are very happy with the experience, as we had never attended any fair before. Although our target audience is not present at Momad, we had the opportunity to closely explore other very interesting projects with which we can create synergies and collaborations” – conclude Inti and Érica, designers and founders of IK.Studio.

The director of the German brand Watt Handcrafted, for her part, applauded the initiative of the catwalks. “This is our first time participating in the runway organized by Momad during the fair. It has been very positive. After our show, we received buyers who didn’t know our brand and immediately placed orders. It was worth participating.”

OUR EDITOR’S PICK IN FASHION

Edition after edition, Momad continues surprising us with the introduction of new brands and collections that perfectly align with what we seek: high-quality fashion with a unique style, created under ethical and eco-responsible standards. This edition, the top ten sustainable brands we have selected are as follows.

PERPETUM MOBILE

Perpetum Mobile is a sustainable fashion brand that designs and crafts all its pieces using natural fibers like cotton and linen. The brand’s signature is its unique prints, inspired by damask patterns and the vintage prints of old mattresses. With strong influences from Japanese aesthetics and floral motifs, these distinctive designs set Perpetum Mobile apart, blending tradition with sustainable innovation. We have been observing how this brand is growing in creativity, style and elegance. We highly recommend to have a look at its last collection, timeless and unique.

IK.STUDIO

IK.Studio is a conscious fashion brand that merges art and fashion. “Our garments are made from recycled plastic collected from the oceans, and we also use recovered materials.” – declare Inti and Érica, founders of the brand. IK.STUDIO is made in Spain and centralizes its production within a 150km radius around its headquarters in A Illa de Arousa. SOBÓ is the name of the SS ’25 collection. Born from the deep connection between nature and cherished memories, it is a personal reinterpretation in which the designers try to graphically convey the special feeling they have towards their grandparents. This collection is inspired by the literary work ‘Astrid and Verónica’ by Linda Olson and the pictorial works of Diego de Rivera.

WATT HANDCRAFTED

Watt Handcrafted is a German based company offering super-cool jackets made from deadstocks.  Every season, the jackets they bring to Momad are more beautiful. Their long-lasting clothing and unique collections are created using surplus fabrics such as waste sweaters and upholstery, collected from large manufacturers. Items range from vintage waistcoats to bomber jackets and they all offer comfort, quality and style.

LIZARAZU HANDKNITTED 

“In Lizarazu Handknitted, each piece is more than just a garment: it is a manifestation of elegance, care, and dedication. Our creations are completely handcrafted, using high-quality wool and artisanal techniques that have been perfected over time. It is in this fusion of tradition and modern design that our essence lies. Moreover, our garments do not follow seasonal trends; they are timeless creations that reflect your style and consciousness. Each one comes with a certificate of authenticity, a guarantee that you possess a unique piece, handmade with the utmost respect for the materials and the environment.” – declares Monica, from the brand.

That is why choosing LizaraZu is not just an aesthetic decision, but also an ethical one. Each piece respects a conscious and sustainable process, where they minimize their environmental impact by avoiding industrial production and focusing on durability, reducing the fast fashion cycle. Thus, each item becomes a personal investment, designed to last and accompany you for years.

IKIKIZ

IKIKIZ focuses on embracing the uniqueness of the human body, drawing parallels to nature. Their products are timeless, all-inclusive and caring towards the environment. “We as a brand have chosen to use as many natural fibres as possible in our collections. It means that if and when these garments end up in landfill they will biodegrade much faster than a garment made with synthetic fibres.” Tencel, linen and cotton are the materials you will find in their collections, best choice for spring and summer seasons.

ELEMENTE CLEMENTE

“The Light Inside” is the new SS25 collection by German brand Elemente Clemente. Inspired by the light and space movement by artist James Turrell, it brings to our wardrobes feminine dresses made of bias-cut fabric and cargo pants with a nonchalant “spray-look”. New to the collection is a flowing feminine crepe with a I-Kat allover print and summer off-shoulder dresses and voluminous skirts. “The fashion industry should ensure products are made with minimal CO2 emissions.” – declared to Luxiders Magazine Clemens Dörr, founder of the brand.

OFF CONNECTION

Off Connection is an independent fashion brand that makes all products from textile waste from major brands, including fabrics, zippers, buttons, etc. The products presented at Momad were a sample of the type of collections they usually create. Comfortable and practical garments and accessories, without neglecting aesthetics. “We always use original and pleasant fabrics to wear, as well as very wearable designs with a touch of trend.” – said the designer.

A Celebration of Conscious Ideas

FIO DE MARTIÉ

The word “waste” does not exist at Fio de Martié: silk scraps are repurposed to make bags, hats, keychains, or eyeglass cords. It is the result of the collaboration with the Italian brand Rifa Project. With them, they have created a limited edition of bags and hats made from silk scraps.  In addition to this, Fio de Martié supports the “renting” of ties, which allows for multiple uses of the same garment. During Momad, they introduced the SS25 collection of silk scarves, full of color and elegance, which will be sold in more than 20 El Corte Inglés stores, featuring floral, ethnic prints, and graphic reproductions of real landscapes.

BOLD WOMBAN

The Bevy Collection by the emerging brand Bold Womban has been created for a community of strong, confident, and empowered women. Bevy is made up of swimwear and lingerie with an innovative approach adapted to breastfeeding. In the Bevy collection, they wrap the woman in vibrant colors, contrasts of textures, and warm reddish earth tones, for a stage that evokes recreation, revolution, and freedom of expression. “We use sustainable, recycled, and high-quality materials for a woman with clear values, designed to be used even when you decide to stop breastfeeding.”

HEMPER

Hemper is both a sustainable brand and a regenerative project. Using wild hemp from the Himalayas for their clothing, Hemper promotes sustainable fashion whilst contributing to social and economic development in Nepal. Their items include bags, t-shirts, hats and more. We loved the new collection of bags, specially the travel bag, with space for a laptop and phone, exterior space for your mat or anything else you need and short and long handles.

MOMAD has once again demonstrated that sustainability is much more than a trend; it’s a transformation within the industry, reflected in each of these brands and collections. Discover more about some of the sustainable brands that captivated at MOMAD in previous editions.

+Highlight Image: © IK Studio