Why Are We Still Using Petroleum in Fashion? | The Fashion Tech Show LA 2026

In this keynote, Zoe Abel, Founder & CEO of Natura, explores the untapped potential of plant-based materials in fashion. Drawing on her journey from searching for a petroleum-free alternative to lace and stretch fabrics to developing Natura's plant-based performance lace, Zoe looks at why some material categories have remained largely unchanged for decades. 🎤 Speakers: • Zoe Abel, Founder & CEO, Natura ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Identifying the Whitespace With Plant-Based Materials 02:24 Why Fashion's “Solved” Categories Need Rethinking 03:17 From a Personal Health Question to Material Innovation 05:27 Why Lace Has Relied on Petroleum for Decades 07:38 The Challenge of Making Alternatives Perform 09:09 Why Sustainability Alone Isn't Enough 11:08 Introducing Plant-Based Performance Lace 14:02 What Consumers Want From New Materials 15:29 Building Change Through Industry Partnerships 17:14 Rethinking What's Possible With Fashion Materials 📌 Event: The Fashion Tech Show LA 2026 📅 Recorded: 15–16 September 2026 FIND OUT MORE https://pi.tv/ SOCIAL • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pi.fashiontech/ • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pi.fashiontech • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pi-apparel • X: https://twitter.com/PI_Apparel