The Trailblazer Programme, presented by the Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) and PDS Ventures, is designed to discover and empower early-stage companies within the fashion industry and assist them in their efforts to expand.
A panel of judges will evaluate the applications, choosing eight exceptional innovations to participate in the Trailblazer Programme 2025.
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Selected Trailblazers will gain access to specialised mentorship, including preparation for investment pitches and customised advice from industry experts and representatives from PDS Ventures.
Under this initiative, PDS Ventures will invest up to $200,000 to one selected innovator, facilitating the acceleration of their business growth and enhancing their positive contributions to the fashion industry.
The investment amount will depend on the winning company’s stage and status, with the final decision made based on PDS Ventures’ internal processes.
In addition to financial backing, the chosen innovator will benefit from commercial and operational support provided by PDS Group’s Positive Materials. This textile company acts as a strategic research partner focused on fostering low-impact textile innovations through collaboration among emerging start-ups, supply chain entities, and established brands.
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By GlobalDataBoth organisations are inviting submissions for the programme. Applicants must address at least one of these key areas:
- Embracing natural processes: Seeking solutions that leverage natural systems throughout all aspects of the fashion supply chain
- Advancing circular systems: Looking for innovations that promote a circular economy by reducing dependence on non-renewable resources and ensuring waste reduction, reuse, and recycling
- Leveraging technology: Encouraging technological advancements that improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability within the fashion supply chain, thus diminishing environmental impact and enhancing resource management.
The 2025 programme jury consists of PEPPER-i2 CEO and founder Robert van de Kerkhof; PDS Limited non-executive director and PDS Ventures senior advisor Yael Gairola; Ralph Lauren sustainability, product & manufacturing innovation head Jason Berns; Zalando Sustainability and D&I VP Pascal Brun; Fashion for Good managing director Katrin Ley; and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) textiles at climate grand challenges, programme director Dr Yuly Fuentes Medel.
The selected Trailblazers will present their concepts for potential investment during the Global Fashion Agenda’s Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2025, scheduled for 4-5 June at the Copenhagen Concert Hall.
All shortlisted participants will exhibit their businesses at the summit to give them the opportunity to network with industry leaders and potential investors.
In 2024, Bloom Labs was named the winner of the programme. The company is dedicated to advancing a circular economy by using billions of tons of fibrous protein waste generated annually to produce bioplastics and textile fibre at scale.
Applications for Trailblazer Programme 2025 is expected to close on 7 March 2025.
