What happens when both the textile fibre and its coating are natural

A New Chapter: Hair-Based Textiles & the OP Zuid Vision

At Sustanix, we believe in pushing the boundaries of sustainable materials. Today, we’re proud to share that our next journey will take us into uncharted — yet deeply natural — territory: hair-based textiles. This initiative is part of a wider collaborative effort under OP Zuid, reflecting the core of what OP Zuid stands for: cross-region cooperation aiming to address shared environmental and societal challenges.

Why Hair? From Waste to Worth

You might wonder: hair, really? Turns out — absolutely. Hair is a biomaterial that we discard every day, yet it holds remarkable potential. The Dutch company Human Material Loop (HML) has already demonstrated how salon-waste hair can be transformed into high-performance textile fiber — called ādara — with remarkable properties. Human Material Loop

Sustanix’s Role: Coatings, Durability & Real-World Readiness

At Sustanix, our expertise lies in bio-based coatings and additives — designed to replace fossil-based, synthetic chemicals while maintaining real-world performance and recyclability. Sustanix

For hair-based textiles, we see a possibility to elevate the material’s durability and usability. By applying our coatings and finishing processes — developed from agricultural residues rather than petrochemicals — we aim to:

• Enhance the textile’s wear resistance and longevity, ensuring hair-based fabrics can stand up to everyday use.
• Deliver comfort, finish and performance on par with conventional textiles, making them viable alternatives for furniture, interior design, fashion, and more.
• Preserve full recyclability and low environmental impact, staying true to the circular-by-design philosophy.

In effect, Sustanix acts as the bridge between raw innovation and industrial readiness — enabling hair-based textiles to become more than prototypes, but real, market-ready alternatives.

The Designer: Tess van Zalinge gives style to this sustainable invention

Tess van Zalinge designs at the intersection of couture and ready to wear, creating luxury pieces defined by functional sensuality and a style that evokes emotional attachment. Her work relives and celebrates traditions of heritage and the local design culture. Each design combines handmade tailoring, unique craftsmanship, and architectural intimates references, offering a contemporary expression of femininity. 

OP Zuid Collaboration: Why European Cooperation Matters

Our hair-textile venture isn’t happening in isolation. By situating this work within an OP Zuid-funded context, we align with a broader European movement to shift the textile and materials sector toward sustainability and circularity.

OP Zuid encourages partnerships across regions and disciplines — combining science, design, chemistry, and industry to tackle systemic challenges such as waste, resource scarcity, and environmental impact. OP Zuid

Patchwork Collection by Tess van Zalinge © Vivian Hoorn

Toward a natural-textile future: What’s next

We are currently working on refining coating methods, enhancing performance, and preparing for pilot projects that demonstrate real-world applications. Over the coming months, we aim to collaborate with designers, producers, and stakeholders across Europe to test, refine, and scale.

At the same time, being part of an OP Zuid project gives us access to support, collaboration opportunities, and a network of like-minded initiatives — making the vision of a circular textile industry more than a dream: a realistic, tangible future.