C&A, Zalando Back Altag Fiber From Farm Waste
The two retailers are the first brand signatories of the Altag Fiber Club, which aims to bring a fiber made from agricultural residues into commercial production.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Fashion
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C&A and Zalando committed to producing their first styles with Altag, a fiber made from agricultural waste, after Fashion for Good and AltMat named them the Altag Fiber Club's first brand signatories. The announcement did not disclose order volumes, launch dates, or which Zalando private labels will use the fiber.
Why it matters
Alternative fibers often struggle to scale because brands want a reliable supply before buying, while developers need firm orders to expand production. The club model pairs brand commitments with minimum order volumes to address that gap for Altag.
The announcement names two brand signatories but gives no order volumes or launch dates for Altag products. Zalando's participation runs through its private labels, though the specific labels were not identified.
The players
Fashion for Good
Fashion for Good is a sustainability-focused innovation platform for the apparel industry that runs fiber clubs connecting developers and brands.
AltMat
AltMat is a company developing alternative natural fibers from agricultural residues, including the Altag fiber.
C&A
C&A is a European fashion retailer with a large store network across Europe and Latin America.
Zalando
Zalando is a major European online fashion platform that sells through third-party brands and its own private labels.
The details
Altag is a natural fiber made from agricultural residues from food, medicinal and nontextile crops, according to AltMat. C&A and Zalando will provide technical requirements and input on manufacturing needs and consumer expectations to help shape the fiber's development.
Timeline
June 2025: The Altag Fiber Club was launched.
November 3, 2026: C&A and Zalando were announced as the club's first brand signatories.
2024: Fashion for Good's first Fiber Club was established with textile-to-textile recycler Circ, in collaboration with Canopy.
Culture Shift
The Altag club follows the model Fashion for Good first tested in 2024 with Circ and Canopy, extending a consortium approach to fibers grown from farm residues rather than recycled textiles. Brand-backed fiber clubs are becoming a route for alternative materials to move from development into commercial volumes.
Shoppers buying C&A or Zalando apparel may eventually see Altag-based garments, but no launch dates or product lines have been announced. Until then, the fiber's presence in stores remains unconfirmed.
The takeaway
Fiber clubs that pair brand commitments with minimum orders may help new materials move past the pilot stage, though whether Altag reaches shelves depends on volumes and launch timing still to be disclosed.
Further reading
For more on how sustainable materials are reshaping clothing lines, explore Fashion.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WWD.
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Would you buy clothing made from crop waste fiber instead of conventional materials?
