UKFT member Tera Mira has been named one of the Top 20 finalists in the Global Change Award 2026, an international programme led by the H&M Foundation that supports early-stage innovations working to transform the fashion and textile industry.

Selected from more than 450 submissions across 81 countries, the 2026 finalists represent pioneering ideas addressing some of the sector’s most complex challenges, from material innovation and circular systems to new manufacturing and consumption models.

Founded by Jeanne Begon-Lours and Lucy Dain-Williams, Tera Mira is developing a seaweed-derived alternative to elastane using a solvent-free wet-spinning process. By creating stretch fibres from marine biopolymers, Tera Mira aims to match elastane’s performance while enabling improved end-of-life pathways.

The Global Change Award was created to accelerate innovations that could help the fashion industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition towards a more circular and responsible system. The Top 20 finalists are now being reviewed by an expert panel, with ten winners to be announced in June.

Being selected as a finalist places Tera Mira among a global cohort of innovators exploring solutions such as carbon-capturing dyes, enzyme-based recycling technologies and AI-enabled manufacturing efficiency. Together, these ideas highlight the scale of innovation required to reshape the textile value chain for the future.

Congratulations to the Tera Mira team on this recognition and we look forward to following their continued progress.

Other UK finalists in the Global Change Award 2026 include:

• EntroMetri
• Colour Earth.

Find out more about the Global Change Award 2026 here.

Discover Tera Mira online:

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Tera Mira, about joining UKFT:

‘‘UKFT brought us to Vietnam for the VIATT trip, where we got to see the supply chain from the other side of the world and learned a ton along the way. The sustainability team has been brilliant at keeping us informed and connected. Now we’re excited to be part of the UKFT community: to meet more people, spark collaborations, be challenged and keep getting inspired!’’

Tera Mira is a member of UKFT. Interested in joining the network?

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