On 26th January, The Mills Fabrica will unveil Performance Without Toxicity at its Fabrica X innovation gallery in King’s Cross, London. The exhibition is set to spotlight the future of performance apparel, delving into how technical clothing can deliver on function without relying on harmful, petroleum-based materials.
Running through to June 2026, Performance Without Toxicity maps how innovation is reshaping the performancewear landscape from the ground up. The exhibition traces the full pipeline, spanning early-stage material research through to solutions already entering the market. Visitors will encounter industry advances including PFAS-free waterproofing, microbial dyeing processes, compostable footwear, molecular recycling, and repair-led systems designed to extend garment life – all developments which demonstrate the shift away from harmful production techniques towards cleaner, more responsible performance design.
Leading the exhibition is Goldwin, the Japanese technical apparel brand whose philosophy centres on harmony between people, performance, and the natural world. Known for blending advanced functionality with refined Japanese design principles, Goldwin will offer a highlight of the exhibition in its boundary-pushing collaboration with London-based label J.L-A.L, combining next-generation Brewed Protein fibre developed by Spiber, Synflux’s algorithmic pattern-efficiency technology, and plant-derived PLA enhanced by Bioworks.
Alongside Goldwin, the exhibition brings together a diverse group of collaborators driving meaningful change across the sector. Hyosung presents recycled, recyclable, and bio-based elastane solutions, while Lenzing and the Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp demonstrate bio-renewable materials operating at commercial scale. Vivobarefoot contributes insights into regenerative business models, including algae-derived foams and bio-based polymers, and United Repair Centre showcases systems that prioritise repair, remake, and social impact. Additional contributors include the likes of Ambercycle, Colorifix, Dimpora, and Balena, all adding a piece to the puzzle of what a cleaner future for performance apparel should look like.
As Lead Innovation Partner, Goldwin’s role extends beyond product to long-term system change. Through its Goldwin Play Earth Fund, the brand actively invests in start-ups advancing material innovation, circularity, and performance research, supporting ideas with the potential to scale. This echoes the exhibition’s wider message: performance no longer needs to come at the expense of environmental or human health – purpose, innovation, and responsibility are the new benchmarks for the industry.
The Mills Fabrica sits at the centre of this conversation as a global innovation ecosystem dedicated to accelerating sustainable and social impact start-ups. With hubs in Hong Kong and London, it supports ventures across the agrifood and techstyle sectors through investment, partnerships, and industry collaboration. Its Fabrica X gallery brings these ideas into the public realm, creating space for education, dialogue, and tangible engagement with next-generation solutions.
Performance Without Toxicity will run from 26th January until June 2026 at Fabrica X, 36-40 York Way, London N1 9AB. You can find out more right here.
