In this special podcast series, we speak to the winners of the WTiN Innovate Textile Awards 2025.

World Textile Information Network (WTiN) is thrilled to announce the winners of the Innovate Textile Awards 2025. In this special podcast series we speak with the winners of the awards about the challenges, possibilities and successes of innovation within the textile industry.

In the first episode, we are joined by Melik Demirel, co-founder of Tandem Repeat. Tandem Repeat won the Product Innovation award for Sonachic – a collection of luxury basics inspired by sweater and cardigan knitting, featuring Procell™ fibre made from fermented proteins. 

Tandem Repeat has developed a patented fermentation microbial process that transforms proteins into valuable products, including textile fibres and nonwovens. This process encompasses synthetic biology, strain and fermentation engineering, and downstream processes. Demirel speaks how the company has combined circular design with functionality. 

You can learn more about Tandem Repeat at tandemrepeat.com. Read Demirel’s report on biomanufacturing protein fibres to achieve sustainable development here. 

WTiN announced the winners in a virtual ceremony on 5 December 2025, which you can now watch on demand at WTiN.com.