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Here’s what ‘renoa’ — the first new fiber in 25 years — feels like
TechCrunch's Tim De Chant tests renoa, a washable cashmere substitute from startup Everbloom and the first new fiber in 25 years.
Key points
- The US Federal Trade Commission recently approved renoa as the first new fiber classification in 25 years.
- Everbloom makes renoa from waste protein and a biodegradable biopolymer, and has been developing it for three years.
- Everbloom expects a blend with about 20% renoa in a cashmere sweater, with the first product expected in the second quarter of 2027.
Why it matters. Renoa could bring a cashmere-like experience to more products and people at a lower price, though the first commercial products are not expected until 2027.
TechCrunch's Tim De Chant tried renoa, a cashmere-like fiber made by New York startup Everbloom, after visiting its New York City headquarters last month. The US Federal Trade Commission recently approved renoa as a new fiber classification, the first in 25 years, and Everbloom has spent three years developing it. Renoa is made from waste protein, including cashmere and wool scraps and feather lint from the bedding industry, mixed with a biodegradable biopolymer.
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Here’s what ‘renoa’ — the first new fiber in 25 years — feels like
Startup Everbloom's new material, renoa, is the first new fiber in 25 years, and it feels very familiar. Sometimes it seems like everyone — and every occasion — demands cashmere these days. Numerous brands sell cashmere sweaters, from Bruno Cucinelli’s $7,900 cable knit cardigan to Quince’s $50 crewneck . Menswear company Loro Piana has made cashmere a cornerstone of its lineup, helping to drive the LVMH division’s valuation above €11 billion . There are even cashmere running shirts . But as cashmere has spread throughout the fashion industry, it’s not for everyone. It’s still relatively expensive, hard to care for, and environmental fraught. The goats that produce cashmere have been trashing rangelands across Central Asia. That may change, though. I recently experienced an alternative fiber called renoa, developed by a startup called Everbloom , that’s washable and promises to be more affordable. It could bring the cashmere experience, via a substitute material, to more products and people. Everbloom has made a number of sample items using renoa, including this glove and scarf. The scarf has been washed and dried in a tumble dryer. Image Credits: Tim De Chant/TechCrunch Renoa is made from sources of waste protein, including cashmere and wool scraps as well as down and feather “lint” leftover from the bedding industry. Everbloom processes the waste into a powder and blends it w.