Plant-based fur startup BioFluff named Luke Henning its interim CEO Wednesday, as the next-generation materials company gears up for a $2.5 million raise intended to fund commercial expansion.
Henning, was previously chief business officer at textile-to-textile recycler Circ, overseeing the financial and operational strategy underpinning the company’s commercialisation and global expansion. He has served as chairman of BioFluff’s board for the last two years.
“BioFluff is an early-stage company on paper; but it already has products that can be mass-produced easily,” said Henning. In contrast to recycling innovations that require hefty investments in new industrial plants to bring to market, the company’s bio-based faux fur materials can be manufactured using existing infrastructure, Henning added. “In that sense, it’s less of an innovation story and more of a growth story, which is what excites me.”
BioFluff creates plastic-free faux fur, shearling and other fluffy materials from plant fibres such as hemp and flax. Its textiles have already been used by Stella McCartney and Ganni, both early champions of sustainable materials. The company plans to use its next funding round to expand sales and distribution channels across fashion, interiors, and toys, while strengthening supply-chain partnerships with major luxury and mass-market brands, Henning said.
The company has already begun trial production with mills in Southeast Asia, which Henning says will be key to aligning global supply with local manufacturing chains.
A multitude of luxury companies have now committed to go fur-free, but fluffy styles are still a popular runway mainstay. Most of the faux alternatives currently available are plastic. BioFluff is hoping to tap into demand for cleaner, greener options.
For now, its focus is on luxury players who can afford to pay premium prices, but the goal is to shift to bigger markets as the company gains economies of scale. “Luxury brands are powerful for signalling. But they are not the volume,” said Henning.
“The ultimate goal is to offer an alternative to oil-based plastic fur that is comparable in price, but cruelty-free, healthier for people and the planet,” he added.
