Green Manufacturing
TOMTEX
Waste is the new luxury
Founded:
2020
Located
Brooklyn, New York
We invested
Seed
EARTH-FIRST VISION
TômTex is at the forefront of material science innovation, transforming waste into sustainable textiles without relying on fossil fuels. Their cruelty-free and bio-based materials are made from chitosan, a natural polymer derived from shellfish, crustaceans, and mushrooms.
With the Luxury Leather Goods market worldwide projected to reach $72.35 billion in 2024 and grow annually by 4.64% (CAGR 2024-2029), TômTex is poised to disrupt this massive industry. Its advanced manufacturing process enables fabrics to take on any form, mold, or pattern, offering unmatched performance, aesthetic flexibility, and cost-competitiveness. TômTex is reshaping the future of textiles and driving the transition to a new class of next-gen biomaterials.
THE PROBLEM
The global seafood industry generates approximately 6 to 8 million metric tons of crab, shrimp, and lobster shell waste annually. This byproduct is often incinerated, buried, or discarded, leading to environmental concerns.
The fashion industry faces a dual crisis of ethics and sustainability. Traditional leather production is resource-intensive, with projections estimating that 430 million cows will be slaughtered annually by 2025 to meet demand.
Synthetic alternatives, meanwhile, rely on harmful chemicals like PVC and lack biodegradability. Discarded leather goods in landfills decompose anaerobically, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
These issues not only raise serious ethical concerns but also intensify environmental damage through deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and pollution caused by the toxic tanning process.
SOLUTIONS
TômTex is redefining sustainable materials with two groundbreaking product lines: Series M, derived from mushrooms, and Series WS, crafted from seafood waste shells.
Their innovations are not only environmentally responsible but also cost-competitive, scalable, and versatile, offering a viable alternative to traditional and synthetic leathers.
Competitively priced at $2.50 to $3.50 per square foot, TômTex rivals mid-tier animal leather while offering 100% bio-based, biodegradable, no-tanning materials. These advanced textiles can replicate the look and feel of luxury fabrics, with the flexibility to mimic any leather texture or color. TômTex empowers brands to explore entirely new material aesthetics, redefining possibilities in sustainable design.
THEIR DNAs
TômTex is powered by a team that combines visionary leadership and scientific excellence to propel TômTex’s mission of reshaping the future of fashion and textiles. Uyen Tran, Co-founder and CEO, brings years of experience working with top-tier fashion houses like Peter Do, Alexander Wang, and Ralph Lauren. Uyen is a textile-material researcher and designer with a master's degree from the Parson School of Design, New York. Ross McBee, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer (CSO), holds a PhD in synthetic biology with expertise in engineered living materials and genome engineering. Ross leads TômTex’s research and development, leveraging his deep expertise in advanced material science to create innovative, high-performance biomaterials.