Luxury powerhouse Chanel has officially launched Nevold, an independent division focused on textile recycling and waste management, marking a major step in its long-term sustainability vision. The initiative aims to transform pre-consumer waste—such as fabric offcuts, unused materials, and unsold items—into high-quality resources for use in luxury fashion and beyond.
Described as a “B2B innovation hub”, Nevold is the result of years of research and development, dating back to 2019. It brings together an ecosystem of companies, startups, and academic partners with one mission: to reinvent the materials of tomorrow using recycled fibers, without compromising on the standards of luxury craftsmanship.
“We asked ourselves what happens to the materials that don’t make it into the final product,” said Bruno Pavlovsky, President of Fashion at Chanel, in an interview with Vogue Business. “Nevold is our answer — a real system to explore and realise their potential.”
The new division is led by Sophie Brocart, former CEO of LVMH’s Patou, and is designed to operate independently from Chanel’s fashion and Metiers d’Art divisions, positioning it as an open platform for cross-industry collaboration. According to WWD, Chanel is investing between $54 million and $86 million into the project.
Nevold already includes several key players:
- L’Atelier des Matières – dismantling and sorting post-industrial materials
- Filatures du Parc – specialists in recycled yarn spinning
- Authentic Material – known for upcycling premium natural materials
Chanel emphasized that Nevold is not yet a profit center, but rather a strategic investment in the future of sustainable fashion. It’s a move intended to counter industry waste, enhance material traceability, and address the growing scarcity of high-quality virgin raw materials—issues under increasing scrutiny from regulators and eco-conscious consumers alike.
The division’s broader goal is to collaborate not only within fashion, but also with industries such as hospitality and sportswear, to give new life to materials like leather, wool, silk, cotton, and cashmere that no longer meet luxury standards.
“This is part of a deeper transformation—rethinking the entire product lifecycle, inventing new professions such as ‘recycling agent,’ and contributing to a truly circular economy,” Chanel said in its launch announcement.
As global pressure mounts for fashion houses to rethink waste, Nevold positions Chanel as a leader in innovation-driven sustainability, paving the way for a more responsible future in luxury.
