About Substanz
Substanz is a consulting, education, and material sourcing company specialising in sustainable materials, biomaterials, and next-generation, low-impact materials for the fashion industry.
Drawing on extensive industry expertise and a global network of material innovators, Substanz supports fashion brands across material research, sourcing, product development, manufacturing, and supply chain strategy. We work with established fashion houses, emerging designers, and independent brands to identify commercially viable materials that reduce environmental impact without compromising performance, aesthetics, or production requirements.
Our goal is to make next-generation materials and biomaterials accessible to every fashion brand, designer, and artisan — regardless of size, purchasing volume, or previous knowledge of innovative materials.
Through our platform we offer materials at producer prices, with no intermediary mark-ups and no minimum order quantities, while our order aggregation service enables smaller customers to combine orders to reach production MOQs or lower pricing tiers. Our personalised consulting services further simplify material selection, sourcing, and purchasing.
By warehousing selected materials within the European Union, we aim to reduce the complexity of international customs clearance and make innovative materials more accessible to smaller brands and independent designers.
We also help bring excess materials back into circulation. Brands and manufacturers can list surplus panels, rolls, and other material inventory on our platform, allowing us to match excess stock with brands, designers, and artisans and helping owners release working capital while keeping valuable materials in use.
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Our mission is to make the latest advances in material science accessible to the fashion industry, connecting brands, designers, and artisans with pioneering sustainable materials and biomaterials, while helping innovative R&D companies translate breakthrough technologies into commercially successful materials, products, prototypes, and exhibition-ready applications. Through these connections, we aim to accelerate the adoption of bio-based materials, support the growth of the European bioeconomy, and facilitate the transition towards more circular material systems.
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Everything we do is guided by five core principles that support material innovation, the development of the bioeconomy, and the transition towards more circular material systems:
Resource Efficiency – We encourage the use of renewable, bio-based, and circular resources to reduce reliance on finite raw materials.
Responsible End-of-Life – We promote materials designed for responsible end-of-life pathways, including biodegradation, recycling, reuse, or other forms of material recovery wherever technically feasible.
Safe Chemistry – We support the development and use of materials based on safer, non-toxic chemistry and seek to reduce reliance on hazardous substances.
Material Transparency – We value traceable supply chains and clear, reliable information about material composition, sourcing, production, performance, and end-of-life options.
Innovation with Purpose – We prioritise evidence-based material selection and openly communicate both the strengths and limitations of every material for its intended application, helping innovative materials move from R&D into practical commercial use.
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The name says it all: we focus on the substance behind designs and materials.
We believe innovation should be measured not only by what a material (or design) is made from, but also by how it performs, how it is produced, and what happens to it at the end of its life.
Through our international network of material innovators, manufacturers, researchers, and fashion partners, we bridge the gap between scientific innovation and commercial application.
Substanz — Connecting Material Innovation with Commercial Reality.
The Story Behind Substanz
Anastasia Jais — Founder & Driving Force Behind Substanz
After more than 17 years in banking, specialising in structured finance and sustainability advisory for major extractive and chemical industries, Anastasia pursued her third Master’s degree at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). This academic transition became the catalyst for founding Substanz in 2023.
Substanz reflects her long-standing interest in systemic innovation, material science, and low-impact materials. Under her leadership, the company focuses on making next-generation materials and biomaterials accessible and commercially viable, helping translate material innovation into practical applications while supporting the development of the European bioeconomy and more circular material systems.