Just Style Excellence Awards 2024: Interloop Limited

In this exclusive interview, we had the opportunity to speak with Jason Wang, the COO of Alvanon, a leading new-age apparel and fashion technology company that has won the 2023 Just Style Excellence Award for Innovation and Product Launches. Alvanon has been at the forefront of shaping the future of fit in the fashion industry for over two decades, providing sizing standards and fit specifications for consumers' bodies. In our conversation Wang discusses the future of fit and fashion technology, from anticipated industry trends to insights on Alvanon’s mission, goals for the future, and what sets them apart. He also introduces MyAlva, an exciting new venture with the potential to transform fit for consumers and the industry. Alvanon is working towards creating a sustainable future for the apparel industry, including the development of a new technology, BodyAI, designed to reduce overstock inventory and their transition to 3D printing for their physical mannequins.

In an exclusive interview with Faryal Sadiq, Chief Marketing Officer at Interloop Limited and a key person behind the company’s multiple wins in the 2024 Just Style Excellence Awards, we explore the company's strategic expansion, innovative product development, and unwavering commitment to sustainability.

Faryal leads business development, sales, and sustainability initiatives while championing gender equity in business. A former Deloitte and EY consultant, she holds an MBA from Oxford University and an Economics degree from LSE, bringing over a decade of consumer products and retail expertise to her role.

Being an affiliate of global supply chain manager, Li & Fung, we are deeply entrenched into the supply chain flows of our SME clients globally, thereby possess a deep understanding of their working capital requirements. At the same time, our ability to acquire quality assets has attracted a wide base of financial institutional partners which leverage our extensive industry insights and data analytics. We thereby seamlessly link our SME clients to our multiple funding partners via our technology-enabled, easy-to-use cross-border supply chain financing platform, which efficiently processes transactions for all parties involved.

Faryal Sadiq: Our expansion is about staying agile and connected to the markets we serve. By scaling operations in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and China and strengthening our foothold in regions like Japan, Europe, and North America, we’re positioning ourselves to meet growing global demand.

The recent majority stake in Top Circle Hosiery Mills in the U.S. extends our reach and capabilities, aligning with our strategy to stay closer to key markets. At home, increased capacity in Pakistan allows us to deliver quality and traceability at scale while supporting near-shoring for faster, more responsive supply chains.

Ultimately, every step of this growth aligns with our broader vision: doubling our sales to $700 million by 2026 while staying focused on responsible practices. 

Faryal Sadiq: At Interloop, our mindset is simple: innovate with purpose. Loomshake™ began with a simple idea—turn waste into value. In Pakistan, agricultural waste is often burned or discarded, contributing to environmental challenges. We saw an opportunity to transform banana stem waste into a versatile yarn blend with cotton, viscose, and Tencel.

The result is a bio-based material that reduces our product footprint and aligns with our goal to source 70% sustainable materials. Certifications like Oeko-Tex and ISCC Plus ensure it meets global standards, and we’re already exploring what’s next—fibres like kapok, hemp, and other agrowaste sources.

Loomshake is a true reflection of how we can innovate for impact. 

Faryal Sadiq: Supply chain sustainability starts with visibility and collaboration. Our Looptrace platform provides full traceability for certified materials, enabling transparency across the value chain. Through our Kapas initiative, we partner with local farmers to adopt regenerative and organic farming practices, bringing localisation and resilience into our supply chain.

Circularity is another focus—repurposing waste into products like Cradle-to-Cradle^® socks and circular jeans. Combining these efforts with our SBTi-approved decarbonisation targets, we’re building a supply chain that’s not only efficient but also accountable to the planet. By 2025, we’re aiming for 70% sustainable raw materials and complete cotton traceability, delivering real impact at every level across our operations and partnerships. 

Faryal Sadiq: The Interloop Apparel Park is a significant step forward in combining advanced technology with environmental stewardship. Starting fresh gave us the advantage of designing state-of-the-art facilities from the get go, with LEED Gold and Platinum certifications, advanced water recycling systems, and a 55 TPH biomass boiler. A 2.5 MW solar system underscores its commitment to clean energy, while advanced multi-category production lines drive operational excellence.

It’s not just about the technological edge—it’s about creating a workplace that values people and the planet. From a biodiversity park to vocational training and daycare facilities, this industrial complex reflects our commitment to a holistic approach. 

This balance between innovation and care helps us deliver high-quality, ethically produced goods with a lower environmental footprint. 

Faryal Sadiq: The hardest part of achieving SBTi approval was tackling Scope 3 emissions—quantifying impact across the value chain isn’t easy. It required extensive data collection and building trust with our partners to create a transparent system.

We’ve adopted a data-driven approach and are working closely with suppliers on capacity building to shift to low-impact practices. This effort made us Pakistan’s first large-scale company with SBTi-approved targets, committing to a 51% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2032.

In FY2023 alone, we cut over 29,000 tonnes of emissions—clear proof of progress. It’s a start, but there’s more to do. Expanding operations while halving emissions is ambitious, but we’re ready to take it on. 

Faryal Sadiq: Waste isn’t just a problem—it’s an opportunity. Our vision of 100% waste diversion relies on innovative technologies that drive resource efficiency. Our partnership with Reverse Resources uses digital tools to track textile waste from production to recycling, ensuring nothing goes unaccounted for and is reused effectively. Internally, we transform waste into value—for example, converting discarded socks into clip yarn for new products. These processes not only reduce landfill waste but also create circularity within our supply chain. By combining digitisation and in-house innovation, we’re closing the loop on waste sustainably. 

Faryal Sadiq: The Technical Training School is about building the skills of tomorrow. With over 1,300 trainees so far, it equips employees with technical expertise and problem-solving capabilities that fuel operational efficiency. Looking ahead, we’re focusing on inclusion by targeting 80% female participation and developing customised training for differently-abled individuals. These efforts ensure our workforce is equipped to innovate and adapt in a fast-changing industry.

Faryal Sadiq: It’s a moment of pride for all of us at Interloop. The recognition isn’t just about what we’ve achieved—it’s about the collective effort that brought us here. Awards like these reinforce our commitment to creating a more sustainable and innovative textile industry and encourage us to keep raising the bar.

Faryal Sadiq: Expanding renewable energy is essential to our clean energy journey. With over 17 MW of solar already in place, we’re on track to hit 25 MW by 2025. Currently 70% of our steam comes from renewable sources like biomass and waste heat recovery, reducing 50,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually.

This isn’t just about meeting targets—it’s about building a resilient, future-ready business that aligns with our partners’ sustainability priorities. 

Faryal Sadiq: Collaboration is how we move the needle. Through SBTi and CDP, we’re sharing data and strategies across the value chain to scale decarbonisation efforts.

Our Kapas initiative helps farmers transition to regenerative practices, while projects like upcycling banana stems into fibre support the shift to low-impact materials and ultimately lowering our product footprints. By leading these conversations and actions, we hope to inspire broader change in the industry.