Tomorrowland isn’t just a festival – it’s a movement that unites music, culture, art, and fashion. It’s a celebration of self-expression, where every choice, including what you wear, becomes part of the story you tell. But with this creative freedom comes a new challenge: how can Tomorrowland design lifestyle products and clothing that inspire while treading lightly on the planet?
From cosy hoodies and hats to signature perfumes and captivating books: Tomorrowland continues to expand beyond its festival roots. To minimise the environmental impact of this growth, the festival has taken a pioneering step: every material is now rated for its sustainability. At the heart of this effort lies the Material Matrix, an innovative tool that evaluates and maps the environmental footprint of various fibres.
Collaboration in Material Mapping
Not all materials are created equally, and understanding their impact requires precision. A variety of sustainability labels already exists, each with its own set of criteria. But even within the same label, these conditions can vary depending on the fibre in question. To make sense of this complexity, Love Tomorrow partnered with Masjien, an Antwerp agency for fashion, sustainability, and technology, to create a framework for sustainable material choices – the Material Matrix.
The Material Matrix is built on insights from leading industry sources, including the Higg Materials Sustainability Index (MSI), the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile (AGT), and the Sustainable Fashion Academy (SFA). The result is a classification system with six categories, ranging from the least sustainable (6) to the most sustainable (1). This matrix empowers Tomorrowland’s designers to select fibres that align with its commitment to sustainability.
Guided by Masjien, the Material Matrix is designed as a living document that evolves alongside advancements in the fashion industry. Thanks to six-monthly updates and yearly reports on the use of sustainable materials, Tomorrowland’s progress will become both more transparent and easier to measure.
Towards sustainability in every fibre
While there is still work to be done, the Material Matrix is a significant step on our journey to a more sustainable future. By 2027, Tomorrowland The first step is mapping all current materials. Step 2 is to develop a sustainability action plan to facilitate an evolution towards more recycled and organic cotton. For this we count on the cooperation of our suppliers.
