496 Fabric Lab: weaving a future-forward denim legacy

[Sponsored article]

Nestled in the heart of Taiwan, 496 Fabric Lab is rewriting the rules of denim production. As the island’s only active denim weaving mill, the lab seamlessly blends traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology to forge a tangible narrative of sustainability, culture, and innovation. Since its establishment in 2012, 496 Fabric Lab has made its mark in multi-dimensional jacquard denim, a technique where each woven piece carries a visual and tactile story of purposefulness, texture, and time. With every roll of textile, 496 Fabric Lab brings a piece of history to life, one of craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

A close-up of 496 FABRIC LAB’s signature jacquard denim, where texture and storytelling are intricately woven.

In 2024, 496 Fabric Lab took a bold step toward future-proofing its operations. Faced with global economic instability, it opened a new AI-powered production centre for flexible small-batch production, integrating advanced digital twin systems to optimise weaving precision and accelerate development. Reflecting 496 Fabric Lab’s dedication to resilience and steadfast commitment to producing 100% Made-in-Taiwan fabrics, this facility ensures ethical production, uncompromising quality control and material traceability. 

An AI-powered jacquard loom at 496’s smart production facility in Taiwan.

At the core of 496 Fabric Lab’s philosophy is a long-term commitment to environmental stewardship. Aiming to reduce their environmental footprint, while promoting transparency across the production chain, the lab has implemented an advanced energy management system, and is on track to release its first official ESG report in 2026. By the second half of 2025, every roll of fabric will feature full carbon footprint data, thus allowing clients to make informed and sustainable choices.

The RR Jacquard Denim Collection is where 496 Fabric Lab’s environmentally-friendly approach truly shines; this collection features a brand-new kind of denim — one that is both regenerative and responsibly repurposed. Regenerative Cotton is sourced from farms that use environmentally restorative practices to promote soil health and biodiversity. It involves transforming waste materials such as recycled wool, pineapple leaf fibres, and agricultural by-products into high-quality jacquard denim. By embracing these practices, 496 Fabric Lab is proving that sustainability can go hand-in-hand with innovation, while launching a powerful statement about the potential of circularity in fashion.

The lab’s vision has resonated far beyond Taiwan’s borders, resulting in luxury collections in partnership with the likes of Valentino, Vivienne Westwood, Supreme, Diesel, Casablanca, Wales Bonner, and Marques'Almeida, merging high-end fashion with regenerative design. For designers, 496 Fabric Lab is a partner in creating impactful designs that reflect a new era of responsible fashion. With circularity, responsibility, and digital innovation at its core, 496 Fabric Lab is reimagining denim: turning it into a material that speaks to the future, tells about its origins, and plays a key role in shaping the sustainable fashion landscape.

Jacquard weaving in progress: a newly developed fabric emerging from one of 496’s customized high-density looms.