How did HyphaLite™ go from lab to commercial production?
HyphaLite™ went from lab to market in three steps: ISA COSM™ developed it with the goal of reaching 100% bio content, launched it in 2020 after many rounds of development, and scaled it to bulk production at TransAsia TanTec in Vietnam. In this ISA Voice episode, Ronda de Bie, Chief Sales Officer at ISA Next-Gen Materials, explains each step and how footwear and handbag brands are now using the material.
Last updated: October 2026
What the episode covers
ISA Next-Gen Materials has two business units: ISA TanTec for leather, and ISA COSM™ (Creation Of Sustainable Materials) for bio-based, non-leather and recycled materials. HyphaLite™ is the COSM flagship.
Because ISA Next-Gen Materials is already an established supplier to footwear and handbag brands, brands can specify HyphaLite™ without onboarding a new supplier, with the same sales and QA support. It is produced in bulk at TransAsia TanTec in Tay Ninh province, South Vietnam.
Ronda de Bie describes HyphaLite™ as a material in its own category rather than a substitute for leather or synthetics. The brands that design around it have had the most success. ISA Next-Gen Materials has conducted a Life Cycle Assessment on HyphaLite™ and received a corresponding Higg MSI score, and the material is available in multiple finishes, thicknesses and colours.
Chapters
- 0:11 Introduction
- 0:22 ISA COSM and HyphaLite
- 1:21 Production at TransAsia TanTec
- 1:34 A material in its own category
- 2:15 Brand adoption
- 2:32 Life Cycle Assessment and Higg MSI
- 2:59 Finishes and recognition
- 3:32 INNOVERA partnership
Full transcript
Transcript of the ISA Voice episode as recorded, with minor corrections to spelling and punctuation. Where the recording differs from current approved wording, the approved wording is used.
0:11 · Introduction
Hello, my name is Ronda de Bie and I'm the CSO (Chief Sales Officer) at ISA Next-Gen Materials. Welcome to another episode in the ISA Voice podcast series. Today I want to talk about HyphaLite™, our flagship material under ISA COSM business unit.
0:22 · ISA COSM and HyphaLite
COSM stands for Creation Of Sustainable Materials. To clarify our setup, ISA has two business units. One for sustainable leather, ISA TanTec, which we're very well known for, and another for bio-based materials, non-leather materials or recycled materials. These are products promoted under COSM today, but we're always developing and innovating, coming up with new ideas. HyphaLite™, as I said, is our flagship article, and it was developed with the goal of reaching 100% bio content. We achieved this goal and launched the material in 2020 after many rounds of development. What is unique about HyphaLite™ coming from ISA is that we're self-funded because of our success in the leather industry. We are also already an established supplier for footwear and handbag brands. We understand the process. We have sales QA support and brands won't need to onboard a new supplier if they would like to spec this material. We are already scaled up and producing bulk production volumes now for many brands.
1:21 · Production at TransAsia TanTec
Our HyphaLite™ materials are produced in our TransAsia TanTec facility located in the Tay Ninh province of South Vietnam, very close to the Cambodian border. We can make up to 300,000 square ft per month.
1:34 · A material in its own category
A little more information about the componentry of this material. It's like to compare it to other things, not to leather or synthetics. It's better if it's in its own category. Because it has its own category, there's a fair amount of education required with HyphaLite™. It's 100% bio-based. It's made from plants. What else can it be compared to? And what spec should it be measured against? The expectation that this material with 100% bio content will perform and react to shoe production processes in the exact same way is a challenge.
2:15 · Brand adoption
The brands who are designing around the material have been the most successful. HyphaLite™ has been sampled by over 100 brands and counting. There are over 25 brands with products in the marketplace utilizing HyphaLite™. More launches are planned for later this year and into 2027.
2:32 · Life Cycle Assessment and Higg MSI
One of the ways HyphaLite™ helps brands hit their sustainability goals is through its greenhouse gas emission score. Compared to petrochemical-based materials on the market, HyphaLite™ carries a significantly lower carbon footprint, which means brands using our material can meaningfully reduce their own greenhouse gas numbers. We are able to back this up with real data because ISA has conducted a Life Cycle Assessment on this product and received corresponding Higg material sustainability index score.
2:59 · Finishes and recognition
More great news, there are multiple finish options, thicknesses and colors available to order in HyphaLite™. Something for every brand, collection or season. Please reach out to your account managers today and ask for our latest catalogues. Our HyphaLite™ material has also won the Green Product Award in 2023 as a breakthrough innovation to fight against plastic pollution. If you would like more information, please follow ISA Next-Gen Materials and HyphaLite™ (ISA COSM) on Instagram or LinkedIn to see some of the brands highlighting HyphaLite™ material in their ranges and be on the lookout for more launches to come.
3:32 · INNOVERA partnership
In addition to HyphaLite™, we have a partnership with Modern Meadow and are producing the INNOVERA material in Asia for the footwear industry. There will be a dedicated ISA Voice podcast on this topic coming soon where I'll be interviewing Danielle Steding from Modern Meadow. Stay tuned and thanks for listening.