For its first presentation at Material Matters, the Futures Lab highlights two collaborators whose material explorations respond directly to global challenges:

Studio Thus That: Fire, Walk With Me

Based in Amsterdam, Studio Thus That investigates the overlooked potential of industrial by- products such as ash and slags. Their project reframes fire not as a destructive force but as a regenerative agent within bio-regional systems. By transforming biomass ash into new materials such as geopolymers and glazes, they demonstrate how waste streams can become sustainable construction resources. Their work is both an educational platform (The New Guide to Fire) and a material innovation case study, bridging science, craft, and storytelling.

Material Library of India: Cotton 2.0

Led by sustainability practitioner Shubhi Sachan, the Material Library of India (MLI) reimagines cotton for a world defined by climate extremes. By combining indigenous cotton varieties with bio-based coatings (from neem, turmeric, aloe, and beeswax), MLI creates garments that adapt to shifting climates while retaining deep cultural resonance. Cotton 2.0 merges functionality with identity, proposing a new textile paradigm rooted in circularity, heritage, and resilience.

Together, these projects illustrate the Futures Lab’s mission: to convene bold ideas, test new possibilities, and provoke dialogue on how we design materials, systems, and futures that serve both people and planet.

Futures in Focus

As the Futures Lab expands its global reach, projects like those from Studio Thus That and the Material Library of India highlight how local resources, cultural knowledge, and innovative practices can redefine material futures. They are not just speculative provocations but blueprints for systemic change, addressing urgent issues of climate adaptation, waste, and identity.

Material Futures: Looking Back to Look Forward

16.00-16.45

In addition to the stand, the Futures Lab delegated will be presenting the following panel session;

The Foundation USM Futures Lab is an initiative by London-based design studio ForEveryday.Life, which was created to explore, envision, and advocate for possible futures that prioritise sustainability and innovation. In this talk it will be introducing two of the exhibitors it

is showcasing at Material Matters. Studio ThusThat investigates the overlooked potential of industrial by-products such as ash and slags, while Material Library of India reimagines cotton for a world defined by climate extremes.

Speakers: Colin Macgadie, founder, For Everyday Life and chair, Futures Lab; Shubhi Sachan, founder, Material Library of India; Kevin Rouff, co-founder, Studio ThusThat

Chair: Grant Gibson, co-founder Material Matters