'Sustainable' textile manufacturer plans expansion after £250k investment

A London-based textile brand has secured £250k to further develop its products and recruit additional senior staff.

Ananas Anam has secured the finance from the Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF), provided by The FSE Group and backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS).

The company is the creator of PIÑATEX, a material made from pineapple leaves, a by-product of the pineapple harvest.

Ananas Anam has already been used by brands such as Nike, H&M, Paul Smith, Hilton Hotels and Hugo Boss.

Melanie Broyé-Engelkes, CEO at Ananas Anam, said: “We are grateful for the support from The FSE Group which will enable Ananas Anam to further expand our team and operations; continuing to build PIÑATEX globally and make even greater progress in realising the company vision of a more sustainable future.”

David Booth, investment manager for The FSE Group commented: “The circular economy is a key area of focus for the fund, and we are delighted to be able to support Ananas Anam as they pursue their growth ambition.

“The commercial traction they have been able to demonstrate to date is impressive and we are confident that they have a bright future ahead. We look forward to working with the founder and her senior management team on the next stage of their journey.”