World Collective announces a collaboration with KD Knit to bring Vegetable Cashmere® into its global sourcing infrastructure, expanding access to one of luxury’s most innovative plant-based materials.
Developed by KD Knit from a blend of soy protein fiber, lyocell and cotton, Vegetable Cashmere® is a next-generation luxury material designed for contemporary knitwear and apparel, bringing together elegance, wellness, performance and sustainability in one fiber platform. Through this collaboration, brands all around the world can source Vegetable Cashmere® yarn and explore broader product opportunities through World Collective’s digital sourcing infrastructure.
“Material innovation is only as powerful as the access brands have to it,” said Julie Tran, Chief Growth Officer at World Collective. “By welcoming Vegetable Cashmere® by KD Knit into our ecosystem, we’re not only expanding access to next-generation yarn innovation, we’re also creating a clearer path for brands to discover and source materials that move the industry towards a more conscious future.”
Vegetable Cashmere® was developed within an active knitwear manufacturing ecosystem and has been incorporated into products sold through KD New York, where years of wear and refinement have helped validate its comfort, durability, and performance in real-world use. This
hands-on product development environment has created a strong foundation for bringing Vegetable Cashmere® into broader fashion and retail markets.
KD Knit developed Vegetable Cashmere® as a platform for brands to meet growing demand for authenticity, innovation and responsibility, while maintaining the standards of beauty and quality expected in modern luxury. It is backed by a traceable supply chain, vertically integrated sourcing and third-party validation, including LCA, SGS textile testing and soy input certifications.
For World Collective, the collaboration is part of a broader mission to make breakthrough materials more visible, accessible and actionable within a global sourcing framework. By integrating materials like Vegetable Cashmere® into its ecosystem, World Collective helps create stronger pathways from material innovation to discovery, development and commercialization to brands of all sizes worldwide.
“Vegetable Cashmere® was developed to move through the industry – designer, development and manufacturing. Partnering with World Collective creates a direct path from innovation to application, giving brands a way to design with a next-generation material that meets the moment without compromising on luxury or performance,” said David Lee, Founder, CEO and Creative Director, KD Knit Corp.
Vegetable Cashmere® is currently offered as a premium plant-based yarn suitable for sampling, development and production runs, and it supports knitwear and textile applications across premium categories. KD Knit’s technical and manufacturing capabilities also enable broader collaboration opportunities spanning yarn supply, product development, manufacturing, wholesale and white-label programs.
About World Collective
World Collective is a global sourcing infrastructure connecting brands, suppliers, material innovators and manufacturers through a shared ecosystem built for scalable, transparent trade. The platform gives brands access to 500+ materials, from yarns and textiles to next-generation solutions, helping them discover smarter sourcing opportunities and build stronger supply chains.
About KD Knit
KD Knit is a fiber innovation company specializing in plant-based materials for modern luxury. With more than four decades of experience designing and producing premium knitwear, the company brings deep technical expertise to the development of next-generation fibers. Its flagship innovation, Vegetable Cashmere®, transforms soy byproduct into a high-performing luxury material, created as a scalable platform for brand collaboration across the global fashion and textile ecosystem.
Media Inquiry | Júlia Vilaça - julia@world-collective.com
