CLOTH FOUNDRY
A materials science company with patents on a 100% natural stretch material that is a clean, circular, high-performance replacement for the $20B petroleum-based elastane market
The Crisis in Your Closet
We've Been Wearing Plastic Against Our Skin for Decades
Over 90% of stretch fabrics, from leggings and intimates to sportswear and medical wraps, contain elastane (spandex), a petroleum-based plastic fiber.
These synthetic fibers leach endocrine-disrupting chemicals when exposed to sweat, heat, and friction. They're non-biodegradable, creating devastating microplastic pollution across landfills and oceans.
More than 20 billion garments containing elastane end up in landfills every year, and regulatory and consumer pressure is mounting.
"The industry has no safe, circular alternative. Until now."
Introducing Natural Stretch
All the Stretch & None of the Plastic
100% Plant-Based
A bio-derived elastic fiber that mimics the performance of spandex without petroleum or toxic solvents.
Fully Circular
Biodegradable, compostable, and designed for end-of-life recovery and no landfill legacy.
Skin-Safe
Hypoallergenic and free from endocrine disruptors, protecting both wearers and the planet.
Drop-In Compatible
Integrates seamlessly with existing spinning, weaving, and dyeing equipment with no retooling required.
Why Now: A Perfect Storm of Change
Regulatory Mandate
EU Circular Economy and California SB 707 require textile take-back by 2026, with fines up to $10K per day for non-compliance.
Consumer Revolution
70% of global shoppers actively prefer natural fibers, and Gen Z consumers pay significant premiums for sustainability.
Brand Urgency
Nike, Lululemon, and Patagonia have public sustainability commitments but no viable safe stretch solution to meet their goals.
Health Awakening
Growing scientific evidence links synthetic stretch to endocrine disruption and skin irritation. This is the next PFAS-level issue.
Sustainability is no longer optional. It's a compliance mandate, a health imperative, and a competitive necessity.
Team: Fashion, Science & Strategy
Lydia Wendt
Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer
  • Values-driven Founder of California Cloth Foundry® committed to natural, sustainable design and mfg.
  • 20+ years in sustainable fashion and textile innovation
  • Former designer at Issey Miyake, Tom Ford, and Calvin Klein
  • Deep expertise in material science and performance textiles
Andy Patrick
Co-Founder & CEO
  • Veteran purpose-driven entrepreneur and strategic operator
  • Extensive experience in early-stage ventures and market development
  • Leads investor relations, go-to-market strategy, and commercialization
  • Track record in building partnerships and scaling operations across for-profit and nonprofit ventures
Advisory Team
Pamela Cox
Law Firm Partner, Chair IP Transactions
Honored as one of the World’s Leading IP Patent and Technology Licensing Lawyers
Richard Moran
Venture Partner, Author
Material and bio-science investor and advisor, previously Partner at Venrock
TBD
Founder & CEO, Company
Founder of global brand that offers innovative products made from renewable materials
Cecily Mak
Venture Partner, Author
A former lawyer and Silicon Valley executive turned author and investor
"We combine deep textile design expertise with startup execution discipline and rigorous IP strategy which is a rare combination in the sustainable materials space."
A $20 Billion Opportunity
$20B
Total Addressable Market
Global elastane market size
$5B
Serviceable Available Market
Natural and sustainable stretch opportunity
$1B
Serviceable Obtainable Market
Near-term licensing potential in activewear, intimates, and leisurewear
Market Expansion Path
Active/Leisurewear
Initial entry point with high sustainability awareness
Intimates
Growing demand for skin-safe materials
Medical Textiles
High-value applications requiring safety and comfort
Outdoor Adventure
Existing relationships with many in the outdoor adventure market
Automotive
Growing demand for sustainable interior fabrics in vehicles
Sports
Athletes demand clean, high-performance materials
Cloth Foundry isn't just creating a revolutionary material. We're creating a revolutionary movement to end toxic stretch fabrics and make clean performance the new standard.
Validation & Momentum
IP Protection
  • A comprehensive provisional patent portfolio was prosecuted in October 2026.
  • Freedom-to-operate and patentability opinions validated with IP counsel Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP.
Technical Validation
  • Early lab and in-field tests demonstrate strong mechanical stretch and recovery performance
  • Functional prototypes successfully created for athletic wear, and in process on yoga wear, leisurewear, medical wraps, and comfort textiles
Commercial Traction
  • Strong interest signals from apparel brands and athletic teams seeking alternatives
  • Pilot program scheduled to launch in Fall 2026 with high school athletic teams
"We've proven performance. Now we're validating it through independent testing and certification."
— Lydia Wendt, Chief Product Officer
An IP-Driven Licensing Model
Licensing Revenue
Mills and fabric producers pay upfront license fees plus per-unit royalties with minimum volume guarantees
Co-Development
Strategic brand partnerships for custom fabric development and pilot programs
Ingredient Branding
"Powered by Natural Stretch™" certification on consumer products generates additional royalty streams
Scalable & Capital Efficient
We don't build factories, we empower the global textile industry to go clean. This high-margin IP and licensing model requires minimal capital expenditure while enabling rapid global scaling through existing manufacturing infrastructure.
Natural Stretch IP
Tier-1 Mills
Brand Partners
Consumer Products
Go-to-Market Roadmap
1
Phase 1: Validation
Now – Q2 2026
  • Complete OEKO-TEX®, ISO 17025, GOTS, and biodegradability testing
  • File comprehensive patent applications and secure IP counsel confirmation
  • Establish first co-development pilot with brand partner (yoga/activewear focus)
2
Phase 2: Pilot & Early Adoption
Q3 2026 – Q4 2026
  • Partner with 1-2 Tier-1 textile mills for production readiness
  • Launch limited collaboration capsule collection to demonstrate fiber performance
  • Begin athlete and influencer-led "Clean Stretch" awareness campaign
3
Phase 3: Scale & Licensing
2027+
  • Expand licensing to medical textiles, intimates, outdoor gear, and hygiene markets
  • Global mill licensing partnerships and ingredient branding rollout
  • Establish Natural Stretch as the industry standard for clean performance
Competitive Positioning
Our Unique Position
Unlike partially bio-based elastanes such as regen™ BIO, Natural Stretch eliminates polyurethane and all petrochemical solvents, offering complete biodegradability and verified skin safety for next-to-skin applications.
The Ask
Investment
$3,000,000 SAFE
Post-money valuation cap: $20M
Timeline
18 month runway
Through certification and pilot
Deliverables
Clear milestones
Ready for institutional Seed
What This Round Unlocks
  • Complete independent testing and certification (OEKO-TEX®, ISO, biodegradability)
  • Finalize patent prosecution with comprehensive IP protection
  • Develop pilot-ready prototypes and secure first brand partnership
Benchmark Comparables

This round funds Cloth Foundry through certification, pilot commercialization, and our global visibility moment via Netflix’s Plastic (Feb 2026) by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Louie Psihoyos.
It sets us up for a Series A at significantly higher valuation once certifications and pilots are complete, with early investors receiving first look at the A round.
Financial Snapshot & Scale Efficiency
Licensing Model Economics
  • Revenue: Upfront fees + per-unit royalties + annual minimum guarantees
  • No factory ownership = capital-light scale
  • Gross Margin: ~70–80% at scale
  • Operating Margin: ~45–50% (IP-led, low overhead)
  • Break-even: ~$10–12M annual revenue
Revenue Drivers
  • Tier-1 mill licenses (royalty per kg of fiber produced)
  • Brand ingredient certification ("Powered by Natural Stretch") royalties
  • Co-development fees for pilot programs
5-Year Forecast
  • Year 1: $1M
  • Year 3: $20M
  • Year 5: $120M
Path to profitability within 24–30 months
Last year, Hyosung TNC (a Tier-1 mill) and Genomatica announced a $350M partnership to produce 50,000 tons of partially bio-based elastane feedstock annually, validating market for sustainable stretch fibers.
Cloth Foundry's IP enables an even cleaner, fully plant-based alternative.
"High-margin IP model. Scales through partners, not factories."
Join Us
Let's Replace Every Toxic Stretch Fiber on Earth
Based in Sausalito, CA, Cloth Foundry stands at the intersection of three unstoppable forces: regulatory mandate, consumer demand, and health awareness. The global textile industry is ready for transformation.
We have the technology, the team, and the timing. Now we need partners who share our vision of a world where performance and sustainability are inseparable.
Contact
Andy Patrick
Co-Founder & CEO
415-535-7574
Lydia Wendt
Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer
415-298-2004