A new take on vegan leather without fossil fuels

This article is a part of Startup Spotlight, a series that features young, up-and-coming startups.

Image credit: Timmy Loen

Growing up in Da Nang, Vietnam, Uyen Tran witnessed firsthand how industrial waste from factories contaminated local rivers and communities. This experience, combined with her textile design studies at Parsons School of Design in New York, inspired her to create a solution.

She saw the fashion industry’s deep reliance on plastics and toxic chemicals. This led her to found TômTex Inc, a company that develops sustainable, non-toxic materials to protect both people and the planet.

😟 Problem

Most leather alternatives are made of plastic. Over 85% of vegan leather is derived from fossil fuels like polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These materials are treated with toxic chemicals such as PFAS and phthalates.

The fashion industry contributes to about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Its plastic-based materials shed microplastics and cannot be safely recycled, while brands in fashion, automotive, and furniture face growing pressure to find viable, scalable alternatives.

💡 Solution

TômTex creates 100% bio-based, non-toxic textiles from waste materials. The company’s platform uses green chemistry to replace traditional oil-based materials.

It offers a scalable alternative for brands to reduce fossil fuel dependency and chemical risks.

• The materials are made without PU, PVC, PFAS, or petroleum.
• They are engineered for performance, offering leather-like durability and finish.
• The platform can tailor material thickness, feel, and finish for partners.
• It uses regenerative and waste-derived feedstocks with water-based processing.

Photo credit: TômTex

🤝 Team

• Uyen Tran. Co-founder and CEO. With a background in textile design and experience at Ralph Lauren and Alexander Wang, she leads business strategy, partnerships, and fundraising.
• Ross McBee. Co-founder and CTO. He leads scientific development, R&D, and process optimization to ensure materials meet industry performance and safety standards for commercial scale. PhD in biological sciences from Columbia University.

🚀 Traction

• Collaborated with fashion brands including Peter Do, Collina Strada, and Di Petsa for runway shows and pilot programs.
• Several partners have moved from sampling to repeat orders and production planning.
• Active pilots are underway in the furniture, hospitality, and automotive interior sectors.
• Received major industry awards, including TIME’s Best Inventions 2024, the LVMH Innovation Award, and the CFDA Fashion Award.

🏆 Competition

TômTex competes with next-generation material companies like MycoWorks, Bolt Threads, and Desserto, as well as traditional PU-based vegan leather suppliers. Many of these alternatives still rely on plastic coatings or fossil-fuel binders.

💰 Financials