TEXTILES.ORG
GOZEN, a San Francisco-based biomaterials startup, announced the appointment of Sedef Uncu Aki as its new chief product officer.
Aki joins GOZEN with a background in sustainability and textile innovation spanning more than 20 years. Her previous tenure as the director of product development and research at denim brand, ORTA, involved effectively creating and leading business in denim products.
At GOZEN, Aki will lead the development and commercialization of LUNAFORM™, a plastic-free and animal-free material derived from the by-products of microorganisms’ activity. It is is vegan and non-GMO.
GOZEN recently debuted LUNAFORM™ in partnership with Balenciaga at Paris Fashion Week last year. Both parties earned the Most Innovative Partnership award at the 2023 PETA Fashion Awards.
“Dr. Aki’s extensive experience and forward-thinking approach in sustainable product development align seamlessly with GOZEN’s vision of pioneering high-performance next-gen materials. Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and lead the way in next-gen biomaterials with LUNAFORM™ and beyond,” says Ece Gozen, CEO of GOZEN.
Expressing her enthusiasm about the new role, Aki says, “I am thrilled to join GOZEN as the chief product officer and contribute to the development of this biocreation platform that can shape an ecologically resilient future. GOZEN’s commitment resonates strongly with my own values, and I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at GOZEN to create a positive impact on a global scale.”