Circulose’s story underlines the magnitude of the challenges facing those trying to reduce fashion’s impact on the environment at scale.

Formerly known as Renewcell, it was the next-gen materials startup that seemed to hold the most promise — thanks in large part to its high-profile brand partners including H&M, Inditex, Levi’s and Ganni. But Renewcell filed for bankruptcy in February, sending shock waves through the sustainable fashion community.