WHY DO PEOPLE WHO LOVE NATURE WEAR PETROCHEMICALS TO EXPERIENCE IT?
This paradox is where FreyZein© was born. Rooted in the Alps—where nature is a way of life, not just a backdrop—our name comes from the German expression Frei Sein: to be free.
Free from petrochemicals. Free to redefine performance. Free to choose a new path.
We started as an eco-fashion brand in 2021 but soon discovered the limits of “sustainable” fabrics: Fiber blends that are hard or impossible to separate, recycled synthetics that degrade into microplastics - compromises that did not live up to circularity. Instead of accepting these limitations, we turned to material science.
With Dr. Barnaby Caven as co-founder, FreyZein© set out to reinvent performance textiles from the ground up—taking cues from nature. Living systems achieve strength and lightness by arranging simple building blocks in ingenious ways. Inspired, we focused on polysaccharides, especially cellulose: Earth’s most abundant polymer and one of its strongest.
The result: TerraTech™ , the world’s first plastic-free, monomaterial multilayer fabric with membrane technology engineered by nature.
Fully cellulosic. Windproof, water-repellent and breathable. Designed for circularity, engineered for performance.
Welcome to the Post-Synthetic Era.
MISSION
Engineering the next generation of natural performance textiles.
ALPINE HEADQUARTER
FreyZein’s® Headquarter is located in Graz, Styria, one of Europe’s leading innovation hot spots, with the highest R&D expenditures in all of Austria. As part of the Unicorn Innovation Hub, the company benefits from a dense network of Green Tech pioneers and from research excellence at the University of Graz, the TU Graz and Joanneum Research.
The city’s vibrant student community fuels creativity and forward-thinking, while its unique mix of alpine flair, urban energy, and closeness to nature offers constant inspiration—making Graz the ideal place where science, sustainability, and innovation converge.
RESEARCH & DESIGN
In Dornbirn, where Austria’s textile tradition meets the pulse of modern innovation, FreyZein® has built its R&D home. This unique location in Vorarlberg—at the intersection of four countries—has for centuries been a meeting ground for craftsmanship, trade, and pioneering ideas.
Today, it fuels our drive to develop the next generation of sustainable materials. With advanced lab technology for in-house research and the capability to test third-party materials, we turn this legacy into tangible innovation.
“NATURE IS NOT A PLACE TO VISIT, IT IS HOME.”
— GARY SNYDER, American Poet and Environmentalist
THE TEAM
Jan Anders Karlsson
Founder & CEO
Sabrina Stacherl
Co-Founder & CFO
Dr. Barnaby Caven
Co-Founder & CTO
Dr. Solmaz Ghanbarnezhad
Senior Scientist
Madeleine C. Müller
Design & Product Development
OUR VALUES.
NATURE FIRST
The first question we ask ourselves in all we do is: What impact does this have on the planet and is there a way to improve it?
COLLABORATION IS KEY
Together, we will always be stronger. By prioritizing honesty, hard work and meaningful impact, we foster a culture of collective change for the better.
CONSTANT RESEARCH & IMPROVEMENT
We challenge ourselves to constantly improve and keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible without compromises.
PERFORMANCE WITH PURPOSE
When creating our innovations, we make sure our business is a catalyst for systemic change.