In response to the growing environmental challenges and new regulatory demands facing the fashion industry, technology has become a key ally in driving its transformation. It is in this context that Cycle Platform was born, an initiative led by its CEO and founder Daniel Sánchez, offering a disruptive solution: bringing traceability, circularity, and technology together in a single platform accessible to both major brands and small producers.
Traceability as the foundation for a more conscious fashion
Cycle Platform was created to address a fundamental gap in the fashion industry: the lack of real, verifiable traceability in garments. Through technologies like NFC and the Digital Product Passport (DPP), the platform connects each item to its full journey, from the origin of its materials to its resale or recycling. Beyond providing data, it transforms information into an active tool for promoting a more conscious and circular way of producing and consuming fashion.
The platform offers full traceability, from upstream to downstream, enabling real-time certification of the origin, environmental footprint, and life cycle of each clothing item.
“Cycle doesn’t just show the data; it dynamically connects it, driving more sustainable business models and fostering transparency with consumers,” explains Daniel.
What is the Digital Product Passport (DPP)?
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) will be a mandatory digital tool in the EU that compiles key information about each product: from its unique identifier and compliance documentation to user manuals, hazardous substances, and recycling guidelines.
For Daniel, the main challenge lies in integrating and verifying all this information in a structured and accessible way. But he also sees a major opportunity: the DPP will enable real traceability, promote transparency, and open new ways to connect with customers.
Technology in service of circularity
For years, circularity has been an aspirational goal in fashion, difficult to implement, but Daniel is confident that this is changing: “Technology is the engine that can make circularity scalable.” As he explains, tools like digital twins, AI, and smart tags extend the useful life of garments, enable resale, and optimize recycling processes.
“Without full digitalization through digital twins, circularity remains a theoretical aspiration; with technology, it becomes an industrial and operational practice,” he says.
A new relationships between brands, products, and consumers
One of the greatest contributions of digitalization is the transformation of the physical product into a traceable digital asset. This allows brands to tap into more dynamic business models like subscription services, resale, or certified repair. It also opens a direct communication channel with the consumer: from loyalty programs to exclusive content and personalized after-sales services.
Despite the progress, Sánchez acknowledges that the main barrier to adopting these solutions is cultural and strategic. Many brands still see digitalization as a cost rather than an investment. That’s why Cycle has developed low-code and no-code tools that enable quick, frictionless integration into existing processes.
Circular economy in fashion
Daniel believes it’s essential to redefine what we mean by circularity. “If we limit ‘circularity’ to extending use through resale or rental, it’s clear that progress is being made,” he notes.
However, he warns that true circularity involves reusing post-consumer waste to create new products, something that’s still achieved at a very low rate.
Despite existing structural barriers, he remains optimistic and emphasizes: “The good news is that European regulatory pressure, consumer demand, and new platforms are steadily accelerating this transition.”
A digital wardrobe and a transformed industry
In the next five years, digitalization will radically change how we interact with fashion. “We’ll view our wardrobe in a fully digital format, similar to an Instagram feed,” the interviewee explains.
This transformation will allow users to see the total value invested in clothing, activate resale with one click, and manage their wardrobe intelligently. At the same time, the industry will undergo a revolution through the integration of software and hardware where it didn’t exist before, unlocking unprecedented levels of efficiency.
AI: key to a more circular and connected fashion system
“AI will be essential to automate lifecycle data capture and anticipate recycling or repair needs,” Daniel notes.
Moreover, with the development of the Digital Product Passport and its digital twin, traceability will be complete. This will allow consumers to “interact with the garment, even through voice commands” to learn about its origin, history, or usage suggestions.
The insights and clarifications Daniel shared leave us with a powerful message: sustainable technology isn’t built through grand speeches, but through concrete steps. Starting with a real pilot allows for learning, improvement, and a head start toward a future where traceability will be the norm. Those who act today won’t just comply tomorrow, they’ll lead the transformation toward a more transparent and responsible industry.
