Vietnamese spinning and denim mill XDD Textile is leaning further into sustainable ingredients.
The mill recently launched Ecology Denim, a fabric that contains 15 percent Tencel x Refibra, 10 percent GRS-certified recycled cotton, 64 percent organic cotton, 1 percent Hyosung’s Creora bio-based spandex and 10 percent textile waste.
Described by the mill as a “5 in 1 concept,” the fabric is XDD’s solution for the local textile industry’s waste.
“Our main purpose is to reuse and recycle waste,” said Ng Kin Man, director of the company’s denim division, noting that Vietnam restricts waste imports. The company collects garment waste and stock from local factories, dissolves and regenerates it and then re-spins the yarn. It also recycles cut waste from its own production. He added that the key is to apply the denim waste to similar products to maintain the quality.
The addition of Creora, a spandex made from 100 percent renewable resources such as industrial corn, adds comfort and freedom of movement—qualities consumers no longer need to sacrifice for sustainability. Due to Ecology Denim’s soft hand feel and stretch, Man said the 11- to 13-ounce fabrics lend themselves well to tapered fit and slim jeans for men and women, as well as boyfriend jeans.
The fabric complements other initiatives XDD is undertaking to reduce its environmental impact. In 2021, the company recycled 200 tons of cotton. While it mostly works with pre-consumer cotton waste, Man said it aims to ramp up its use of post-consumer cotton waste. The company recycles 80 percent of its water and has the goal to reach 100 percent by 2025.
XDD’s spinning facilities produce 45,000 tons of high-quality yarns annually. Its denim mill, a $100 million investment that was completed in 2019, produces 36 million yards of denim fabric each year.
