Meeting a growing demand for sustainable fashion options, Eastman and Dupont Biomaterials have collaborated to launch a fabric collection made with biobased materials.
The joint effort blends Naia from Eastman and Dupont Sorona fibers to create garments with exceptional stretch and recovery, luxurious drape and a soft hand.
The new collection will expand sustainable fabric choices for designers to use for everyday casual wear. Visitors to the Intertextile show this week in Shanghai will be able to experience the new fabrics or they can also see the collection at the Première Vision marketplace site.
Eastman’s Naia cellulosic fiber comes in filament and staple fibers forms. The filament fiber is marketed to women’s wear brands looking for luxurious, comfortable and easy-care fabrics. The company says Naia staple fiber blends well with other eco-conscious fibers to create soft, quick-drying fabrics that consistently reduce pilling.
Made with responsibly sourced wood from sustainably managed pine and eucalyptus forests and plantations, Naia is produced in a closed-loop process where solvents are recycled back into the system for reuse. Naia is made through optimized, low-impact manufacturing, with a low tree-to-fiber environmental footprint and a third-party-reviewed life-cycle assessment.
Naia is also certified as biodegradable in freshwater and soil environments and is compostable in industrial settings, receiving the “OK biodegradable” and “OK compost” conformity marks from TÜV Austria. Most recently, Naia staple fiber received the “OK compost” certification for home settings.
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“With Naia, we are committed to building a more sustainable fashion industry in collaboration with industry partners,” Ruth Farrell, global marketing director of textiles for Eastman, said. “We are very excited to be working with the Sorona team to launch a collection of wonderful fabrics that are a great choice for women’s wear fashion. More and more, designers are looking for sustainable fabric choices and this sustainable fabric collection with biobased, renewable materials showcases that fashion can come without any compromise on beauty, quality or comfort.”
Sorona is made from 37 percent renewable plant-based ingredients, offering a high-performing, responsibly sourced material option. Fibers made with Sorona polymer are currently used in various apparel applications, including athleisure and athletic wear, insulation, swimwear, outerwear, suiting and faux fur.
“We believe collaboration is the only way we will deliver on our promises to the textile industry,” Renee Henze, global marketing director at Dupont Biomaterials, said. “Our collaboration with Eastman’s Naia branded fibers will allow more apparel brands the opportunity to address tomorrow’s challenges through renewably sourced fiber materials without compromising performance and value. Sustainable fashion is the future, and this new collection is a great example of how you can create stunning designs while caring for our planet.”