Despite the challenging times, fiber and fabric companies are forging ahead with new businesses, collections and collaborations, all with similar goals related to sustainability and transparency.
Saya
Nan Ya Plastics, one of the largest manufacturer of recycled PET fibers, has created a new unit called Saya to include recycled cutting scraps and fabric, bringing new options to the textile industry.
“Over the past several years, the textile industry has embraced recycling PET plastic bottles, and through Saya 365 we are able to offer several options within that technology a spokesperson for Nan ya and Saya said. “But it’s not enough. The industry needs to tackle the next level. As the largest performance fiber manufacturer in Taiwan, we feel the responsibility and we have the resources to do the necessary R&D. At Saya, we’ve identified cutting scraps and overstock fabrics as a problem that is often ignored and we’ve developed several new recycling solutions to tackle the issue.”
Saya 365 features a proprietary, five-stage filtration process followed by two stages of purification that result in batch optimized flakes and pellets ready to be transformed into performance fibers. Saya has greater tenacity, dyeing accuracy and brighter whites compared to conventional recycled fibers, the company claims.
Says has several components. Saya 365 is derived from plastic bottles sourced from Asia and beyond, providing consistent and cost-effective supply for sustainable options in polyester fiber. Saya Coastal targets clean-up and renewal of discarded plastic bottles in coastal regions that would otherwise migrate out to sea, as 80 percent of ocean plastics originates from coastal land.
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Saya USA is made from recycled polyester fibers made in Nan Ya’s facility Lake City, S.C., for those looking for a USA-based fiber program with full traceability and transparency. Saya Next seeks to innovate and provide solutions for the industrial waste problem shrouding the textile industry, including scrap, cutting waste, overstock fabric and soon, used garments.
Currently in development, Saya Garma will be available in late 2021. This complex recycling process of used post-consumer garments will streamline the garment recycling process by offering turnkey retail to fiber solutions to select brand partners.
Loulou Lollipop and Tencel
Canadian-based baby brand Loulou Lollipop has launched a Fall collection of luxurious, eco-friendly apparel and accessories for newborns and toddlers through 24 months of age.
The collection, which includes unisex bodysuits, hats and swaddle blankets, features Tencel lyocell fibers and organic cotton jersey knit. Tencel lyocell fibers are composed of all-natural materials and are especially gentle on newborns’ skin.
Tencel lyocell uses Eco-Soft Technology, which lends itself well to baby gear, thanks to its softness and chlorine-free bleaching process. The fabric is also hypoallergenic and absorbs moisture well, providing a less favorable environment for bacterial growth.
“With our new collection, we’re very proud to contribute to the circular economy,” Loulou Lollipop co-founder Angel Kho said. “The Tencel lyocell fabric we chose for our apparel and accessories is made from upcycled cotton scraps, in addition to sustainably sourced wood pulp. It is completely biodegradable and compostable, so our products are contributing zero waste to the environment.”
Hemp Textiles & Co.
Flora Growth Corp. launched a new division, Hemp Textiles & Co., and a hemp-based clothing brand, Stardog Loungewear. This division will develop and sell to consumers and businesses hemp-based textiles and loungewear.
“Flora prioritizes sustainability in all our business practices and we anticipate that our new Hemp Textiles & Co. division will help us meet those goals by utilizing organic, natural materials and not wasting any components of the plant,” Flora’s president of consumer goods, Luis Merchan, sID. “We believe the new Stardog brand will resonate with consumers. The products combine style and comfort using a natural, soft hemp material. With the recent surge in demand for loungewear since the start of the pandemic and the fall and winter seasons ahead, we are launching this brand at an ideal time.”
There are 10 products available for purchase on stardogloungewear,com, ranging from sweaters and pants to T-shirts and footwear. While marketing efforts are focused on the United States and Colombia, products can be shipped globally. The company expects Stardog to begin selling products through brick-and-mortar channels in Los Angeles in partnership with Sneakertopia and in Bogotá in the fall.
The Hemp Textiles and Co. division also sells hemp textiles to businesses, supplying hemp for antibacterial fabrics for the hospitality and medical sectors that show surging interest.
Eurofins and Material Exchange
Material Exchange Ventures, a Stockholm based start-up and provider of the Material Exchange digital material platform, has partnered with Eurofins Softlines & Leather to streamline material compliance and create much needed transparency within fashion supply chains.
Leveraging Eurofins Softlines & Leather’s robust testing capabilities, the new partnership will provide a direct link for material suppliers to apply for testing with Eurofins Softlines & Leather, which in turn will streamline the supplier selection process for buyers. Eurofins Softlines & Leather has developed the material compliance testing protocol with the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA) to support suppliers within the Material Exchange Digital Library as part of a reduced cost program, enabling them to easily and efficiently complete tests.
The availability of material test reports within the Material Exchange system will provide greater transparency for brands and retailers on the regulated restricted substances for major markets providing more visibility to buyers when they are selecting materials in the Material Exchange. In addition, users gain the added benefits of enhanced global regulatory compliance and lower testing costs.
Research from the FDRA suggests that material testing is predominantly completed in the final stages of product development by brands, however, only a limited amount of testing is done at material selection. This joint partnership can enhance compliance, efficiency and transparency from the start of the manufacturing lifecycle by testing materials first and housing the results in the system for brands to access.
As part of the Eurofins Consumer Product Testing (CPT) Division, Eurofins Softlines & Leather (S&L) delivers comprehensive quality, safety and sustainability solutions for textiles and footwear buyers and suppliers. Through its network of 10 laboratories in Asia, Europe and U.S., with two Technical Competence Centers in Spain and U.K., Eurofins S&L assists customers of all sizes in continuous product and supply-chain improvement.