Unifi Inc. will introduce a new product–Repreve cationic-dyeable polyester–and an expansion of its Our Ocean offering at next week’s Outdoor + Snow Show in Denver.
Combining sustainability and innovation, the cationic-dyeable delivers 100 percent Repreve heathers and solids to the market. Offering deeper and brighter colors, as well as improved colorfastness, it can be used in a variety of constructions and market segments, from woven to knit and warp knit. Dyeing these yarns could result in energy savings compared to some traditional disperse-dyed polyester by utilizing lower temperatures, Unifi noted. For the consumer, the process offers a higher washing, perspiration and sublimation fastness than traditional polyester fiber.
“We’ve worked diligently to develop a 100 percent Repreve replacement for virgin cationic-dyeable fibers that is globally available,” Meredith Boyd, senior vice president (SVP) of global innovation for Unifi, said. “The popularity of heathers in apparel is bigger than ever, and this new global product offering is a great example of how Unifi continues to offer innovative products that meet the aesthetic, performance and sustainability demands of consumers.”
Unifi said it also continues to see strong interest in its Repreve Our Ocean offerings since last year’s launch, as more customers are serious about reducing plastic waste polluting global marine waters. Repreve Our Ocean is made with plastics collected within 50 kilometers of waterways or coastal areas in developing countries or regions.
“People around the globe are asking, ‘how can we save our oceans from plastic pollution?’ We listened and carefully designed meaningful processes to address this problem directly,” Jay Hertwig, Unifi’s SVP of global brand sales, said. “We’re finding swimwear brands are particularly interested in Repreve Our Ocean and we’re proud to provide a textile solution to help protect this critical ecosystem.”
Through Repreve, one of Unifi’s proprietary technologies and the global leader in branded recycled performance fibers, Unifi has transformed more than 18 billion plastic bottles into recycled fiber for new apparel, footwear, home goods and other consumer products.