Hyosung, Loop Industries, and Pleatsmama join forces to create eco-friendly knitted accessories using 100% recycled materials, promoting a circular fashion model.
Hyosung, a global leader in elastane manufacturing, has announced a strategic partnership with Loop Industries and fashion brand Pleatsmama to create a collection of limited-edition knitted accessories utilizing 100% recycled drawn textured yarn. This collaboration aims to enhance sustainability in the fashion industry by employing advanced recycling technology and promoting circular design principles.
The partnership was highlighted during a recent announcement in Seoul, where it was noted that Loop Industries specializes in technology that enables the chemical recycling of low-grade polyester infinitely. Loop’s patented technology processes various forms of PET plastic and polyester fiber, including materials such as plastic bottles, carpets, and degraded ocean plastics, transforming them into their base components known as monomers. These monomers are subsequently filtered, purified, and reconstituted to produce virgin-quality PET resin, which has the potential to be recycled indefinitely without a decline in quality.
Giovanni Catino, vice president of sales and business development at Loop, articulated the significance of this collaboration, stating, “The collaboration with industry leaders such as Hyosung and Pleatsmama demonstrates the potential of our Infinite Loop technology to transition from linear to circular fashion.” Catino emphasized that by converting low-value mixed polyester textile waste into high-quality polyester, they are addressing the urgent issue of textile waste while helping brands deliver premium products that adhere to both quality and environmental standards.
Under this partnership, Loop Industries is supplying 100% recycled polyester chips, which are said to lower greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% and require approximately 91% less non-renewable energy in comparison to traditional virgin polyester production methods. Following this process, Hyosung will convert these polyester chips into high-performance drawn textured yarn. Pleatsmama will then manufacture a series of handbags intended to illustrate and promote circular design principles.
Chihyung Kim, CEO of Hyosung, remarked on the importance of this partnership by stating, “Teaming with Loop Industries and our brand partner, Pleatsmama, marks a significant milestone in our efforts to support our customers in achieving their sustainability objectives and expanding solutions that benefit both current and future generations.” Kim noted their admiration for Loop’s high-quality outputs and its ability to divert textile waste from landfills and incineration, which significantly curtails the dependence on virgin polyester by minimizing the extraction of raw materials.
This innovative approach to manufacturing and material sourcing reflects a growing commitment within the fashion industry to adopt sustainable practices, as brands increasingly work towards minimizing their environmental impact while meeting consumer demand for eco-friendly products.
Source: Noah Wire Services
