LENZING, Austria — September 1, 2025 — Today, global regenerated cellulosic fiber producer Lenzing Group launched Lenzing Pro, its one-stop digital platform for the textile and nonwovens supply chains².

Designed as a centralized hub for business users³, the platform streamlines certification and branding processes, improves access to technical fiber information, and strengthens collaboration with Lenzing’s partners. This marks a significant step as the industry looks for ways to accelerate the integration of sustainable materials⁴ into products more easily.

Combining deep expertise in Lenzing’s trusted fibers with tools that enable swift, informed decisions across the global textile supply chain supports the shift toward lower-impact fiber sourcing¹ ²

One Platform. Numerous Possibilities

Lenzing Pro is a strategic evolution of the established and trusted Lenzing E-Branding Service, offering expanded functionality through a streamlined, multilingual and 24/7-accessible experience. Guided by the ethos of “One Platform. Numerous Possibilities”, it plays a vital role in supporting Lenzing’s global network of customers and partners in their decision-making and marketing. In addition to core services such as Lenzing’s Fabric Certification and Brand Licensing, the platform also features a comprehensive fiber product catalog, including detailed specifications, technical properties and recommended applications for each fiber type.

The platform is dedicated to helping spinners access fiber knowledge and find suitable offers; fabric mills in integrating Lenzing fibers into their products with the support of testing and certification services; and brand partners and retailers in developing compelling campaigns using marketing toolkits⁵ that address diverse communication and promotional needs. With Lenzing Pro, partners gain seamless access to the services they need, underpinned by expertise and innovation to unlock new possibilities with Lenzing fibers.

“The textile industry needs fast, reliable access to technical expertise, certification capabilities, and responsive support to innovate in today’s dynamic marketplace and evolving sustainability landscape,” said Florian Heubrandner, vice president, Global Business Management Textiles at Lenzing. “Lenzing Pro directly addresses those needs, combining our fiber expertise with intuitive tools to help partners innovate. This platform reflects our continued commitment to enabling a more responsible future alongside our partners.²”

Connecting partners to fiber insights

Lenzing Pro centers around a comprehensive Fiber Catalog where technical specifications meet practical applications. Registered spinners, fabric mills and brands can access in-depth product characteristics and recommendations for Lenzing’s fibers, including TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers, and LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose fibers. Intuitive search and filtering capabilities help partners find the ideal fiber solutions based on technical needs, sustainability certifications³, and end-use requirements, from luxury fashion and everyday apparel, to activewear and home textiles.

Expertise at your fingertips

Fabric Certification services offer both direct fabric verification and sub-certification capabilities that strengthen trading relationships for partners. Brand Licensing tools provide brands and retailers seamless access to marketing assets, claims recommendations, and co-branding guidelines, allowing them to incorporate Lenzing’s established fiber brands into their communications.

Innovation amplified

“With Lenzing Pro, we’ve transformed previously complex tasks into an intuitive experience. Whether our partners are developing new innovative products, seeking certification, or using our marketing tools to launch campaigns, the platform is designed to support them every step of the way,” said Eva McGeorge, senior global director, Marketing & Branding, Commercial Textiles at Lenzing.

Experience Lenzing Pro at Intertextile

Lenzing invites partners to experience the platform firsthand at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics — Autumn Edition, taking place September 2–4, 2025 [Hall 4.1, E55]. The platform is already live at lenzingpro.com, offering public content and, upon registration, a deeper set of tools and services.

Registered users are also invited to join a live masterclass on September 11, 2025 at 9am BST or 4pm BST. This exclusive webinar will demonstrate platform features and best practices for maximizing value.

¹ Adhering to the company’s commitment to environmental protection and resource preservation, Lenzing procures wood and pulp only from certified or controlled sustainable sources. In its Wood and Pulp Policy, Lenzing is committed to procuring wood and pulp exclusively from non-controversial sources. FSC® (FSC-C041246) or PEFC (PEFC/06-33-92) certification

² To foster a sustainable global textile and nonwovens industry, Lenzing follows three strategic principles within the context of its “Naturally Positive” sustainability strategy, which focuses on greening the value chain, driving systemic change and advancing the circular economy through partnerships with key industry stakeholders, such as Textile Exchange, Cascale, Canopy, Together for Sustainability, Renewable Carbon Initiative, and UN Global Compact.

³ Lenzing Pro and all related services are designed for business users only, not for consumer use.

⁴ LENZING™ fibers are certified by the EU Ecolabel (license no. AT/016/001) for textile products. Nonwoven fibers from Lenzing are not certified by the EU Ecolabel for AHP; however, products containing LENZING™ nonwoven fibers may be eligible for such certification.

⁵ Certain Lenzing Pro features will be progressively rolled out over time.

Posted September 2, 2025

Source: Lezing

INDIA — September 1, 2025 — A major four-year research program led by North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., has revealed 100-percent merino wool base-layer garments deliver superior thermal comfort and performance benefits during dynamic stop-go sports like cycling, rock climbing, hiking and golf. The concept, known as dynamic breathability, reflects how well a merino wool garment adapts to changing conditions: managing heat and moisture when the body is working hard, and preserving warmth when activity slows or stops.

Unlike traditional synthetic performance wear, merino wool maintains thermal equilibrium during both exertion and rest. This means wearers can avoid the negative skin sensation known as after-chill so commonly experienced in outdoor sports, and instead can be assisted in conserving energy and maintaining comfort when it matters most. With the human body continuously working to maintain 35°C skin temperature throughout stop-go sports, less work is needed in wool.

This breakthrough positions Merino wool as the natural performance fiber — no longer anchored by anecdotes, but by thorough science.

“This is about the ongoing transition from activity to recovery,” says Woolmark Managing Director John Roberts. “With wool’s structure designed by nature to enhance wearer performance, it responds in real time to changing physiological needs. It automatically keeps athletes close to their comfort zone, allowing 100-percent focus on the challenge — especially in unpredictable and high-output activities, such as cycling or rock climbing, where a base layer is often all they wear.”

Game-Changing Findings

• Better Regulation in Real-World Conditions: Human trials in a climate-controlled chamber found all fibers performed similarly during the activity phase, but only wool performed well across both activity and rest phases — a critical benefit in dynamic sports.
• Superior Moisture Management: Merino wool’s unique dual-layer — hydrophobic outside and hydrophilic inside — absorbs up to one third of its weight in moisture vapor without feeling wet, enabling efficient moisture transport and stabilizing next to skin microclimate.
• Thermal Advantage: Testing shows merino wool keeps the microclimate — a critical layer between garment and skin — steadier during repeated stop-go activity, reducing the body’s effort to stay comfortable.

The researchers point out that, while wool’s thermostatic properties and capacity to regulate temperature based on ambient moisture have been well known, existing steady-state test methods overlook “the intrinsic ability of naturally hygroscopic fibers to absorb moisture from the environment … despite its profound implications³.”

The research has already sparked interest from leading sportswear brands, seeking apparel designs that enhance wearer performance.

Backed by Science, Validated by Athletes

The research showed that wool garments maintained greater thermal comfort and minimized after-chill — the drop in body temperature athletes often experience during resting phases. Compared to other fiber types, wool demonstrated:

• 96-percent better moisture buffering than polyester;
• 45-percent better than cotton; and
• 26-percent better than viscose.

Wool’s ability to regulate the microclimate next to the skin, especially during fluctuating humidity and temperature, also contributes to improved comfort: test participants and the new test method confirmed that only wool maintained comfort throughout the sport.

“What this study shows is what athletes have been telling us anecdotally for years: that wool breathes, buffers and performs better across a range of real-world conditions,” Roberts said.

A Call to Innovators: Design for the Dynamic

The next generation of sports apparel demands performance that maximizes comfort and performance by adapting to real-life conditions. Merino wool’s dynamic breathability – a fiber’s ability to adapt to environmental change — offers a clear advantage in thermal performance.

This science marks a turning point. It’s no longer about quick-dry or lightweight — it’s about sustained performance married with apparel that works with, not against, the body. For product designers, this offers new insights into how Merino wool can enhance next-to-skin comfort, reduce the need for synthetic blends, and elevate garment functionality without compromising sustainability. Smart design starts with smart fibers, and Merino wool got there first.

Extra Resources

Access the peer-reviewed papers here:

1 The Exothermic Effects of Textile Fibers during Changes in Environmental Humidity
2 A new approach to demonstrate the exothermic behavior of textiles by using a thermal manikin
3 Clothing impact on post-exercise comfort: skin-clothing physiology in transient environment

Posted September 2, 2025

Source: The Woolmark Co.