Digital Product Passport Timeline Is Here: Are Retailers Ready To Comply?

The EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) initiative will accelerate the transition to a global circular economy.

By Megan Brewster

A new era in sustainability compliance is officially upon us. Since coming into force in July 2024, the European Commission’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulations (ESPR) has set out a legal framework for establishing ecodesign requirements to reduce the environmental, energy, and climate impacts of manufacturing and consumption.

Implemented as a crucial measure under the ESPR, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a digital record or virtual label that will be required to be attached to products providing information pertaining to their composition, origin, recyclability, and lifecycle. Rollout is already underway for certain product categories, with more categories planned into 2030, and eventually expanding to all products sold in the EU (including imports) as clarified in the recently published Single Market Strategy. Under DPP measures, any company that sells products in the EU — including U.S. companies — will be required to comply.

So, why should this matter to companies now? In April 2025, the European Commission released the ESPR Working Plan, laying out the official implementation timeline for DPP product categories over the next five years. Among the first product categories outlined in the plan that will require DPPs are textiles and apparel. With a 2027 timeline for adoption, brands manufacturing and selling textile items in the European market must ready themselves for the upcoming deadline. So, how should companies respond to ensure they meet DPP compliance requirements under the ESPR in time?

Pathways To DPP Compliance

According to a recent survey by Impinj of supply chain professionals, nearly half (49%) of respondents cited concerns about their organization’s ability to meet requirements under DPP, and more than one-third (37 percent) anticipate not being able to meet the DPP compliance deadline. However, the pressure is on to act quickly to pave a smooth pathway to regulatory compliance, particularly for companies within the textiles and apparel space who will be among the first industries required to be DPP compliant.

As such, there are key steps textile and apparel companies can take to ensure their organizations can meet critical requirements under the mandate:

  • Identify an internal expert or trusted consultant to act as a DPP champion: Critical to ensuring companies can keep up with the requirements of the new EU legislation, identify a subject matter expert on all things DPP. This will enable your organization to stay ahead of any updates and that the latest thinking is reflected in their DPP planning and strategies.
  • Collaborate with suppliers to outline your DPP strategy: Collaborating with suppliers and partners to outline your DPP strategy will enable accurate evaluation of DPP data collection requirements and the technologies that must be adopted to comply with regulatory requirements.
  • Evaluate the systems and technologies required: To provide detailed information on products’ composition, origin, and lifecycle, a digital record or “digital twin” will be required.

This information must be consumer-accessible through at least one identifier – including a
QR code, barcode, NFC tag, or a battery-free wireless RAIN radio frequency identification
(RFID) tag. Each of these technologies takes a different approach and offers different
benefits. Organizations must ensure that they adopt the solution that best ensures
compliance while also improving their day-to-day operations.

How RAIN RFIDs Can Enable DPPs

RAIN RFID is a battery-free wireless technology that enables the seamless identification and authentication of products. RAIN RFID will enable manufacturers and retailers to provide the critical product information required under DPP. At the same time, RAIN RFID provides additional insights into overall inventory management, ensuring companies can both comply with DPP regulations and reap benefits beyond the mandate. RAIN RFID provides real-time visibility into inventory levels, enabling retailers and manufacturers to quickly and accurately locate, identify, and engage with their products.

Beyond DPP compliance, RAIN RFID offers a variety of other extended benefits, such as revolutionizing loss prevention efforts, ensuring authenticity, and bolstering sustainability efforts.

The establishment of both the broader ESPR and the Digital Product Passport initiative by the EU sets out to create much-needed product transparency and traceability in a larger push towards a global circular economy. With the next critical milestone in DPP legislation set to take effect in 2027 — when DPPs for textile and apparel products will enter force —retailers and manufacturers now have a critical opportunity to evaluate and take action to ensure they are staying ahead of these global regulatory changes.


Editor’s Note: Megan Brewster is the vice president of advanced technology at Seattle-based Impinj, a provider of RAIN radio frequency identification technologies. Prior to joining Impinj, Brewster served as fellow and senior policy advisor for advanced manufacturing for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where she supported the stand-up of the administration’s signature advanced manufacturing initiative.


June 24, 2025

Circulose Launches CIRCULOSE® Forward To Accelerate Adoption In Fashion Supply Chains

STOCKHOLM — June 24, 2025 — As part of its mission to evolve from a pulp producer to a full solution provider, Circulose is taking a bold step toward scaling circular solutions in the fashion industry with the launch of CIRCULOSE® Forward — a platform of practical tools that help brands seamlessly integrate CIRCULOSE into their supply chains and products.

Launching into the public sphere with the solutions-driven non-profit Canopy, the CIRCULOSE Forward platform includes the CIRCULOSE Material Library, featuring CIRCULOSE Forward Priced Materials, the CIRCULOSE Forward Price Calculator and the updated CIRCULOSE Supplier Network.

“Scaling up next-gen materials is not straightforward. To enable adoption at scale and at pace, we need to make integration into brands’ supply chains seamless. CIRCULOSE Forward is a key initiative to make that happen,” said Jonatan Janmark, CEO of Circulose.

“We’re proud to support partner with Circulose’s on the launch of CIRCULOSE Forward,” said Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director of Canopy. “This platform provides practical, scalable solutions that align with both climate science and market needs. It’s the kind of innovation that helps the industry leave deforestation in the past and move decisively toward a resilient, low-carbon, Next-Gen future.”

The CIRCULOSE® Forward Material Library

As the first rollout within this initiative, Circulose is unveiling the CIRCULOSE Material Library, a digital showcase of commercially available materials made with CIRCULOSE. It includes a curated selection of fabrics and yarns that highlight the beauty, performance, and versatility of CIRCULOSE.

The CIRCULOSE® Forward Priced Materials

A selection of these materials qualify as CIRCULOSE Forward Priced Materials, meaning they follow our CIRCULOSE Forward Price Logic — a logic grounded in the principle that there should be no unwarranted price amplification through the value chain steps.

The CIRCULOSE® Forward Price Calculator

The CIRCULOSE Forward Price Calculator is a tool that leverages this logic and helps brands estimate the expected cost impact at material or garment level of adopting CIRCULOSE.

The CIRCULOSE® Supplier Network

The CIRCULOSE Supplier Network (CSN) is a group of supply-chain partners that are experienced in producing materials made with CIRCULOSE and are committed to support a smooth and efficient shift from virgin fibers to CIRCULOSE.

The CIRCULOSE Forward platform is still under development, but a preview is available now on the Circulose website.

“This is just the beginning,” said Jonatan Janmark, CEO of Circulose. “CIRCULOSE Forward will continue to grow, giving our partners access to a robust portfolio of tools that make circularity not a distant vision — but a reality today.”

Explore the preview of the CIRCULOSE Forward platform circulo.se/en/circulose-forward/ including our first curated set CIRCULOSE Forward Priced Materials. Connect with us to make circularity at scale a reality.

Posted: June 24, 2025

Source: Circulose

Syre Announces Gap Inc., Houdini, And Target As Strategic Launch Partners To Accelerate The Great Textile Shift

STOCKHOLM — June 24, 2025 — Syre, the textile impact company hyperscaling textile-to-textile recycling, today announces a strategic partnership with Gap Inc., Houdini Sportswear, and Target as part of its commercial launch. The Launch Partners will play a critical role in bringing circular polyester to the broader market, accelerating adoption, and shaping the future of the textile industry.

Syre launched in March 2024 with a mission to decarbonize and dewaste the textile industry, establishing textile-to-textile plants producing circular polyester across the globe, reducing CO2e emissions by up to 85 percent compared to the production of oil-based virgin polyester, in a circular approach.

The company already announced its first ‘blueprint’ plant being established in North Carolina, US, to be operational already in 2026 and delivering volumes up to 10,000 metric tons of circular polyester annually. Today, Syre announces the selected group of strategic Launch Partners to drive commercialization and accelerate adoption:

GAP INC.: Gap Inc., the largest specialty apparel retailer in America, has partnered with Syre with an ambition to utilize 10,000 metric tons per year of Syre’s recycled polyester chip. The collaboration marks a significant step in Gap Inc.’s commitment to integrate more sustainable materials across its portfolio of brands, including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta.

HOUDINI SPORTSWEAR: Sweden-based Houdini, technical outdoor brand and trailblazer in circular innovation, has partnered up with Syre with the ambition to have a fully circular and waste free ecosystem in place by 2030 and for textile-to-textile recycled fibers to re-emerge as the company’s primary source of polyester. Houdini has committed to sourcing 50% of their polyester usage from Syre circular polyester for a period of three years.

TARGET: Target, a Minneapolis-based retailer that serves guests at nearly 2,000 stores and at Target.com, plans for 100 percent of its owned brand products to be designed for a circular future by 2040. As part of this commitment, Target is partnering with Syre to incorporate textile-to-textile recycled polyester into a selection of the company’s owned brand products.

“We are thrilled to announce our partnerships with these esteemed and forward-thinking brands, representing different segments and sizes,” said Dennis Nobelius, CEO Syre. “They are truly front runners, understanding the need to secure capacity of a scarce resource to be. As we embark on the next phase of scaling at speed, we’re confident that these collaborations will not only bolster commercial success but also help redefine the industry and drive the urgent shift towards true circularity.”

Recent market research conducted by Syre and McKinsey1 showcases a 10-12 million tons expected annual supply-demand gap for textile-to-textile recycled polyester by 2030. Brands across textile-heavy industries have committed to bold circularity targets and regulations will accelerate demand for circular materials, also phasing out the established solution for recycled polyester (bottle-to-fiber) which is not circular.

“We’re proud to be among the first to support Syre’s innovative textile solutions. This partnership enables us to accelerate our progress toward realizing a more circular fashion industry,” said Dan Fibiger, vice resident of Global Sustainability at Gap Inc. “Our ambition to utilize 10,000 metric tons per year of Syre’s recycled polyester chip is not only an innovation that we feel will resonate with our customer, but it is an important lever for Gap Inc. in our efforts to bridge the climate gap.”

“With nature as our blueprint we envision a pure, waste free and circular flow of natural resources, products and a business model that are circular by design and companies like ourselves that act as custodians and caretakers of those resources. In partnership with Syre’s ambition, we are closing in on that vision”, says Eva Karlsson, co-founder and chief creative officer at Houdini.

Announcing the Launch Partners marks a pivotal milestone on Syre’s journey, underscoring its commitment to deliver a circular solution at scale. The company has worked closely with each of the partners to be able to ensure seamless integration, delivering on their ambitious circularity and decarbonization targets. Through these collaborations Syre aims to unlock the marketplace and see many more partners follow, across textile and polyester heavy industries, to drive the great textile shift.

1 McKinsey research conducted for Syre, Nov 2024, based on top 450 apparel, top 25 automotive, and top 100 interior brands, announced capacities and needs

Posted: June 24, 2025

Source: Syre

Nonwovenn Invests In MediTech To Deliver Three Year Growth Plan

BRIDGWATER, England — June 24, 2025 — Nonwoven fabric-tech company Nonwovenn has announced a significant investment in its MediTech division. The latest investment includes a new state-of-the-art medical manufacturing suite at its Bridgwater headquarters.

This strategic investment marks a major milestone in Nonwovenn’s three-year growth plan, which aims to deliver 14 percent year-on-year growth from its MediTech division, through the innovation pipeline, strategic partnerships and global footprint expansion.

The newly commissioned medical manufacturing facility features controlled environments that are purpose-built for precision manufacturing and includes a ‘Class 8’ standard performing cleanroom which is designed to meet even the most stringent medical industry standards. This development was supported by a joint investment from a key customer in the sector and underlines the strength of Nonwovenn’s collaborative approach to partnerships and the overall trust that is placed in the businesses long-term vision.

The research and development team have also delivered several high-impact innovations launched over the last year. These include x-ray detectable materials to enhance safety and traceability in surgical applications, and reinforced CMC hydrofiber for improved durability and absorption in wound care. The team have also developed a translucent nonwoven solution for use as a surgical site dressing scaffold to allow for visual inspection of incision sites without the need to remove the dressing. All three product innovations come as a direct result of world class research and development programs to support client needs.

Alongside the investment in infrastructure and product advancements, Nonwovenn has strengthened its team with the appointment of Ross Ward as business director of Carbon. Ross is a leading expert in carbon technologies, and his expertise is already accelerating innovation in areas such as ostomy care and odor control.

John Birkett, Medical Business director at Nonwovenn, said: “We are very proud to be able to strengthen our capabilities in advanced medical materials thanks to this world-class suite. The investment reflects our commitment to quality, innovation and continuing to serve the evolving needs of our partners in the sector across the UK, Europe and Middle East.”

Nonwovenn’s Commercial Director Silke Brand added: “Our growth in the MediTech sector is not just about the facilities or the product, it’s about the lasting improvements it can make to patient care and outcomes. We are really working to shape the future of medical textiles, and this investment will help us achieve that.”

Posted: June 24, 2025

Source: Nonwovenn

Excitement Builds For EDANA’s OUTLOOK™ In Budapest

BRUSSELS, Belgium — June 24, 2025 — EDANA is pleased to announce that preparations are well underway for OUTLOOK™ 2025! So far, hundreds of participants from more than 50 companies have signed up, confirming strong interest in this year’s edition. The exhibition area is filling up quickly: 12 booths are already sold, with just eight remaining!

The comprehensive three-day program will explore the latest trends in AHPs, compliance and competitiveness, and dedicated sessions on wipes and start-ups, with renowned speakers and interactive formats designed to spark dialogue and collaboration.

We’re thrilled to confirm one of this year’s keynote speakers: Ambassador Ivo H. Daalder, former U.S. ambassador to NATO and president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. At OUTLOOK, he’ll explore how shifting global alliances are reshaping international trade and what this means for business. Drawing on decades of diplomatic experience, he’ll offer strategic insights into navigating today’s evolving geopolitical and economic landscape.

Networking will take center stage with two special evening cocktails planned. The first, a thematic cocktail, will take place in the exhibition area on Day 1, encouraging relaxed exchanges among participants. On Day 2, attendees will enjoy a memorable external cocktail held at one of Budapest’s most iconic venues, offering a unique cultural touch to the event experience.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available for companies looking to stand out and boost their brand visibility throughout the event! These options provide exclusive exposure before and during the event, both online and onsite.

Participants are encouraged to book their accommodation early to take advantage of preferential rates, available via the official event platform. With strong interest and limited spaces remaining, we invite you to be part of this exceptional event. Join us in Budapest for three days of insights, connections, and inspiration!

Posted: June 24, 2025

Source: EDANA

Nufabrx Awarded Therapeutic Compression Agreement With Premier, Inc.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — June 24, 2025 — Nufabrx has been awarded a national group purchasing agreement and Breakthrough Technology Designation for Therapeutic Compression with Premier Inc. Effective June 15, 2025, the new agreement allows Premier members, at their discretion, to take advantage of special pricing and terms pre-negotiated by Premier for Therapeutic Compression Garments. Premier offers Breakthrough Technology Designations to innovations that offer a major advantage in terms of patient safety, clinical outcomes and operational efficiencies.

Nufabrx Medicine-Infused Compression Sleeves

“The Nufabrx organization is honored to have been awarded a group purchasing agreement and Breakthrough Technology Designation for 2025. We feel this agreement serves as a testament to the incredible efforts our team and supplier partners in the state of North Carolina have demonstrated to bring to market such an innovative platform,” said Glenn Normoyle, CEO, Nufabrx.

At our core, we strive to give the millions of people suffering with chronic diseases relief without having to disrupt their everyday lives. We also believe this agreement will accelerate our efforts to educate physicians, care givers and consumers about our unique, opioid free, approach to relieving pain by embedding capsaicin into compression garments.

Premier is a leading technology-driven healthcare improvement company, providing solutions to two-thirds of all healthcare providers in the U.S. Playing a critical role in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry, Premier unites providers, suppliers, payers and policymakers to make healthcare better with national scale, smarter with actionable intelligence and faster with novel technologies. With integrated data and analytics, collaboratives, supply chain solutions, consulting and other services, Premier enables better care and outcomes at a lower cost.

Posted: June 24, 2025

Source: Nufabrx

Archroma Launches All-New Website To Support Smarter, More Sustainable Choices Across The Textile And Packaging Value Chains

PRATTELN, Switzerland — June 23, 2025 — Archroma, a global supplier of specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, today unveiled a fully redesigned website, located at archroma.com, aimed at enhancing customer experience and accelerating the transition to more sustainable practices across the textiles, packaging, and paper value chains.

Rooted in Archroma’s sustainability-driven mission, the new digital platform is designed to help manufacturers and brands make smarter, science-based decisions that reduce environmental impact. With this launch, Archroma reinforces its commitment to enabling a more sustainable future — through innovation, transparency, and accessible technology.

“The new website comes at a pivotal time for our industries, where increasing demand for lower-impact solutions – along with more stringent regulations and standards – is making sustainability a business imperative for everyone,” said Dhirendra Gautam, vice president, Global Marketing and Strategy, Archroma Textile Effects. “More than a visual refresh, our upgraded website reflects our commitment to helping customers navigate fast-changing, competitive markets with smart, sustainable, accessible solutions.”

For example, Textile Effects solutions can be explored by end-use market or innovation theme. A new user-friendly SUPER SYSTEMS+ tool brings interactivity to the product portfolio, spanning preparation, dyeing, denim, printing and finishing. It guides users to select the right low-impact system for a specific market, end-use segment, fabric and shade, based on unique sustainability targets, compliance requirements and performance goals.

The new Packaging Technologies section showcases innovative solutions for a wide range of markets and applications. Visitors to the website will see how Archroma enables circular packaging with more sustainable chemistry spanning the entire value chain. The innovation section will highlight the latest breakthrough solutions and thought leadership content.

“As experts in specialty chemicals, Archroma delivers color, protection and purpose to everyday materials. Our new website brings to life our broad portfolio in Packaging Technologies which enables the shift to more sustainable solutions from pulp and paper to packaging, as well as tissue & toweling, and building & construction,” added Lisa Clark, vice president, Marketing and Sustainability, Archroma Packaging Technologies.

Key features of the new site include:

  • Industry-centered solutions to help users quickly access information tailored to the specific challenges of the textile and packaging sector.
  • Enhanced navigation and search for easier access to information, resources and support.
  • A dynamic newsroom, with the latest company insights, technology updates and industry events.
  • Improved contact tools for faster access to Archroma experts for support and collaboration.

To explore the new website, visit archroma.com.

Posted: June 23, 2025

Source: Archroma

TRSA, Environ Energy Release New White Paper On Value Of Reusable PPE In Healthcare

WASHINGTON — June 20, 2025 — TRSA, the nation’s leading advocacy association for the linen, uniform and facility services industry, and Environ Energy, a national leader in sustainable energy solutions, released a new white paper documenting the significant value of using hygienically clean reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) in healthcare. The white paper, “Advancing the Adoption of Reusable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Healthcare,” catalogues key benefits hospitals and other healthcare facilities experience by relying on reusable PPE.

“America’s commercial laundry providers play a critical role in our healthcare delivery system,” said Joseph Ricci, President and CEO of TRSA. “Healthcare providers who make the switch to reusable PPE experience lower costs, stronger supply chains, a smaller environmental footprint and enhanced patient and provider safety. We are excited to release this new white paper in partnership with Environ, which will help inform policymakers about the value of hygienically clean reusable PPE and also help facilitate more collaboration and education between our industry and the healthcare community.”

“For more than 30 years, Environ Energy has delivered innovative energy and sustainability solutions to hundreds of healthcare providers,” said Jim Johnson, VP Strategic Partnerships at Environ Energy. “Increased use of re-usable PPE is a low cost, yet highly effective way to improve a facility’s sustainability by reducing solid waste, water consumption, and energy usage.”

Key findings included in the new white paper include:

  • Lower costs: Using laundered reusable isolation gowns—barrier garments worn by caregivers and visitors to avoid infection transmission from patients—saves 52% of the cost of opting for disposable equivalents.
  • Supply chain resiliency: The [National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine] workshop findings underscore that reusable PPE can bolster emergency preparedness by creating a stable, domestic supply chain.
  • Environmental sustainability: Reusable PPE uses 28% less energy and 41% less water than disposable counterparts.
  • Enhanced safety and performance: A study in the American Journal of Infection Control determined reusable gowns consistently outperform disposables in liquid barrier protection.

The TRSA-Environ white paper also highlights several solutions to encourage more reusable PPE in healthcare, including legislation that sets a minimum threshold of 50% for reusable PPE, greater industry collaboration and education.

The new resource is available at https://laundryservices.org/resources/reusable-ppe/

Posted: June 23, 2025

Source: TRSA

Trivantage® Unveils New Event For Workroom Professionals: The Makers Meet

BURLINGTON, N.C. — June 20, 2025 — Trivantage, a trusted supplier for workroom and upholstery professionals, will host an all-new educational event called The Makers Meet — which celebrates the skill, creativity, and community that drive great workrooms and upholstery shops.

The event will take place on August 14 and 15 at the Sunbrella® headquarters in Burlington, N.C., where attendees will enjoy a day-and-a-half of exclusive insights from industry leaders, product demos, business tips, fabric previews, networking with peers and vendors, and more.

“The Makers Meet is more than an educational event — it’s a celebration of artistry,” said Lindsay Shakarjian, marketing director at Trivantage. “The experience is designed to help workroom professionals refine their skills, reimagine their potential, and lead with confidence in a fast-evolving industry.”

A highlight of the event will be several hands-on, expert-led workshops, including:

  • Luxury Drapery Construction with Susan Woodcock: A live demonstration of fabrication methods, materials, and finishing details used to create custom draperies for the high-end market. Attendees will learn how incorporating linings, interlinings, and hand sewing techniques contributes to overall drapery appearance, and function.
  • Precision & Process with Grant Trick: Practical tips and expert tricks to help streamline work processes while elevating quality. Attendees will learn time-saving insights, from perfecting mitered corners and installing skirt linings to working with silk film, border clamps, and zippers.
  • How to Build a Resilient Business with Charlene Clark: A look into aligning company vision, culture, and operations for lasting success. Attendees will learn about implementing sustainable team structures, optimal workflows, and measurable performance indicators.
  • Why Sunbrella with Camdyn Conner Lloyd: An exploration of the proprietary innovations, trusted durability, and versatile design options that make Sunbrella a leader in the performance fabrics market.

As pioneers in the textiles distribution space, this event is just one way Trivantage is moving the industry forward through educational endeavors. After successfully launching a marine fabrication-focused seminar, Performance on Deck, in 2024, the company hopes to continually expand on opportunities to inspire creatives, connect them with one another, and provide resources to bolster their business.

“Our mission is to go beyond supplying materials and tools and serve as a partner and thought leader — helping shape the future of our industry,” said Bret Kelley, president of Trivantage. “Through educational and networking platforms like The Makers Meet and Performance on Deck, we empower makers with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to unlock their creativity and elevate their craft.”

Space is limited, and tickets must be reserved by July 16. In addition to industry education, the price of admission includes a tour of the Sunbrella Novelty Yarn Plant; a vendor marketplace with leading suppliers’ latest innovations in tools and materials; all meals, including a Sunbrella-sponsored cocktail hour and welcome dinner; and a special gift from Trivantage.

Trivantage has reserved a room block at The Inn at Elon for event attendees and will provide round-trip bus transportation between the hotel and Sunbrella headquarters on Thursday, August 14. To learn more, view the schedule of events, or reserve tickets, visit

https://www.events.trivantage.com/

Posted: June 23, 2025

Source: Trivantage

Teijin Frontier Develops A Next-Generation Stretch Fabric With An Extremely Fine, Multiple Crimp Structure Providing Soft And Airy Comfort

TOKYO — June 12, 2025 — Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., announced today that it has developed a next-generation stretch fabric made of an extra-fine three-dimensional structure with randomly sized crimps. The newly developed fabric combines exceptional elasticity with a soft, airy texture and a natural uneven surface that helps make the fabric lightweight while providing quick drying and moisture wicking performance.

The surface of the newly developed fabric.

Teijin Frontier plans to launch this next-generation stretch fabric for the domestic and international outdoor and sportswear markets during the Fall/Winter 2026 season. The company also aims to expand its applications to include lifestyle apparel such as innerwear and fashion garments, targeting sales of 100,000 meters in fiscal 2026 and 1 million meters by fiscal 2029.

Traditionally, stretch fabrics used in sportswear, fashion and innerwear have relied on polyurethane, however this material presents challenges in terms of strength, durability, weight and colorfastness. Previously, Teijin Frontier addressed these issues by developing various stretch materials using SOLOTEXⓇ fiber, which is made from polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) instead.

A sheath-core composite yarn with randomly sized crimps

In recent years, though, consumer demand has evolved beyond stretchability alone. Today there is growing interest in fabrics that offer novel textures and appearances, along with gentle-touch comfort. Existing SOLOTEX-based materials provide numerous benefits, but were not fully meeting these new expectations from consumers.

In response, Teijin Frontier leveraged its advanced PTT spinning and drawing technologies to develop an extra-fine side-by-side conjugate yarn that is produced by bonding two different PTT polymers in parallel. It features an extremely fine denier and strong, large crimp structure for excellent stretch performance. Using proprietary yarn processing techniques, this core yarn is combined with high-multifilament polyester fibers to create a sheath-core composite yarn with randomly sized crimps. When woven into a high-density textile, the result is a fabric with a natural, finely textured surface that delivers a light, airy texture and a soft feel—culminating in the creation of Teijin Frontier’s next-generation stretch fabric.

This next-generation stretch fabric offers the following key features:

  • Innovative Texture and Appearance: The contrast in crimp structures between the core and sheath yarns creates a natural, uneven surface with moderate firmness and drape.
  • Superior Comfort: The combination of multiple crimp structures provides a soft, airy sensation that feels almost weightless. The fabric also offers excellent moisture absorption and quick-drying properties, and its fine and uneven surface helps prevent stickiness during perspiration.
  • Environmental Consideration: The core yarn includes plant-derived raw materials, and the sheath yarn uses recycled polyester, making the next-generation stretch fabric an environmentally sustainable material.

Posted: June 23, 2025

Source: The Teijin Group

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