YY Nation Launches With The Lowest Carbon Footprint Sneaker In The World

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — November 22, 2021— YY Nation, a new sustainable shoe brand from New Zealand, is launching in the U.S. with its eco-friendly Legacy Footwear Collection, which includes the world’s lowest carbon footprint sneaker. Following three years of intensive research and development, YY Nation’s Nimbo shoe, made from bamboo and algae, has the industry’s smallest carbon footprint of 5.45kg CO2e (ISO 14067 Certified), which has three times fewer carbon emissions than conventional sneakers.

The entire Legacy Footwear Collection has a carbon footprint ranging from 5.45kg CO2 emissions to 8.15kg CO2 emissions per shoe, which is 42% to 61% lower than conventional sneaker emissions of 14kg CO2. YY Nation shoes are Zero Carbon Certified1 and projected to be carbon negative in 2022. The carbon footprint of all YY Nation shoes have been independently double certified by thinkstep-anz2 and Ekos™3.

“We are on a journey to make the world’s most sustainable shoes,” said YY Nation Founding Director Jeremy Bank. “While we’re off to a good start, good is not enough. These are the worst shoes we’ll ever make in terms of carbon footprint but are a leading sustainable option. It feels great to be making a difference, we just want to keep doing better. With today’s launch, YY Nation is committing to a carbon negative future that combines rigorous sustainability standards with incredible design and comfort.”

Not only are YY Nations shoes some of the lowest carbon footprint sneakers in the industry, they’re also stylish, comfortable and incredibly durable.

Different by design

Made from a combination of carefully selected, sustainable materials like wool, bamboo, pineapple husk, recycled post-consumer plastic, algae and sugarcane, all elements of a YY Nation shoe are designed to be reused and repurposed to minimize waste, with a long-term goal of being 100% sustainable.

Materials include:

  • Merino wool. The ultra-fine Merino wool upper is soft, breathable, temperature-regulating, and moisture-wicking to maintain all day comfort. The wool is ethically sourced and traceable from New Zealand growers.
  • Woven bamboo/nylon mesh The woven 70% bamboo/30% nylon mesh upper resists moisture to keep feet cool and dry through any weather conditions, and has natural antibacterial properties. The bamboo is grown in ethical, OEKO-TEK® certified and sustainable forests, and the nylon thread is made from recycled plastic bottles.
  • Pineapple Leather: A natural textile made from waste pineapple leaf fiber, pineapple leather was developed as a sustainable alternative to mass produced animal leather. Pineapple leaves are the waste products of the pineapple industry and are typically burnt, producing massive amounts of pollution and carbon emissions. By turning them into “leather” for YY Nation shoes, it’s not only a sustainable, vegan alternative to leather, but supports a whole new revenue stream for pineapple farmers.
  • Sugarcane: When pressed, liquid from sugarcane is turned into bioethanol that becomes the base for soft, durable, flexible white soles, replacing harmful oil-based petrochemicals. YY Nation sugarcane soles are considered carbon negative, making your shoes not only light to wear but also light on the planet.
  • Algae: Algae is the fastest growing plant on Earth. In recent years, there’s been an uncontrollable rise in algae due to an increase in human activity, leading to runoff of fertilizers that choke our waterways. By using algae, YY Nation shoes help clean waterways and purify the air. With every sole, YY Nation clears 24 liters of water and cleans 49 cubic feet of air.

“Every component of the Legacy Footwear Collection, from the soles to the laces to the packaging, is made with sustainable, natural or waste materials that would otherwise be landfill-bound,” said Bank. “We are conscious of how we bring things into the world but more careful of what we leave behind. We are proud to come from Aotearoa, New Zealand. We grew up enjoying nature as our playground, which is why we’re serious about protecting our land and oceans.”

Wonder made wearable

The Legacy Footwear Collection is launching with four styles available in 12 colors (color options vary by style). The uppers are available in soft, breathable certified Merino wool or woven bamboo/nylon mesh, the laces are made from post consumer waste recycled plastics and the outsoles feature either sugarcane or algae combined with recycled rubber – a combination that can withstand any environment. YY Nation shoes retail from $98 to $128 and are available in whole and half sizes ranging from men’s sizes 3.5 – 15 and women’s sizes 5 – 13.

The Legacy Footwear Collection includes:

  • The Alto: This versatile high-top boot is the perfect casual footwear for all occasions and all-terrain, pairing perfectly with athleisure and streetwear. It is available in light and soft bamboo or Merino wool.
  • The Cirro: This standard lace-up shoe is a must-have for everyday adventures. Available in fun and classic colors, from the playful rose quartz and vibrant spectra yellow to traditional all black, the Cirro is available in light and soft bamboo or Merino wool.
  • The Nimbo: A slip-on shoe featuring a sleek and functional design perfect for everyday casual wear. The Nimbo is available in various fun and fresh colors, including aqua and tangerine.
  • The Strato: The skateboard-style Strato is streetwear essential with a nod to 90s nostalgia and is as comfortable as versatile.

The YY Nation Legacy Footwear Collection is sold exclusively at www.yynation.com.

Posted November 23, 2021

Source: YY Nation

Neiman Marcus Group Announces Key Executive Appointments To Execute Growth Roadmap And Culture Work

DALLAS — November 22, 2021— Neiman Marcus Group (“NMG” or the “Company”) has reimagined the pillars of its culture to reflect a more modern growth mindset, infusing in its Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and Belonging work. To support these initiatives, NMG is announcing three executive appointments and role expansions to support the integrated luxury retailer’s continued transformation.

“Finding and developing key talent at NMG is critical to support our growth,” said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Chief Executive Officer, Neiman Marcus Group. “Having the right leaders in place to lead the strategy, provide governance over our culture, and amplify all of this great work through communications will ensure our organization continues to strategically transform for the better, the NMG|Way, to deliver profitable and sustainable growth.”

Natalie Lockhart has been named Senior Vice President, Strategy & Execution, responsible for coordinating all aspects of the luxury retailer’s growth roadmap. In this role, Lockhart now serves as a member of NMG’s Group Leadership Team and leads the newly created Growth Execution Office, which coordinates the strategy and execution of the program and initiatives that support the company’s growth work. This team is comprised of three functions – Corporate Strategy to drive analytics to support strategic decisions, Execution Management to lead the roll-out of this work and drive implementation across the organization, and Change Enablement to develop a change strategy and amplify key initiatives.

As NMG continues to take action to support this growth, it is focused on ensuring the work is done in the right way aligning with the integrated luxury retailer’s culture, NMG|Way. Chris Demuth has been elevated to Senior Vice President, People Services, ESG, Belonging & Corporate Philanthropy. In this expanded role, she will provide governance over the company’s culture alongside Eric Severson, Executive Vice President, Chief People & Belonging Officer. The investments the company is making in ESG and Belonging are key components of NMG|Way. NMG has partnerships with Textile Exchange, Give Back Box, and FASHIONPHILE to support its increased focus on sustainable products and services. The company is also beginning to advance workplace equality by aligning its practices with external standards like Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, which it participated in for the first time earlier this year.

To amplify the initiatives that support NMG’s growth roadmap and its NMG|Way culture, Tiffin Jernstedt has been named Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer. Jernstedt officially joins NMG with over 15 years of experience leading global fashion and lifestyle brands communications. She previously served in leadership roles at PVH, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren. Jernstedt will report to van Raemdonck and Severson and will join the organization’s Group Leadership Team. She will be fully embedded in all aspects of the business to storytell NMG’s company initiatives, engage associates, shape NMG|Way, and amplify the organization’s external reputation to key stakeholders.

“I am confident that with these three leaders and their impressive backgrounds and experience, we will achieve the goals outlined in our growth roadmap and make life extraordinary for our customers and associates,” said Eric Severson, Chief People & Belonging Officer, Neiman Marcus Group. “Our NMG|Way culture will drive this work and serve as the standard we hold ourselves to achieve our goals the right way.”

These women are powerful examples of the luxury retailer’s majority-women-led organization. Women represent the majority of the Company’s Board of Directors and over 50 percent of leaders SVP and above, 59 percent of VPs and above, and 69 percent of all corporate and store employees.

Posted November 23, 2021

Source: Neiman Marcus Holding Company, Inc.

Mahlo: Two Heads Of Subsidiaries Celebrate Anniversaries

SAAL An Der Donau — November 16, 2021 — At the subsidiaries of the German Mahlo GmbH + Co KG, two branch managers are celebrating anniversaries this year. Alan Lavore, CEO of Mahlo America Inc., has been with the machine builder for 25 years. Michel Bruni, CEO of Mahlo Italia, has been part of the Mahlo family for 40 years.

Bruni

Bruni began his career at Mahlo in 1981 as a service technician in the French branch Mahlo Ouest. Just one year later, he moved to Mahlo Italia, where he was appointed branch manager in 1996. He still holds this position today. Bruni is also sales manager for the Benelux countries, the Maghreb countries and Madagascar. The Mahlo Italia CEO’s recipe for success includes expertise paired with experience and passion. To remain loyal to a company for so many years also testifies to a special relationship. “Then as now, I work with a dynamic and committed team. We also have a very good relationship with the employees of the parent company in Germany,” Bruni said.

Lavore

The culture and integrity with which business is conducted in the family-owned company were among the reasons why Mahlo America Inc. CEO Alan Lavore has also been with Mahlo for 25 years. “I just love working with all the great people at Mahlo,” he said. Lavore joined Mahlo in 1996 as a territory sales manager and took over as CEO in 2005. During this time, he drove the company’s expansion from a textile specialist to a supplier for various production sectors such as film, paper, coating and converting or nonwovens.

At Mahlo’s headquarters in Saal an der Donau, Bavaria, they are very happy to have constant, experienced and appreciated leaders like Bruni and Lavore. Company CEO Rainer Mestermann, said: “Both branch managers are regarded as institutions by their customers and internally at Mahlo. Their excellent reputation in the Mahlo world and our business success in the sales territories they serve is the result of their competence, experience, and passion. We thank them for their many years of cooperation and wish them continued success.”

Posted November 23, 2021

Source: Mahlo

Michelman Expands Its Surface Modification Solutions For Technical Textiles

CINCINNATI — November 18, 2021 — Michelman now helps improve the performance and functional behavior of technical textiles in applications including construction, ballistic, medical and hygiene, automotive, filtration media, pre-preg, and consumer products.

Unyte® is Michelman’s brand of versatile family of water-based technologies that help achieve advanced form and function in both woven and nonwoven materials used in the design of technical textiles and pre-preg fabrics. These solutions enhance textile products’ performance by improving adhesion, binding, slip, processability, and chemical & heat resistance.

  • Unyte Bind offers multiple solutions that improve fiber-to-fiber adhesion.
  • Unyte Heat solutions provide heat resistance during primary and secondary processing and impart heat resistance in end-use applications.
  • Unyte Glide increases lubricity and slip and facilitates tow spreading of fibers in technical textile production. This grade of products is also used as oversizing to improve release, drape, and fabric processability.
  • Unyte Grip promotes the adhesion between fibers and polymeric matrices, helping to improve various functional or mechanical properties.
  • Unyte Slip helps prevent fabrics, nonwovens, and pre-pregs that need to be stacked or rolled without sticking together.
  • Unyte Resist products are designed to provide excellent wet-out and moisture/chemical resistance to fabrics, wovens, and nonwovens.

“Our proven expertise in formulating water-based surface treatments, including sizing, binders, and film formers, strengthened by our understanding of end-use applications, provides technical textile manufacturers a set of sustainable solutions offering various functionalities that can be applied at the fiber level or as an overtreatment to the textile,” explained Jared Stonecash, global marketing manager for Fibers & Composites.

Posted November 23, 2021

Source: Michelman

ARISE IIP, FibreTrace Partner To Create Africa’s First Fully Traceable Cotton Supply Chain

SINGAPORE — November 18, 2021 — ARISE IIP, pan-African developer and operator of world-class industrial parks, and FibreTrace announced today a new pilot program enabling spinner-to-garment traceability for ARISE IIP’s highly anticipated Republic of Benin spinning facilities at the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ).

A groundbreaking achievement for the fast-emerging African textile sector, the partnership between FibreTrace® and ARISE IIP will bring full traceability to the first of their kind, vertically integrated mills in the Republic of Benin to trace, verify and audit the lifecycle of their garments from spinning mills to stores, sharing the journey of Benin premium cotton with end consumers.

The partnership between ARISE IIP and FibreTrace® will position Benin at the forefront of textile innovation and technology, improving visibility, resilience, securing economic competitiveness, and creating a thriving value chain for African agriculture as the country is expected to have 98,000 tons lint cotton processing capacity per annum by the end of 2023.

Smallholder farmers are estimated to produce around 30 percent of total crop output globally, making them the foundation of global agriculture and the food sector. The program will make its debut in the Fall of 2022 when GDIZ spinning, fabric and garment production facilities are anticipated to start operations.

Given FibreTrace’s success in other cotton growing regions, it is anticipated that this technology will be adopted at scale across all textile processing sites and facilities in Benin and across the African sub-continent. The technology will provide transparency and true custody of supply chain solutions for brands and suppliers across the globe working with African manufacturers and supporting the growth of best practices in agriculture on the continent.

To guarantee the traceability of the cotton, FibreTrace embeds luminescent pigments on the fiber at the spinning mill. The pigments, indestructible throughout the entire textile processing cycle, can be read and tracked at every stage of the supply chain, and each audit is recorded on the blockchain making the information secured, accessible and irrefutable.

The events of COP26 and rising pressure from governments, legislative bodies and consumers for brands and retailers to commit to greater climate action and take full accountability for their sustainability progress, have made clear that transparency and traceability are essential to leading dialogue and meaningful change for the global textile industry.

“ARISE IIP will now be able to guarantee the sustainability of the premium cotton transformed on its industrial platforms across Africa thanks to the technology deployed by FibreTrace,” said Gagan Gupta, founder and CEO ARISE IIP. “Across all its industrial parks, ARISE IIP ambitions to lead the way towards the sustainable transformation of local resources, where every stage of production is transparent for the benefit of local farmers and the end consumer.”

“We’re truly excited about this partnership because it is the first step in making African grown cotton more visible to the global textile industry, and affords these farmers, who dedicate their land and livelihoods to growing this fiber, the opportunity to take a more prevalent role,” said Shannon Mercer, CEO, FibreTrace. “We look forward to the day that the primary impact data from African farmers is combined with traceability to showcase Africa’s contribution to a better future for the textile industry.”

Posted November 23, 2021

Source: FibreTrace

Freudenberg Performance Materials’ Building & Construction Division Announces Further Price Increase For Roofing Carriers

NOVEDRATE, Italy — November 22, 2021 — Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic era, the global economy has been facing the most severe challenges in the supply chain ever seen. This has led to significant increases in logistic and raw materials costs.

This unprecedented situation has not been improving in the last months and, despite all the efforts to mitigate the problem, it has been even deteriorating also due to the increases in energy costs.

“The current situation forces us to further adjust our prices and apply an increase of 11 percent starting from January 1st, 2022” affirmed Federico Pallini, general manager of the Global Business Division Building & Construction “Our top priority is to continue being a reliable supplier for our customers in the present difficult circumstances. It is our responsibility to secure raw materials and energy supplies at any price to guarantee the continuity of our services to confirm our long-term commitment towards our customers”.

Posted November 23, 2021

Source: Freudenberg Performance Materials

Unisync Incorporates 3DLOOK’s Fit And Sizing Technology To Introduce Unique Uniform Fitting Experience

TORONTO — November 22, 2021 – Unisync Corp. announced a partnership with 3DLOOK to virtualize and automate the process of measuring and fitting for uniforms. 3DLOOK’s solution gives Unisync the unique ability to forgo massive offline fitting events, saving timing and resources, and increasing the efficiency of its business processes.

“For many years, we have been searching for a body scanning technology that will enable accurate scanning to correctly dress all of our contracted end-users with their best-recommended uniform based upon their scanned size,” said CEO Matt Graham. “We have triled many potential solutions over recent years, but most were either not accurate or were not overly user-friendly. In 3DLOOK, we have finally found a solution that combines ease-of-use with accuracy and removes the need for in-person fitting sessions that are both cumbersome in time and cost-prohibitive,” claimed Matt Graham. “We are excited to start rolling this technology to all of our existing and new customers.”

3DLOOK’s solution ensures a simple and fast experience for Unisync’s end-users, giving them the ability to accurately measure themselves with a smartphone or a tablet device in the comfort of their own homes. They only have to take a front and side photo while fully dressed and let the technology instantly determine what size uniform would fit best. The whole process is quick and straightforward and doesn’t require a measuring tape or assistance of any kind.

Unisync is one of the pioneers to introduce the AI-powered fit and sizing solution in the legacy uniform sector. For decades, businesses in the industry have had to set up in-person measuring and fitting events where sales reps physically measure hundreds of people, followed by trying on workwear samples to determine the correct size. These events are time-consuming, expensive to set up, and prone to human error. 3DLOOK’s technology is finally putting an end to these archaic processes.

“Bringing innovation to this antiquated market isn’t easy, since the novelty completely changes the established fitting process and affects thousands of people across the uniform supply chain: from sales teams to end-wearers,” said Vadim Rogovskiy, CEO and co-founder at 3DLOOK. “We applaud the team at Unisync for having the foresight to use this innovation to ease the fitting process and enhance their own operations, pushing the whole industry to the tech-driven future.”

Posted November 23, 2021

Source: 3DLOOK

Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Circular Business Models Offer $700 Billion Opportunity For Fashion Industry

LONDON — November 23, 2021 — Circular business models, in sectors such as rental and resale, have the potential to claim 23 percent of the global fashion market by 2030 and grasp a $700 billion opportunity, new research from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has found.

In its latest report, Circular Business Models: Redefining growth for a thriving fashion industry, the Foundation has shown how circular business models offer significant potential for greater revenue, while cutting the volume of new clothing and accessories produced.

Four examples of circular business models — rental, resale, repair, and remaking — represent a $73 billion market. These models are expected to continue growing as customers become increasingly motivated by affordability, convenience, and environmental awareness.

The Foundation warned however, that currently, these models do not always lead to environmental benefits, particularly, if they are seen purely as ‘add-ons’ to a traditional wasteful model as opposed to central to all business activities. For example, incentivising product take-back for resale, remaking or recycling by offering vouchers for new products may fuel more production. Rental models that offer clothes not designed to withstand many wears and cleaning cycles increase the chances of that model being economically and environmentally unviable. Ultimately, if not designed to be part of the system in which it sits, clothing will end up in landfill after very few uses.

To maximize the positive outcomes of circular business models and realize their full potential for better economic growth and environmental impacts the Foundation has recommended four key actions.

Rethink performance indicators, customer incentives, and customer experiences: Shifting to a business model based on increasing the use of products, rather than producing and selling more products, requires the business to rethink how it measures success, and to encourage its customers to opt for its circular offering through carefully designed incentives and enhanced customer experiences.

Design products that can be used more and for longer: To maximize the economic and environmental potential of circular business models, products need to be designed and made to be physically durable, emotionally durable, and able to be remade and recycled at the end of their use.

Co-create supply networks able to circulate products locally as well as globally: To successfully keep products in circulation, fashion supply chains, currently designed for a predictable one-way flow of products, need to be transformed into supply networks capable of circulating products locally and globally, through collaboration and the use of digital technologies.

Scale a wider range of circular business models: Scaling a variety of circular business models that generate revenue without producing new products can increase the overall economic and environmental opportunity long term.

Marilyn Martinez, fashion initiative project manager at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said: “Not only do circular business models have massive potential to become mainstream, they provide new and better growth for the fashion industry. Clothing production doubled between 2000 and 2015, while the time we use clothes fell by more than a third. Circular business models can help turn this around and create a thriving industry that takes a lead on tackling global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.”

Posted November 23, 2021

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Sanitized® Puretec™ Technology Delivers Optimal Antimicrobial Performance For All Fiber Types

BURGDORF, Switzerland — November 23, 2021 — SANITIZED AG presents a new product portfolio: Sanitized® Puretec™. A non-leaching, metal-free and particle-free antimicrobial solution for textiles to prevent the buildup of odor-causing bacteria. The technology provides long-lasting effects without release of the active ingredient, making it a safe and sustainable solution even after many washes.

Fueled by the search for more sustainable antimicrobial solutions, marketplace demands for effective metal-free and particle-free odor control technologies have increased. The developers at Sanitized have managed to advance the durability and efficacy of Sanitized Puretec, a family of quaternary silane (quat-silane) based antimicrobial finishes which meet these demands. Due to the active’s non-leaching nature, the quat-silane technology remains affixed to the fabric’s surface. Puretec technology has shown excellent performance on all fiber types, especially synthetic fibers like polyesters. It enhances the functionality of textiles by utilizing the high cationic charge density of a fully polymerized siloxane polymer network to reduce the microorganism on contact.

A durable solution for sportswear

Sanitized Puretec offers a unique solution for brands and retailers producing synthetic sportswear by allowing consumers to wear the products they love for longer periods of time before having to wash them again. This provides brands and activewear users with peace of mind by delivering long-lasting freshness on textiles. From hitting the gym to running errands, the technology allows consumers to remain confident and comfortable even throughout their busiest days.

Odor control, fabric deterioration prevention, extended durability

Preventing bacterial growth does not only significantly reduce odor formation but simultaneously protects the textile from bacteria induced deterioration and discoloration, all of which can jeopardize the durability of the product. As demonstrated in various microbiological tests, Sanitized Puretec guarantees optimal odor control performance–even with ongoing washing and wearing. The product portfolio delivers added value to textiles by easing product maintenance and enhancing usability and performance.

Technical advantages

Sanitized Puretec technology can be easily integrated into existing application techniques such as pad and exhaust and is compatible with other functional performance finishes. It exhibits excellent wash fastness and temperature stability and is dermatologically tested to be non-sensitizing to the human skin, making it safe for an abundance of textile applications.

Verifying antimicrobial performance

Properly treated quat-silane surfaces can deliver broad spectrum, durable antimicrobial properties to prevent bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on fabrics. Utilizing appropriate test methods is critical to accurately measure and verify the microbiological performance of quaternary silane technologies. Sanitized Puretec odor control solutions have been tested through 40 washes using ASTM E3162-18, the industry standard wash durability method approved by the International Antimicrobial Council (IAC). As for the microbiologcal test method, the IAC recommends ASTM E2149-20 for the Puretec technology. Using IAC Certified laboratories with IAC verified test reports, brands and retailers can be assured that products have been tested by trained and proficient microbiology professionals.

Posted November 23, 2021

Source: Sanitized

Marchi & Fildi Group Presents Gleaming Line Featuring Metalloplastic Yarns With GRS Certification

BIELLA, Italy — November 23, 2021 — With the goal to expand the offer of yarns coming from recycled raw materials for a textile more attentive to the consumption of resources, the MFT division of the Marchi & Fildi Group completes the range of metalloplastic yarns of its Gleaming collection with the insertion of 100% recycled polyester yarns coming from post-consumer material and with the GRS (Global Recycle Standard) certification.

Starting from recycled polyester with traceable origin, in compliance with environmental and social criteria extended to all the phases of the supply chain, metalloplastic yarns are obtained with the same esthetic features and performance, compared to similar products based on virgin raw materials.

“Thanks to our commitment in the research of materials, we are able to propose metalloplastic yarns produced with 100-percent recycled material; the film used for the production of flat yarns, too, is in recycled polyester, with a quality level that is suitable for cutting,” a company spokesperson explained. “Till now it was possible to find in the market only metalloplastic yarns with not recycled polyester flat yarn, twisted with certified fibers. This represents an important step forward to implement a circular economy possibility for this kind of products too.”

The Gleaming yarns GRS certified can be supplied in gold and silver, colors and transparent, in various counts, widths and types; they are suitable for use in flat and circular knitting, weaving, hosiery and as a component in fancy yarns.

The Gleaming line, with a wide selection of yarns in stock service, represents a completion of the offer of the Marchi & Fildi Group. The Gleaming yarns are offered in different thicknesses, widths and types with both metallized and transparent, iridescent, refracting and phosphorescent effects. The collection also includes items with special features of resistance to chemical and dyeing treatments.

The Gleaming metalloplastic yarns find application in the world of fashion and furniture, for creative and fancy yarns and fabrics, accessories and decorations.

Products with refractive features are also used in technical items like uniforms and workwear, sport garments and accessories, external ribbons and labels.

Posted November 23, 2021

Source: Marchi & Fildi

Sponsors