Raw Materials are the Starting Point for Sustainable Jeans
The denim industry is on a quest to make the lowest impact jean possible, and the key to reaching this goal is choosing the right materials. TENCEL™ Lyocell is made from renewable wood pulp using a low-impact process, giving jeans a stronger environmental profile. For insight on how TENCEL™ fibers make denim more sustainable, Rivet spoke with Michael Kininmonth, denim project manager at Lenzing.
Rivet: Among Lenzing’s latest innovations is matte TENCEL™. What product development opportunities do these fibers hold?
Michael Kininmonth: The phrase “you can’t please all of the people all of the time” certainly applies to fabric aesthetics. Any fiber with a smooth surface and round cross section, like TENCEL™ Lyocell, will result in fabrics exhibiting more luster—that is just physics. Where luster is a desirable optic, then the brief is met. For designers looking to avoid shininess, we have developed a matte version of TENCEL™ Lyocell.
Read the full interview in the latest issue of Rivet magazine.