What’s New, What’s Next: TENCEL x REFIBRA Denim, Part II
In Part II of our Kingpins Amsterdam check-in, we’re listening to the mills to learn how they’ve been using—and what have in store for—TENCELTM xREFIBRATMDenim.
The companies that use the sustainable fiber span the globe, all seeking to give denimheads the soft (or stiff!) denim they crave, while reducing the fabric’s impact on our planet. The innovation is wide-ranging, far-reaching and all-inspiring.
Check out Part II of the mill update; if you missed it, Part I can be found here.
DNM Denim
Location: Turkey
What’s New:
We are not using a special name for our sustainable concept because we are doing the whole collection as sustainable. Generally we are using REFIBRA™ technology with vintage construction and styles (Japanese construction with ’80s and ’90s style) for getting that soft touch.
The blend is sustainable (organic cotton blend, post-consumer blend, BCI cotton blend, cotton TENCELTM Lyocell blend or cotton hemp blend). The dyeing method is sustainable (waterless dyeing and laser friendly), and the finishing method is sustainable (less chemicals and less water finishing processing).
Why Now:
We are doing totally sustainable fabrics—all materials and production processes should be sustainable—and because of this, we prefer using sustainable materials with sustainable production processes. So REFIBRA™ technology is an important material for sustainable production that gives us different benefits.
KIPAS
Location: Turkey
What’s New:
For our new SS21 collection, Kipas Denim will use two articles that contain 20 percent TENCEL(TM) x REFIBRA(TM) Lyocell fiber:
Innocence
Salma Blue and Salma Diamond Blue
57 percent cotton, 20 percent REFIBRA™, 20 percent polyester, 3 percent Lycra
Why Now:
As Kipas Denim we care very much about sustainability. We built our new collection on sustainability. Almost each article considers sustainability, such as recycled polyster, recycled cotton, zero cotton and/or less water dye. Because of that, REFIBRA™ is also very important tool for our product line. In this product family we used recycled polyester fiber with REFIBRA™, which means these article have 40 percent recycled fiber.
NAVEENA Denim Mills
Location: Pakistan
What’s New:
We use REFIBRA™ technology in two special fabrics: RETRIEVE and ZEVOLUTION.
RETRIEVE—Softness reborn
Made with the pioneering REFIBRA™ technology, RETRIEVE fabrics are durable with smoother surface, long-lasting color vibrancy and enhanced breathability.
Blend: REFIBRA™, recycled polyester, elastane and organic cotton
Weight: 11-13 oz. (washed)
ZEVOLUTION—Zero cotton, maximum feel
Revolutionary denim made of low-impact fibers instead of cotton, they look, feel and wear like any other denim, but without the fertilizers and pesticides—and saving gallons of water.
Blend: REFIBRA™, recycled polyester, elastane
Weight: 11-13 oz. (washed)
Why Now:
We constantly work to minimize the environmental impact of our operations using natural resources in the most efficient way possible, through constant R&D in eco-friendly technologies and developing sustainable products using sustainable materials. In this context, REFIBRA™ supports all our sustainability goals. It also gives us the opportunity to offer sustainable AND premium denim, enhancing softness, hand feel, aesthetic and performance.
Orta
Location: Turkey
Why Now:
Sustainable. Circular. Recycled. Up-cycled. Repurposed. Reused. Reclaimed …
Today’s buzz words in the fashion and denim industry. Some are just promises. But at Orta, we deliver. And we have one word for the eco net-positive fabrics this season: The IMMORTALIST. Denim with an (almost) infinite life thanks to the sustainable raw materials like TENCEL x REFIBRA™. We are investing in the biological and technological ways we can infinitely expand the life of every fiber, every drop of water, every biochemical, every dye, every finish. The IMMORTALIST is the ultimate sustainability commitment in a fabric with the components: Organic Cotton + TENCEL x REFIBRA™ + (Ecomade T400)
9637-9638 and 9644 are the members of The IMMORTALIST family in our SS2021 collection. The IMMORTALIST property comes from the multi-sustainable authentic characteristic of the denim. The composition of 9637-9638 and 9644 includes organic cotton with TENCEL x REFIBRA™.
9637A
Warp: Organic cotton
Weft: T400+ REFIBRA™
Weave: 3/1 Z
Color: Indigo Flow Aquamarine (light, bright indigo) color
9638A
Warp: Organic cotton
Weft: T400+ REFIBRA™
Weave: 3/1 Z
Color: Indigo Flow Black
9644A
Warp: Organic cotton
Weft: T400+ REFIBRA™
Weave: 3/1 Z
Color: IF ECLIPSE
With recollected and reconnected blend of eco-positive fibers, these fibers provide the airy softness and lighthearted characteristics in denim for today’s eco-living generation.
Why Now:
We prefer REFIBRA™ for its silky comfort, skin and environment sensitivity and, of course, the sustainable and traceable fiber preference of Orta.
Prosperity Textile
Location: China
What’s New:
We have two newly developed REFIBRA™ fabrics.Both are weighted at around 10 oz.—a bit heavier since we tried to target a bit more bottom weight markets withTENCEL™/cotton blended.
The key highlight here is we further enhance the concept of recycling to add recycled cotton in weft together with the REFIBRA™ warp, which make it into something like TENCEL™ made with recycled cotton ingredients and weaved with recycled cotton. We are quite happy that those two new fabrics are already getting some small quantity trial orders now in China, which is big progress for our REFIBRA™ business.
#A4196A
62 percent REFIBRA™, 23 percent TENCEL™ Lyocell, 15 percent recycled cotton
#A4354B
61 percent cotton, 29 percent REFIBRA™, 10 percent recycled cotton
What’s Next:
We believe REFIBRA™ is important, as the recycled concept is a highly workable solution to our industry. Turning more wasted materials into something we can use is key to the future of denim world, and we are quite excited that REFIBRA™ is making the TENCEL™ family more closed-loop.
Santanderina
Location: Spain
What’s New:
We include REFIBRA™ in many different styles, such as intimate blend with TENCELTM Lyocell for shirts or dresses, about 4-6 oz.; for regular five-pocket jeans Intime blend with organic or recycled cotton, around 7-10 oz.; and different ’80s styles, like high-rise or mid-rise cropped flare and low-rise or jeans culottes.
Why Now:
REFIBRA™ is one of the most important concepts in our range of fabrics called “Return.” It’s included in our concept of sustainability and traceability, providing us with new lines of work in our strategy of fabrics for a better world.
Shasha Denim
Location: Bangladesh
What’s New:
Sustainability is a big part for all of the brands. REFIBRA™ is a right option for cellulosic sustainable approach. We are very confident it will take its own place in the sustainable denim journey.
SOORTY
Location: Pakistan
Why Now:
REFIBRA™ presents next-gen denim developments with responsible alternatives and luxurious hand-feel converge. The denim market is after innovation where sustainability remains the focus, and REFIBRA™ gives us the possibility to deliver innovative design using conscious raw material content. The consumers are on the lookout for sustainable products that they can trust and still find attractive aesthetically, and REFIBRA™ enables us to realize design and engineering for that purpose.
Tat Fung Textile Co., Ltd
Location: Hong Kong
What’s New:
Panther Denim
TENCELTM X REFIBRA™
Fabric details: 59 percent cotton, 32 percent REFIBRA™, 7% T400, 2 percent Lycra®
10.8 oz./y2
Tejidos Royo
Location: Spain
What’s New:
As soft as virgin TENCELTM Lyocell recycled cotton included, but without the downs of the recycled fibers (small fibers, colored fibers, and more) One of the most important aspects is that if you look at the fabric, you don´t see it’s recycled—that’s the great thing about it.
Why Now:
In the era of sustainability, recycling is a must, land must be for food and not for cotton. REFIBRA™ with its 20-30 percent recycled cotton content is helping to reduce the use of land for cotton purposes. It’s a small yet big step toward a much more sustainable world.
Lead photo courtesy of Candiani.