Who’s Using TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™ in Denim?
Since the launch of TENCEL™ Lyocell with REFIBRA™ technology in February 2017, brands have been keen to embrace the first man-made cellulosic fiber featuring recycled material on a commercial scale.
It’s a fiber which embraces circularity, since the REFIBRA™ technology involves upcycling cotton scraps from the garment production process and wood pulp sourced from certified sustainable forestry.
REFIBRA™ technology brings also a solution forward for supply chain transparency as the TENCEL™ fiber contains identification material inherently.
In short, it’s cutting denim’s impact on the environment when it’s used to make jeans.
Here, Carved in Blue, finds out from mills how they’re using the innovative fiber and what it’s doing for their denim collections.
Mill: Crescent Bahuman
Location: Pakistan
At Crescent Bahuman (CBL), fabrics with REFIBRA™ Technology are being used in its sustainable collection, called Gaia.
The mill is using the fiber in GOTS certified post-consumer recycled garments which blend beautifully with REFIBRA™ technology, for light weight, comfort stretches with dyed, coated and natural shades, in blends like 50 percent REFIBRA™ and 50 percent polycrystalline wool (PCW).
Why they use REFIBRA™ Technology: “TENCEL™ has already been a prominent part of market in terms of its unique properties, as the world is moving towards closed loop and circular economy. CBL is working to create effortless recycling and we are always in search of taking steps for such cause,” the company said. “REFIBRA™, as it is the same product line we are working on, is one of the most essential parts of our collection.”
Mill: Arvind Limited
Location: India
Though it hasn’t yet designated its denim styles with REFIBRA™ Technology under a specific name, Arvind Limited said the styles using the fiber technology are part of a larger sustainability initiative.
The mill is using REFIBRA™ in a blend with PCW (post consumer waste), and REFIBRA™ with TENCEL™ and cotton for a “super soft blend” in a 2×1 dark indigo.
Why they use REFIBRA™ Technology: “We like the REFIBRA™ concept because it fits our quest for less waste and better utilization of resources in textiles; it offers all the benefits of traditional TENCEL™ with the added bonus of its recycled component,” the company noted. “Ideally, more and more fabrics will be made reusing resources that are currently being needlessly wasted.”
Mill: Textil Santanderina
Location: Spain
At Textile Santanderina, REFIBRA™ has found its way into the mill’s “R/Turn” sustainable collection, where all incorporated fibers are part of a circular economy approach.
The Spanish mill blends REFIBRA™ Lyocell with recycled cotton and organic fibers for its R/Turn denim collection.
Why they use REFIBRA™ Technology: “REFIBRA™ perfectly fits with our values: we are driven by innovation to offer the best products to our customers and to reduce the impact of the textile industry on the environment,” the company noted.
Mill: Blue Diamond
Location: China
Keeping the REFIBRA™ brand intact, Blue Diamond didn’t rename its collection using the fiber, but rather it kept the REFIBRA™ name, believing “it’s strong enough to stand on its own.” 
For its collection, Blue Diamond blends REFIBRA™ with Repreve + T400 to create a product with both recovery and sustainability. Its best seller is a blend using majority REFIBRA™ Lyocellfor a “luxurious” product to which high-end and luxury brands gravitate toward.
Why they use REFIBRA™ Technology: “REFIBRA™ is an incredible fiber. Not only because of its silky hand, but mostly because REFIBRA™ is helping the textile industry become a circular economy,” the company said. “It’s one of the most innovative fibers in the industry now, and it is leading the movement towards a brighter blue.”
Mill: Orta Anadolu
Location: Turkey
At Orta Anadolu REFIBRA™ products fall under the name WHOLEBLU, its “eco-crafted, eco-honest” denim collection.
“It’s a new generation of eco-crafted denim that delivers on Orta’s mission to create the most eco-positive, eco-tech denim with superior construction,” the company said. “WHOLEBLU is soulful, soft and sustainable from start to finish. This is denim with true integrity.”
Orta has trialed multiple blends to find the right combination, and for now it’s focused on using REFIBRA™ Lyocell together with TENCEL™ and polyester.
Why they use REFIBRA™ Technology: “As ORTA, we have this ongoing commitment to a more sustainable handprint. We believe that while our footprint is what we take from the planet when we consume, our HANPRINT is what we give the planet back as we create change for better,” the company noted. “Therefore REFIBRA™ in our WHOLEBLU concept is a perfect match for our commitment to sustainable fibers and reimagined solutions.”
Mill: Prosperity Textile
Location: China
Dubbed, REINVENT™, Prosperity Textile’s collection of denim using REFIBRA™ fabrics is part of a line focused on recycled or organic materials, made with eco-
friendly dyeing and finishing. 
Prosperity launched a new warp of REFIBRA™ denim for Spring/Summer 2020 blended with cotton for its water-less dyes Miller Blue light tone indigo fabric. It also has a more rigid version with cotton and REFIBRA™ for a looser fitting boyfriend style.
Why they use REFIBRA™ Technology: “We sold more than 10 million yards of TENCEL™ Lyocell denim fabrics a year, we just love its botanic origin and natural comfort,” the company said. “By adding pre-consumer cotton waste to the wood pulp, we believe the REFIBRA™ technology can help further move forward to a closed loop process.”
This is part one of two in a series about TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™ Denim.