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#Man-Made Fibers

arena introduces renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber in its latest swimwear collection

Italian swimwear specialist arena has unveiled a new collection that brings sustainability and performance even closer together. Launched on December 4, the line features swimsuits made from recycled nylon and renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber — the first time the bio-based spandex has been used commercially in swimwear.


The collection includes three women’s silhouettes in warm, natural tones, produced using Vita Life fabric from long-standing LYCRA® partner Carvico. The combination of recycled and renewable materials reflects arena’s commitment to reducing environmental impact without compromising on technical excellence.

“Sustainability can happen only if all the systems work in the same direction,” said Cristina Cantoni, global PR and communication manager at arena. “This collaboration shows what’s possible when everyone along the value chain moves forward together.”

Carvico’s sales manager, Simona Osio, added that high sustainability standards must go hand in hand with high performance. “With Vita Life, we were able to match both — and that’s why arena chose the fabric.”

The launch also marks another milestone in arena’s broader sustainability journey. Alongside renewable and recycled materials, the products arrive in 100% FSC-certified paper polybags, reducing reliance on fossil-based packaging and supporting ocean conservation initiatives through the supplier’s “Sea the Difference” program.

The three swimsuit styles — one-shoulder, O-back, and swim pro-back — offer options for different preferences while keeping a natural, minimalist design aesthetic. “This collection is for women who put well-being at the center of their lives,” Cantoni said.

The LYCRA Company will bring renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber to commercial scale later this year. Made with QIRA® and containing 70% bio-based content from U.S.-grown field corn, the fiber offers the same stretch and recovery properties as classic LYCRA® fiber with a significantly reduced environmental footprint.



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#Man-Made Fibers

The LYCRA Company strengthens sustainability leadership, appoints Alistair Williamson as VP of Product Sustainability

The LYCRA Company has appointed longtime executive Alistair Williamson as vice president of product sustainability, reaffirming its commitment to developing sustainable solutions for apparel and personal care products. In this role, he will guide the company’s next chapter of sustainability strategy and oversee all initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact across products, operations, and innovation platforms.

#Man-Made Fibers

The LYCRA Company announces grand opening of its largest global Spandex production facility in China

The LYCRA Company, a global leader in innovative and sustainable fiber solutions for the apparel and personal care industries, today announced the official opening of its largest spandex production facility—the LYCRA® fiber (Yinchuan) Plant in Ningxia Province, China. This milestone underscores the company’s continued investment in the Chinese market and highlights its strong commitment to developing localized supply and distribution networks while advancing smart manufacturing upgrades.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

The LYCRA Company goes “ALL IN” at Intertextile Shanghai

The LYCRA Company, a global leader in developing fiber and technology solutions for the apparel and personal care industries, returns to Intertextile Shanghai (Sept. 2–4) with an exclusive global sneak preview of its latest denim innovation.

#Yarn & Fiber

LYCRA® brand and SPANX are redefining comfort and fit in 2025

It’s been a big year for the SPANX-LYCRA® brand partnership — and it’s only March. In 2025, the brands have collaborated on two industry-leading innovations — a first-of-its-kind denim collection and an all-new line of cotton shapewear — transforming comfort and fit for millions of consumers. That’s a lot to celebrate.

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#Raw Materials

ECCO introduces first shoe featuring innovative protein-based fibre

ECCO, in partnership with Spinnova, announces the launch of the limited edition ECCO BIOM® 720, a first-of-its-kind shoe utilising an often overlooked leather by-product, transformed into a protein-based fibre. The fibres are produced using patented technology that advances material innovation while reducing waste and supporting full resource use across the leather and textile industry.

#Raw Materials

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories reports major progress converting record-setting spider silk cocoon production into reeled silk

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company”, “Kraig Labs”, or “Kraig’s”), a world leader in spider silk technology*, today announced significant progress in the processing of its recently produced recombinant spider silk cocoons into reeled silk.

#Spinning

Barmag Huitong Engineering technology makes PA6 direct spinning economically viable

Barmag’s subsidiary Barmag Huitong (Yangzhou) Engineering Co., Ltd. commissioned the first continuous polymerization (CP) plant for polyamide 6 in the Chinese province of Zhejiang.

#Techtextil 2026

Asahi Kasei Advance to showcase high-performance non-woven and fibers at Techtextil 2026

Asahi Kasei Advance will present its portfolio of high-performance nonwovens, flame-retardant fabrics, and advanced textile and fiber solutions designed for various industries during its first-ever exhibition at Techtextil 2026. Techtextil is the leading international trade show for technical textiles and nonwovens, taking place from April 21-24, 2026, in Frankfurt, Germany. Asahi Kasei Advance will highlight 14 brands, with special focus on four key materials as its debut at the exhibition in Hall 12.1 at booth C35.

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#Associations

BTMA backs global growth while investing in future UK leaders

As one of a number of new initiatives launched this year, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is launching the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, has implications that extend across sourcing, competitiveness and long-term trade dynamics, believes BTMA CEO Jason Kent.

#Raw Materials

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.

#Raw Materials

ICAC launches Carbon Credits Initiative to deliver new income streams to cotton farmers

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) has announced a new initiative designed to unlock additional income streams for cotton farmers through participation in carbon credit markets, linking sustainable production practices directly to financial returns.

#Sustainability

Number of GOTS-certified facilities grow 15% globally as demand for credible sustainability standards continues to strengthen

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification continued to grow in 2025, with nearly 18,000 certified facilities worldwide, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and rapidly evolving regulatory requirements across global textile supply chains.

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