The LYCRA Company and ITOCHU Corporation Introduce COOLMAX® and THERMOLITE® EcoMade Fibers Made from 100% Textile Waste

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- The LYCRA Company, a global leader in fiber and textile solutions for the apparel industry, is pleased to announce the launch of its first performance offerings made from 100% textile waste. COOLMAX^® and THERMOLITE^® EcoMade fibers made from textile waste are the result of a strategic collaboration between The LYCRA Company and ITOCHU Corporation, a general trading company with strength in consumer-related sectors, including the textile business. The new offerings pair the brand equity and performance attributes of these leading cooling and warming brands with the sustainability benefits of textile waste, thus helping address a critical industry need.

 “We are pleased to announce our alliance with ITOCHU in helping to address textile waste, which represents a substantial sustainability challenge as the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is sent to landfills or incinerated every second¹,” said Julien Born, chief commercial officer for The LYCRA Company. “This collaboration exemplifies the synergistic approach we have to develop products and technologies that support a more sustainable future for our vast global customer base.” This is the first of several innovations that The LYCRA Company is working on in textile and garment recycling. Laying the groundwork for a more circular future is one of the key objectives of The LYCRA Company’s Planet Agenda Sustainability platform.

Integrating textile waste technology with COOLMAX^® and THERMOLITE^® fibers provides consumers with the performance attributes they seek, while making these industry-leading fibers in a new and responsible way. A unique depolymerization and refining process is used to convert textile waste, which consists of scraps from garment manufacturers, into fibers with properties comparable to virgin polyester. The new fibers are available in filament and staple forms, suitable for common textile processes and insulations batting uses.

The industry’s preeminent cooling and warming performance solutions, COOLMAX^® and THERMOLITE^® fibers, have been made from recycled raw materials such as recycled PET bottles for many years. The company will continue to offer these products in parallel with those made from textile waste.

These new products can be purchased from The LYCRA Company, except in Japan where ITOCHU will be responsible for sales and marketing. A variety of mills have access to the new offerings and will shortly begin to develop fabrics with them.

For additional information on COOLMAX^® and THERMOLITE^® fibers made from textile waste, visit coolmax.com and thermolite.com.

About The LYCRA Company

The LYCRA Company innovates and produces fiber and technology solutions for the apparel and personal care industries. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, The LYCRA Company is recognized worldwide for its innovative products, technical expertise, and unmatched marketing support. The LYCRA Company owns leading consumer and trade brands: LYCRA^®, LYCRA HyFit^®, LYCRA^® T400^®, COOLMAX^®, THERMOLITE^®, ELASPAN^®, SUPPLEX^®, and TACTEL^®. The LYCRA Company’s legacy stretches back to 1958 with the invention of the original spandex yarn, LYCRA^® fiber. Today, The LYCRA Company focuses on adding value to its customers’ products by developing unique innovations designed to meet the consumer’s need for comfort and lasting performance. For more information, visit www.thelycracompany.com.

About ITOCHU

ITOCHU, one of the largest general trading company in Japan, has evolved and grown over 160 years. With approximately 100 bases in 62 countries, ITOCHU, one of the leading sogo shosha, is engaging in domestic trading, import/export, and overseas trading of various products such as textile, machinery, metals, minerals, energy, chemicals, food, general products, realty, information and communications technology, and finance, as well as business investment in Japan and overseas.

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