As more and more of us begin to strive towards sustainable manufacturing, suppliers are having to find new and innovative ways of creating sustainable fibres. Over the last few years, the fashion industry has seen an influx of fabrics produced from tree pulp, pineapple leaves, milk fibres, and the list keeps growing. However, when it comes to swimwear and activewear, performance fabrics require specific qualities such as breathability, controlled stretch and low moisture retention, which has made finding sustainable alternatives a bigger challenge. Textile developers are now beginning to experiment with bio-engineering performance fabrics using bacteria, mycelium and proteins, paving the way for a much cleaner and more sustainable production.
In active and loungewear, brands such as Ecoalf and Pangaia are already committing to using recycled and natural fibres in their collections, and as these sustainable fabrics become more accessible, many more brands will follow. Recently, Vivobarefoot have been pioneering resourceful production within the footwear industry, having released a collection developed from repurposed algae that was damaging water systems, and then another collection made using glucose from field corn. Tierra is another company who are making waves with their ingenuity, having released the world’s first 100% bio-based jacket. The jacket uses zero fossil fuels in production and is made using materials from castor beans, wool, corn, Tencel™ Lyocell, cotton and corozo nuts- and has been recognised in countless sustainability awards and exhibitions. All areas of the fashion industry are starting to see developments towards more sustainable and eco-friendly production and materials, and it is evident that there is a huge amount of demand from consumers.
For swim, active and lingerie brands interested in sustainable production and bio-based engineering, Brugnoli® are one of the leading Italian suppliers of bio-based performance materials, with a selection of over 100 eco-sustainable performance fabrics. The BR4 section of Brugnoli® offers fabrics produced 100% in Italy and from a variety of natural fibres, whilst also minimising the environmental impact of production with their own patented technology. Many of the fabrics are made using EVO by Fulgar®, a completely renewable polyamide derived from castor oil seeds, which has 25% less impact on the environment than a standard polyamide. Other sustainable fibres used in Brugnoli®’s BR4 collection include Q-Nova® recycled nylon fibres, Amni Soul Eco®- an enhanced polyamide formula which allows it to decompose quickly in landfill, Tencel™, Cotton Linter, Supima® and Cotton with BCI credits.
As demand for bio-based materials continues to grow, so will the supply. Future trends over the next two years show further innovative fibre developments, as well as new ways of recycling fibres and creating hybrid materials with specific qualities.
Here at Bodywear Lab we have a specialised team that can help you source the right fabric for your activewear brand and any other services you require, visit our service page to find out more.