Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger parent company PVH has signed a multi-year deal with Finnish circular technology company Infinited Fiber Company, with plans to use the regenerative fibre this summer.
Tommy Hilfiger parent PVH has entered a multi-year partnership with Finnish biotech firm Infinited Fiber Company (IFC) to use regenerated fibre made from textile waste, cardboard and wheat in place of cotton.
IFC’s patented regenerated textile fibre, called Infinna, will be used in Tommy Hilfiger products in Europe, starting with T-shirts released this summer, and will later expand to Calvin Klein products, according to a statement.
The move is part of PVH’s ongoing efforts to generate zero waste, zero carbon emissions and zero hazardous chemicals, and for PVH products to be circular by 2030. PVH has been working with IFC for several years and is currently testing other fibres made from other recycled materials including leftover grapes from wine production that are turned into leather. IFC will source old textiles in Finland and break them down “at the molecular level” to be remade into new fibres. PVH Europe also has an option to recycle its own take-backs and factory cut-offs as raw material for Infinited Fiber’s process.
“We are committed to pioneering and partnering with like-minded industry leading companies that drive more innovative and sustainable products,” said Esther Verburg, EVP of sustainable business and innovation for Tommy Hilfiger global and PVH Europe in a statement. By transforming waste into new products, the company could “close the loop” without sacrificing quality.
Regenerative materials that can be used as alternatives to cotton, fur and leather are gathering traction among fashion companies. In April, sportswear company Pangaia partnered with IFC to produce shirts made 100 per cent from Infinna. Ganni said in November it will use the textile fibre in future garment production. Other luxury companies are investing in alternative materials as part of their sustainability efforts: LVMH is helping to develop a fur alternative made from keratin, while Kering is working with Vitrolabs on a cow-free leather alternative.
Last year, IFC raised €30 million and was backed by sportswear giant Adidas, retailer Bestseller and H&M. Other companies to make new garments from recycled cotton include Stella McCartney, which partnered with Seattle-based Evrnu since 2019, as well as denim brand Levi’s. Meanwhile, Prada has also begun replacing some of its most iconic nylon products with Econyl, also known as Re-Nylon.
Source: https://www.voguebusiness.com/