Eastman and DuPont join hands to launch sustainable material

As the spike in sustainable textiles sees an upward trend, Eastman and DuPont Biomaterials launch a fabric collection constructed with sustainable, bio-based materials. The new collection features a blend of Naia™ from Eastman and DuPont™ Sorona® fibers. The new fabric is expected to deliver exceptional stretch and recovery, luxurious drape and a soft hand feel.

The new collection is expected to expand the upcoming sustainable textiles for designers to use for comfortable casual wear. The collection will also make its appearance at the Intertextile show this week in Shanghai, China. Brands and designers can also see the fabric collection at the Première Vision marketplace.

Eastman’s Naia™ cellulosic fiber has gained popularity in the womenswear market by giving designers a versatile choice to create a sustainable portfolio. Naia filament yarn converts fabrics into luxurious, comfortable and easy-care fabrics. The fiber blends perfectly with other eco-conscious fibers to create supremely soft, quick-drying fabrics that reduce pilling.

Naia is made out of wood from a sustainably managed pine and eucalyptus, forests and plantations. Naia aims to bring the richness of nature to comfort and luxurious fabrics. The fiber is produced in a safe closed-loop system, where the solvents are recycled back into the system for reuse and this accounts for Naia’s obtained low-impact manufacturing system. It claims to have a low environmental footprint and a third party reviewed life-cycle assessment compliant with ISO 14044. The technology is also biodegradable in freshwater, soil environments and is also compostable in industrial settings. To prove these claims the company has received “OK biodegradable” and “OK compost” certification marks from TÜV AUSTRIA. They have recently acquired the “OK compost”  conformity marks for home settings.

DuPont known for their textile innovation have invested in groundbreaking fibers such as nylon, Lycra®, DuPont™ Kevlar® and rayon. The company’s Sonar brand has been constructed with 37-percent renewable plant-based ingredients and offers a high performing, responsibly sourced material options. The Fibres made with Sorona polymer are currently utilized in different applications in the apparel space which include, athleisure and athletic wear, insulation, swimwear, outerwear, suiting, faux fur, etc.

DuPont’s Sonar polymer is a high-performance polymer offering versatile benefits that offer good quality and performance. They aim to minimize the impact on the environment without sacrificing quality and performance. It offers unique performance benefits which include softness, stretch and recovery, and inherent stain resistance without the need for topical treatments. Sorona is a USDA certified biobased product and has also acquired OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 Certification.

Ruth Farrell, global marketing director of textiles for Eastman, stated that they were committed to building a more sustainable fashion industry in collaboration with industry partners. He further added that they were excited to be working with Sorona fashion. He concluded by stating that more and more designers were looking for sustainable fabric choices and now they have a fabric collection with biobased and renewable materials.