JP Modatex India and DuPont Biomaterials have launched a new spun yarn collection composed of a mix of natural fibers and DuPont Sorona staple fibers.

The collection combines the linen and partially plant-based Sorona fibers to generate spun yarns for dresses, shirting, pants and skirts, jeans, and jackets, among other applications.

The resulting fabric has a sumptuous drape and hand feel, as well as comfort stretch and moisture management. Due to the incompatibility of linen and spandex, excellent stretch linen has been unavailable until now. This novel concept meets demand for stretch linen that is free of spandex and is an excellent choice for designers looking for a long-term solution.

JP Modatex is a ring-spun yarn producer specializing in premium and specialized yarns for fashion and home textiles. The goal of the company is to deliver specialty yarns to the Indian and worldwide markets, with a concentration on linen-hemp blends with Sorona and other fibers. Since 1948, the family firm has been involved in the yarn industry. Mixes of Sorona and linen, Sorona and Lyocell, 100 percent dry spun linen, and hemp-cotton blends are just a few of the recent successful yarn discoveries and advances at JP Modatex.

DuPont has a long history of textile invention, having developed groundbreaking fibers including nylon, Lycra, and rayon. Its Sorona brand, which is made up of 37% renewable plant-based components, provides a high-performing, ethically sourced material solution. Sorona polymer-based fibers are being employed in a variety of garment applications, including athleisure and sportswear, insulation, swimming, outerwear, suiting, and faux fur, among others. Technical and performance advantages of Sorona polymer include remarkable softness, stretch and recovery, and stain resistance without the need for topical treatments. Sorona is a USDA Certified Biobased Product and an OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified product.

Dr. Gowri Nagarajan, regional sales and marketing manager, DuPont Biomaterials, said that in blends of cotton, viscose, and wool, Sorona stretch staple fibers are employed. With Sorona, JP Modatex wishes to take a fresh approach and react to the needs of existing linen customers by bringing comfort stretch to the linen industry. Stretch and linen have never been combined before since spandex and linen cannot coexist. This is a very exciting prospect for them, and with this breakthrough yarn, JP Modatex is a pioneer in the world of stretch linen fabrics.

Mr. Jeff Zhou, global apparel segment leader, DuPont Biomaterials, said that in the apparel industry, comfort stretch is an emerging trend. While other fibers are frequently blended with Sorona fibers, the JP Modatex team is taking on the challenge of blending with difficult-to-work-with fibers like linen to establish a distinct place for themselves. The JP Modatex team is able to supply this novel solution to both shirting and trouser applications by working closely with their critical mill partners. This initial accomplishment should give them the confidence to continue their innovation path to take Sorona fibers into future applications.

Mr. Jindas Jain, Founder-CEO, JP Modatex, said that at JP Modatex, they take satisfaction in traveling the road less traveled by others, and as a result of this mentality, they have always focused on cutting-edge innovation to bring high-quality specialty products to market. When they decided to start using Sorona fibers in combination with other fibers like Lyocell and linen, they made a very careful decision because there was a need in these segments where comfort stretch was lacking because it was either impossible to incorporate spandex into the mix (OR) processing such fabrics in combination with spandex was a nightmare.

Jain added that a blend with Sorona is appealing for these reasons, as it adds value to the end fabric in terms of comfort stretch and recovery, moisture control, and superb hand feel and drape. They’re particularly thrilled with the recent interest in these yarns at the Fibers and Yarns event in Mumbai (India), and they are keen to introduce more innovation with Sorona in conjunction with other fibers as well.