Allied Feather + Down, NetPlus, Pertex and Resortecs have teamed up with Swedish backcountry ski apparel brand Peak Performance to launch the new Helium Loop Anorak, showing how collaboration and smart design can drive meaningful change.

Until now, it has been extremely difficult to recycle performance garments made with multiple materials, such as natural down, zippers and elastic trims, because separating the components at the end of their life is complex and costly.

“For years, brands have wanted to make their products more circular, but the responsibility often shifted to material suppliers and startups,” said Matthew Betcher, creative director at Allied Feather. “The truth is that garments must be designed for circularity from the start. That’s why we’re proud to work with Peak Performance and other ingredient partners to create a product truly built for circular use. What’s even more encouraging is that this project can inspire future product lines.”

Allied provides the 800-fill power down insulation, which is renewable, recyclable and biodegradable. NetPlus transforms discarded fishing nets into 100% post-consumer recycled nylon yarn. Pertex then weaves this yarn into the shell and lining of the anorak. Resortecs supplies Smart Stitch, a heat-activated thread that makes disassembly easy. When the garment reaches the end of its life, the stitching melts away during Smart Disassembly in controlled settings, allowing the down and fabric components to be separated and recycled individually.

“The key idea is that real circularity doesn’t require compromise, it requires designing garments to be taken apart as carefully as they are made,” said Marie Andersson, project manager at Peak Performance. “Our R&D Helium Loop shows that when high-quality materials are paired with thoughtful end-of-life design, circularity becomes a performance benefit, helping every component keep its highest value through multiple lifecycles.”