Roica and Tencel elevate sustainable textiles collaboration

Roica, a high-tech stretch fiber produced by Japanese firm Asahi Kasei, has deepened its partnership with Tencel by Lenzing, showcasing their latest sustainable textile innovations at Milano Unica this week. The collaboration, which began in March, aims to advance a circular approach within the textile industry, offering innovative and eco-conscious collections.

During the event held from July 9-11, three new collections were highlighted, representing the “next generation of wardrobe.” Yogatime by Brugnoli featured the fibers in performance fabrics, De Rerum Natura by Maglificio Maggia showcased Tencel-Roica fibers in fashion apparel textiles, and Maglificio Rippa introduced the Eco Proposals collection for the lingerie sector.

Luca Olivini, sales manager at Maglificio Ripa, emphasized the importance of selecting the right raw materials to achieve sustainability and transparency. The company debuted Eco 202AX and Eco 373AC at Milano Unica, both of which combine Tencel lyocell with Roica V550, offering a soft hand feel suitable for fashion underwear and base-layer applications. These new textiles are characterized by their lightweight, slight transparency, and the warm features of Tencel, combined with the technical characteristics of Roica.

“We believe this collaboration is a step towards a sustainable future,” said Olivini. “We aim to educate consumers on why these materials are better than others, focusing on circularity and avoiding greenwashing.”