UPW’s new collection adopts Haelixa’s DNA marker tech

Haelixa, a Swiss traceability solutions supplier, has collaborated with UPW, a Hong Kong-based design-led luxury and sustainable yarn manufacturer to integrate its marker technology into the company’s fall/winter 2022 collection,  to label and track the full stock service UPW yarn line. Haelixa uses a specially designed marker to label the fibers at UPW’s Dongguan facility.

The one-of-a-kind marking is undetectable to the naked eye and has no influence on the quality of the product. It’s also vegan, GMO-free, GOTS-certified, and Oekotex Standard 100-certified, ensuring that it’s safe for both humans and the environment. According to a joint press release from the two companies, this is a crucial component in ensuring that their goods meet the highest social and environmental standards.

Traceability, which is used to enhance supply chain transparency, confirm product provenance, and support sustainability claims, is not only a topic for brands and retailers. Manufacturers like UPW consider making their products traceable as a clear competitive advantage in proving product authenticity and integrity to their consumers. Physical traceability has the distinct advantage of securely embedding information about the product’s origin, different suppliers engaged, and associated standards adhered to the product itself during its full trip throughout the value chain.

Haelixa takes control samples from the completed product to validate and certify UPW goods. A simple DNA test verifies that the product is exactly what it says it is: a high-quality UPW yarn dyed and spun in Dongguan. The verification test works on the idea of a “key-lock system,” which means that the DNA sequence must be known in order to be read, making it impossible to reproduce and use in an unauthorized manner.

Kwan Lieu, UPW’s marketing and sustainability manager said that it’s vital for businesses to have insight into their supply chain, and their goal is to give confidence and comfort that the manufacturing of their knitwear corresponds with their brand values – which is why they’ve collaborated with Haelixa. Haelixa’s DNA marker is used throughout UPW’s Fall Winter 2022 collection. This physical tracer allows retailers and brands to check if the yarns come from UPW-certified mills at any step in the supply chain.

Lieu added that this is crucial for supply chain risk mitigation. Because a sustainable future is transparent and inclusive, UPW’s on-demand traceable knitwear yarns are also held in stock for the rapid sample with no MOQs, offering accessibility to retailers, brands, and independent designers alike.

Gediminas Mikutis, co-founder and CTO of Haelixa, said that transparency and traceability are the required foundation for verifying sustainability claims across the textile value chain. They at Haelixa are very pleased with their collaboration with UPW because of the efforts they make to source sustainable resources in order to manufacture yarns of excellent quality and real environmental commitment. UPW’s clients will be able to check the material origin and integrity at any step in the value chain thanks to the Haelixa traceability system, which has been integrated throughout the whole Eco Plus collection (75 distinct mixes). This is a significant step forward in extending traceability to all sustainable fibers.