Coats and Lenzing join forces
- 15 Sep 2023
Coats & Lenzing join forces to create footwear industry’s first synthetic-free engineered uppers and fabrics made of ProWeave™ technology and TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament. Result of new collaboration will be unveiled at Lineapelle.
Coats Footwear today announced an exciting collaboration with the Lenzing Group – a leading global producer of cellulose-based specialty fibers for the textiles industry. Combining Coats Footwear’s innovative ProWeave™ technology with Lenzing’s innovative TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament, the two companies have created dynamic re-imagined footwear uppers and fabrics, which combine sustainability and performance characteristics, and will be unveiled at Lineapelle.
In an industry first, the two companies have partnered in weaving TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament using ProWeave™ – a unique patented jacquard weaving technology which can be used with a range of different fibers and yarns. The reimagined footwear uppers and fabrics will be used in the prototype of Circle Sportswear’s “SuperNatural Runner” - the first synthetic-free performance footwear to use TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament blended with wool using ProWeave™ technology and other bio-based materials.
This innovative method and combination of technologies enables the production of stylish, sustainable, super comfortable uppers and fabrics, which have an adaptive fit that functions like a second skin. This ground-breaking collaboration will be of interest to all footwear brands that want to improve supply chain traceability, bio-sustainability, and lower the carbon footprint associated with producing high-quality uppers and fabrics for a variety of applications.
Paul Jackson, ProWeave™ Business Unit Leader at Coats Footwear, said: "This is an incredibly exciting alliance for Coats Footwear, the Lenzing Group, and the wider industry. From day one, it was clear this was a natural partnership. Both companies have combined objectives when it comes to sustainability. Independently we are committed to helping companies lower the environmental impact of textile and footwear production processes by providing best-in-class materials and manufacturing technologies. Together, we’re revolutionizing the way uppers and materials can be made – giving footwear brands and manufacturers the chance to build high-level sustainable products in the most innovative way possible, with zero constraints on creativity."
Nicole Schram, Global Business Development Manager, Apparel (Footwear) at Lenzing Group, said: "The footwear segment has always been innovative and offers endless possibilities for the development of technical applications of the TENCEL™ brand. We are truly excited to partner with Coats Footwear to create exciting footwear uppers and fabrics that have botanic origins at heart. By combining the unique features of TENCEL™ Lyocell staple fibers and filament and ProWeave™ technology, we believe the sky is the limit for the innovation of next-generation, planet-friendly footwear. We will continue to work closely with Coats Footwear and other industry partners to innovate materials for a dynamic footwear industry environment."
Lenzing is the first of many raw material suppliers to collaborate with Coats on ProWeave™. Derived from renewable raw material wood sourced from controlled and certified forests, TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament is manufactured using resource-efficient production processes that recycle process water and reuse the solvent at a recovery rate of more than 99%. Certified by The Vegan Society, TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament is known for its silky softness, color vibrancy, and strength.
ProWeave™ is a unique jacquard weaving technology that seamlessly integrates multi-functionality and design freedom weaving in an exclusive engineered upper or fabric. Effortlessly blending diverse yarn thicknesses, weights, and fabric references together, ProWeave™ is used to create intricately designed fabrics with distinctive gradient, rib, waffle, colour, stretch, transparency, and 3D effects.
In addition to TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament, Coats Footwear is also working closely with Lenzing to explore the adoption of TENCEL™ branded lyocell and modal fibers in footwear uppers and fabrics.
Discover more about the ProWeave™ and TENCEL™ collaboration at Lineapelle at Booth (H02 in Hall 9). Lineapelle takes place in Milan from 19th to 21st September 2023. Alternatively, email: communications.footwear@coats.com
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Coats Press Office
communications@coats.com
Notes to Editors
About Coats Group plc
Coats is a world leader in thread manufacturing and structural components for apparel and footwear, as well as an innovative pioneer in performance materials. These critical solutions are used to create a wide range of products, including ones that provide safety and protection for people, data, and the environment. Headquartered in the UK, Coats is a FTSE250 company and a FTSE4Good Index constituent. Revenues in 2022 were $1.6bn.
Trusted by the world's leading companies to deliver vital, innovative, and sustainable solutions, Coats provides value-adding products, including apparel, accessory and footwear threads, structural components for footwear and accessories, fabrics, yarns, and software applications. Customer partners include companies from the apparel, footwear, automotive, telecoms, personal protection, and outdoor goods industries.
With a proud heritage dating back more than 250 years and a spirit of evolution to constantly stay ahead of changing market needs, Coats has operations across some 50 countries with a workforce of over 17,000, serving its customers worldwide.
Coats connects talent, textiles, and technology to make a better and more sustainable world. Worldwide, there are three dedicated Coats Innovation Hubs, where experts collaborate with partners to create the materials and products of tomorrow. It participates in the UN Global Compact and is committed to Science Based sustainability targets for 2030 and beyond, with a goal of achieving net-zero by 2050. Coats is also committed to achieving its goals in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, workplace health & safety, employee & community wellbeing, and supplier social performance.
About ProWeave™
ProWeave™ is a unique, patented jacquard weaving technology, which makes it possible to seamlessly integrate functional and design weaving into a single sheet of materials. ProWeave™ totally transforms the way performance fabrics are made and how they look, feel and function. This innovative technology effortlessly blends diverse yarn thicknesses, weights and fabric references together – creating intricately designed fabrics with distinctive gradient, rib, waffle, colour, stretch, transparency and 3D effects. Delivering limitless functional and aesthetic options, ProWeave™ allows designers to unleash their creativity and let their imagination run wild in ways that can differentiate their products and unlock real competitive advantage. ProWeave™ allows brands to reimagine.
About TENCEL™
TENCEL™ is the flagship brand under The Lenzing Group that covers textile specialty fiber offerings derived from certified and controlled wood sources. Since 1992, the TENCEL™ brand has been driving the evolution of fiber solutions in the apparel and home textile segments through various industry-first innovations and environmentally responsible production processes. Compostable and biodegradable, TENCEL™ branded lyocell and modal fibers, as well as TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament are versatile and can be combined with a wide range of textile fibers to enhance the aesthetics and functionality of fabrics. They are also known for their smoothness, softness, moisture management, and color retention features. TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament is registered with The Vegan Society.
Both TENCEL™ Lyocell fiber and filament are produced in an environmentally sound, closed-loop process that recycles water and reuses more than 99% of organic solvent, whereas TENCEL™ Modal fiber is manufactured with a totally chlorine-free bleaching technology in an integrated production site with high environmental standards. Product brands under TENCEL™ include TENCEL™ Active, TENCEL™ Denim, TENCEL™ Home, TENCEL™ Intimate, TENCEL™ Luxe and TENCEL™ for Footwear. For more information about TENCEL™, please visit https://www.tencel.com