In a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at transforming the footwear industry, Coats Footwear, and the Lenzing Group have come together to create synthetic-free engineered uppers and fabrics. This innovative venture brings together Coats Footwear’s ProWeave™ technology and Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament, resulting in a remarkable fusion of sustainability and performance. The fruits of this partnership will be unveiled at the prestigious Lineapelle event.
A New Era of Sustainable Footwear
Coats Footwear, a renowned leader in thread manufacturing and structural components for apparel and footwear, has joined forces with the Lenzing Group, a global specialist in cellulose-based specialty fibers for textiles. Their collaboration revolves around weaving TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament using Coats Footwear’s patented jacquard weaving technology, ProWeave™, which can accommodate various fibers and yarns.
The outcome of this collaboration is truly groundbreaking. It is set to be featured in the prototype of Circle Sportswear’s “SuperNatural Runner,” marking the first synthetic-free performance footwear to incorporate TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament blended with wool using ProWeave™ technology and other bio-based materials.
This novel approach enables the production of sustainable, exceptionally comfortable uppers and fabrics with an adaptive fit, mimicking a second skin. Importantly, this partnership is poised to benefit all footwear brands seeking to enhance supply chain traceability, embrace bio-sustainability, and reduce the carbon footprint associated with producing high-quality uppers and fabrics for various applications.
“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.”
Paul Jackson, ProWeave™ Business Unit Leader, Coats Footwear
“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.”
Nicole Schram, Global Business Development Manager, Apparel (Footwear), Lenzing Group
Leading the Way in Sustainable Materials
Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament, derived from renewable wood sources, boasts eco-friendly production processes that recycle process water and reuse solvents at a rate exceeding 99%. Certified by The Vegan Society, TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament is known for its silky softness, color vibrancy, and strength.
On the other hand, ProWeave™ is a unique jacquard weaving technology that seamlessly integrates functionality and design freedom, allowing for the creation of intricately designed fabrics with distinctive properties such as gradient, rib, waffle, color, stretch, transparency, and 3D effects.
Coats Footwear and Lenzing are committed to further advancing the use of TENCEL™ fibers in the footwear industry, offering endless possibilities for sustainable innovation.
This partnership between Coats Footwear and Lenzing Group marks a significant step forward in the pursuit of sustainability within the footwear industry. It showcases how collaboration and innovation can drive positive change, offering a glimpse into the future of eco-conscious footwear design and production.
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