#Denim

2023-10-12

ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei on stage @Kingpins: Advanced sustainable stretch solutions for a contemporary denimwear

ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei knows that value creation is the foundation of contemporary business, and today this can happen only meeting market demand for top-notch responsible innovations.

That’s why ROICA™ strategy – for all its broad applications- is based on two key elements:

A strong focus on R&D dedicated to deliver innovative solutions with lower impact on people and environment.

A consolidation of partnerships along the whole supply chain through concrete collaborations with companies sharing the ROICA™ values.

Let’s introduce ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei advanced sustainable stretch solutions:

ROICA™ V550: the sustainable degradable yarn rewarded with a Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Material Health Certificate. It degrades under ISO 14855-1 tested by OWS decomposing into CO2 and water. ROICA™ V550 enables Asahi Kasei to deliver a contemporary, performing, certified, degradable and safe end of life innovation for denimwear.

1.) ROICA™ EF (Chlorine resistance version): @Kingpins ROICA™ is also adding a new innovation to its advanced sustainable portfolio, fully dedicated to denim and swimwear application. In fact this yarn is made from 35% of in house pre-consumer waste and is able to offer better durability under chlorine conditions.

2.) And now let’s introduce ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei leading partners for denimwear featuring iconic ROICA™V550 such as Artistic Milliners, Candiani Denim and Prosperity:

Artistic Milliners & ROICA™ V550 in its Earthcore Line: this line represents a platform where Artistic Milliners is focusing on using biodegradable/compostable materials where advanced degradable ROICA™ V550 represents their premium stretch ingredient able to align with the principle of circularity and aiming for zero waste. Earthcore fabrics are Ellen Mac Arthur Jeans Redesign-compliant and feature the company’s proprietary Crystal Clear 2.0 dyeing tech enabling salt-free Sulphur overdying.

Candiani Denim & ROICA™ V550 in the ReSolve collection: blended with GOTS certified organic cotton/regenagri® certified regenerative cotton, it represents a real innovation and uniqueness, a step further toward a greener denim production. ReSolve can combine innovative fibre blends together with revolutionary dyeing and finishing technologies. And cherry on the cake, at Kingpins' ROICA™ booth, in order to walk the talk, Candiani will display a selection of Closed jeans made with ReSolve denim fabrics. Closed is a contemporary fashion brand, rooted in denim since 1978. The jeans with ReSolve denim are part of A BETTER BLUE, Closed’s sustainable denim line that combines sustainable materials, eco-friendly dyeing methods and gentle washing techniques to create high-quality jeans that are sustainable from start to finish. This way, at least 50% of water, 65% of chemicals and 25% of electricity are saved in comparison to conventional denim production. Every pair of A BETTER BLUE jeans by Closed is made in Europe.

Closed outifts made with ReSolve<br />
collection by Candiani Denim using<br />
ROICA™ V550 © 2023 Candiani Denim — Closed outifts made with ReSolve collection by Candiani Denim using ROICA™ V550 © 2023 Candiani Denim

Prosperity Textile & ROICA™ V550 in its LEAVE NO TRACE line, a special collection dedicated to denim that on top of design and quality is taking care of our fundamental responsibility: the end of life of denim. For SS25 Prosperity Textile is introducing THE ONE as part of LEAVE NO TRACE. This unique fabric is made of recycled cotton and ROICA™ V550, designed to benefit universal design, combining authentic looks with comfort and circular features, offering a complete value proposition and taking the extra mile on the journey towards a better denim industry.

ROICA: Where distinction and intention shape the future of apparel industry at Milano Unica

At Milano Unica, held at Fiera Milano (Rho) in Milan from January 20–22, nine select European partners unveil collections shaped by ROICA™—the premium stretch fiber by Asahi Kasei. ROICA™ does not stand alone on the show floor, but its presence is quietly interlaced into each creation, chosen by those who seek distinction and depth in modern textiles. Through these dedicated collaborations, ROICA™ continues to sup-port the apparel industry with advanced stretch, comfort, and environmental care, offering something unique for brands who value true craftsmanship and thoughtful innovation.

January 2026 marks Asahi Kasei’s restart of Bemberg production in restored sections of the Nobeoka facility

Beginning January 2026, production at the Asahi Kasei Nobeoka facility – Bemberg’s only production site – will gradually resume, marking a new chapter following the partial shutdown caused by the April 2022 incident. This progress is the result of significant investments and continuous work toreinforce safety measures, restore full operational capacity, and establish long- term stability.

SENSIL® by NILIT and ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei collaborate to reduce apparel’s footprint

Rapidly transforming apparel into a lower-carbon industry requires collaboration, innovation, and creativity. In this spirit, SENSIL® by NILIT and ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei have collaborated to introduce the concept of a new fabric with less environmental impact, combining SENSIL® ByNature, a NILIT Biomass Balanced Nylon 6.6 yarn, and Biomass Balanced ROICA™ premium stretch fiber, both designed for high-performance apparel.

ROICA™ showcases responsible stretch innovation at ISPO Munich 2025

Asahi Kasei’s premium stretch fiber brand, ROICA™, continues to take a responsible approach to innovation, advanced functionality, and trusted quality for the evolving sports apparel industry. At ISPO Munich 2025, ROICA™ will once again be featured as a valued element of the Asahi Kasei booth, presenting the latest developments in responsible stretch fiber technology.

Archroma expands denim possibilities at Kingpins Amsterdam

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals, will present a portfolio of six sustainable denim innovations at Kingpins Amsterdam from April 15-16, 2026. Under the theme “Creating Possibilities in Denim”, the showcase reflects Archroma’s commitment to giving brands and mills solutions that are as commercially compelling as they are environmentally responsible.

Jeanologia launches Billy

The new AI extracts precise laser designs from a garment image in minutes, transforming how vintage denim is recreated for production. If Jeanologia’s laser changed the way jeans were made at the end of the last century, its AI now takes the next step: moving from reproducing wear to designing it. / archive photo © 2026 Jeanologia

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

PERFORMANCE DAYS proves its relevance as the industry’s key meeting point

Held on March 18–19, 2026, PERFORMANCE DAYS once again confirmed its position as a leading international platform for functional textiles. A total of 3.366 trade visitors and around 560 exhibitors gathered in Munich, with the event already kicking off successfully on DAY 0, which received highly positive feedback for its interactive format. Despite challenging conditions caused by the public transport strike in Munich, the event saw strong attendance and a consistently high level of activity across both exhibition days.