#Functional Fabrics

2026-02-19

lululemon introduces Unrestricted Power™ — A new sensation for strength training

lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU) has unveiled Unrestricted Power™, a new innovation platform engineered for heavy lifts and demanding gym sessions. The assortment, which launches in North America, is backed by thousands of hours of research and development, providing secure support without compromising comfort and mobility, enabling a distraction-free fit built to match every move.

"Through deep collaboration with our Ambassadors, we identified the specific demands they face during their most intense training sessions. Unrestricted Power delivers unparalleled support paired with the luxurious feel and freedom of movement our products are known for,” said Antonia Iamartino, Senior Director, Franchise Innovations, lululemon Research & Product Innovation.

The product features a new lululemon proprietary performance fabric called PowerLu™, which is crafted with the brand’s highest filament-count yarn to provide the ideal balance of engineered stretch, unrestricted motion, and stability. The unique dual-action design stretches effortlessly with every rep, providing targeted support for the body while reducing the sensation of riding up, slipping down, or pulling even in the deepest squat position.

Unrestricted Power was developed through rigorous wear-testing with lululemon’s Ambassador athletes, including strength and performance athlete Kayla Jeter and seven-time Formula 1™ World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who both contributed real-world feedback to the fit, construction and performance during their toughest workouts.

“As an athlete, training is integral to my daily routine, and I'm always searching for gear that offers a performance edge. Unrestricted Power complements my training perfectly and feels amazing during every set,” said Lewis Hamilton, seven-time Formula 1™ World Champion and lululemon Ambassador.

“Unrestricted Power is the tight I’ve been missing in my collection. When I’m in a deep squat and lift, I don’t have to adjust anything and can focus on my movement. These tights feel so buttery soft, but also durable, so you get the best of both worlds,” said Kayla Jeter, Strength and Performance Athlete, Run Coach, and lululemon Ambassador.

The brand’s newest train assortment will feature both women’s and men’s styles including:

Unrestricted Power High Rise Tight 25” (W): Secure support with engineered stretch, a no-inseam construction to eliminate pulling in deep squats, raised yoke for enhanced glute support, and a no-dig waistband that stays in place.

Unrestricted Power Short 7” Lined (M): Developed from the inside out with a liner designed to provide support while reducing the sensation of riding-up during squats, paired with a durable, four-way stretch outer shell.

Unrestricted Power Cropped Long Sleeve (W) & Long Sleeve (M): Lightweight, second-skin tops designed for uninhibited movement, featuring ultra-flexible, soft-brushed fabric that wicks sweat, dries quickly, and breathes easily.

With the release of Unrestricted Power, lululemon continues to expand their high-performance training assortment designed to fuel every workout, including Wunder Train™, Glow Up™ and Licence to Train™ collections and Chargefeel ™ shoes.

Lenzing unveils three-tier cellulosic fiber portfolio for next generation protective wear

The Lenzing Group, a leading supplier of regenerated cellulosic fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, today introduces Lenzing Solutions for Protective Wear. This integrated three-tier portfolio is anchored by LENZING™ FR fibers at the highest protection tier for inherent flame resistance and brings together complementary solutions including TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers, both EU Ecolabel-certified² and derived from certified or controlled wood sources³, within a unified protective wear architecture for the first time. The launch marks the most significant expansion of Lenzing’s protective wear business since the company pioneered inherently flame-resistant cellulosic fiber in 1977, and comes as the global personal protective equipment (PPE) market accelerates toward an estimated USD 130 billion by 2033⁴.

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.

“Action helps us change what we do!”

DAY 0 takes place deliberately before PERFORMANCE DAYS begins. It is conceived as a space for reflection, dialogue and active engagement — a moment to pause before the fair, rethink established systems and address sustainability not as a trend, but as a fundamental transformation challenge. Under the guiding metaphor “Turn the Tap Off”, DAY 0 focuses on root causes rather than symptoms, systemic change rather than isolated solutions, and collective responsibility rather than individual silos.

European Flax-Linen & Hemp step into advanced manufacturing: Enabling filament winding, 3D printing and high-performance composite processes

The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp announces a new wave of technological advancements demonstrating how flax-linen and hemp fibres are now being successfully integrated into advanced composite manufacturing processes. These developments mark a transition beyond traditional hand lay-up techniques, positioning natural fibres as credible, scalable solutions for high-performance industrial applications.

SETEX turns dyeing and finishing data into daily production control

At ITM 2026, SETEX will show how textile mills can use machine, recipe, quality and energy data for more reliable daily production decisions — not as another reporting layer, but as part of the running dyeing and finishing process. With OrgaTEX X3 MES, E390x/C390x controllers, CamCOUNT and FabricInspector Portable, SETEX connects planning, machine execution and fabric-related quality insight within existing mill structures.

Fifteen years of Autoneum – From spin off to global technology leader

What started as a strategic carve‑out has since become the success story of a global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management solutions for vehicles. Headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, Autoneum supplies leading automobile manufacturers worldwide with innovative, lightweight and increasingly sustainable solutions.