#Recycling / Circular Economy

2023-08-17

Reima and Infinited Fiber bring Finnish circular innovation to kidswear

Reima, the leading kids-only activewear brand from Finland, and Infinited Fiber Company, a Finnish technology and fashion powerhouse, have joint forces to explore new possibilities for future kidswear. As a result of the cooperation, Reima launches the world’s first kids’ hoodie that’s made with the innovative Infinna(TM) fibers. Infinna, regenerated 100% from textile waste, gives a new life to worn-out textiles, thus helping the industry shift toward circularity.

“Reima always puts the child in focus. Our company’s reasons to exist are kids and their future, which means we must always strive to act sustainably,” states Reima CEO Elina Björklund. “Longevity is a vital element in the sustainability of clothing. This hoodie not only lengthens the life of cotton textiles, but we’ve also designed it to be used for a long time: the product literally grows together with the child, and as a classic style, it can be passed on to the next user. Once it’s used up, it can get a new life thanks to Infinited Fiber’s innovation. Finally, circularity is reality, and we all at Reima are super proud to be part of it.”

“We are so excited to partner with Reima, iconic Finnish children’s wear brand. Uudesti hoodie is the first commercial kidswear product made with InfinnaTM, and we are so happy with Reima’s fantastic design! This collaboration is an affirmation that Infinna™ meets the durability and safety requirements essential for kidswear materials,” says Kirsi Roine, Key Account Director at Infinited Fiber Company. “Alike kids, we at Infinited Fiber are curious by nature. It has enabled us to innovate a technology that regenerates textile waste into brand new fibers and lessens the need to grow new materials with heavier footprint. Together with brands like Reima, we can push textile circularity forward for the benefit of kids – who are the future”, she continues.

How was the Reima Infinna™ hoodie born?

Reima and Infinited Fiber started a dialogue about the exciting potential of Infinna™ fiber and possible cooperation in 2022. After Reima’s Finnish designers got to have their say, the story of the hoodie began. It’s an example of European cooperation for a new, greener textile industry:

• Infinited Fiber Company in Finland processes post-consumer textile waste such as used t-shirts, jeans, and sheets into completely new regenerated fiber

• Inovafil in Portugal spins the Infinna™ fibers into thin yarn, blending them with organic cotton farmed in Tanzania

• Eusebio in Italy knits the sweatshirt fabric and brushes it to be nice and soft on the inside

• Tuotenauha in Finland produces the care labels and other trims for the hoodie

• Ommellinen in Jyväskylä, Finland, cuts and sews the hoodies

• Reima stores in Finland (excluding outlets) sell the hoodies to kids – Reima also gives a part of them out to tester families in Sweden and Germany!

The name of the hoodie is Uudesti. That’s Finnish for again or anew.

Infinited Fiber Company appoints new chair and board members to drive next growth phase

Infinited Fiber Company has announced key changes to its Board of Directors following its Annual General Meeting on June 30, 2025. The new appointments are designed to support the company’s strategic focus on scaling its proprietary Infinna™ technology, expanding partnerships across the textile value chain, and preparing for industrial-level investment.

Infinited Fiber Company enters the next strategic phase under new leadership

Infinited Fiber Company announces that Petri Alava, co-founder and CEO since the company’s founding in 2016, will step down from his role on May 31, 2025. Chief Operating Officer Sahil Kaushik will serve as acting CEO from June 1, 2025. Petri Alava will continue supporting the company as Senior Advisor through the end of November. The Board of Directors has initiated the search for a permanent successor.

Countdown to Textiles Recycling Expo 2026: Brussels prepares for Europe’s textile recycling gathering

With only two weeks remaining until the start of the second edition of the Textiles Recycling Expo 2026, preparations are entering the final phase. The exhibition and conference, dedicated exclusively to textile recycling and circularity, will take place on 24–25 June 2026 at Brussels Expo and is expected to attract stakeholders from across the textile recycling value chain.

Indorama Ventures enables brands to scale circular textiles through proven, traceable supply chains

Indorama Ventures, a global leader in recycled polyester staple fibers and filament yarns, will exhibit at Textiles Recycling Expo in Brussels on June 24–25. At the event, the company will show how brands and textile manufacturers can build traceable, circular textile supply chains by working with proven partners who deliver recycled materials on an industrial scale.

RECOVER™ launches Recover™ Yarns to accelerate recycled cotton uptake

Recover™, a leading materials science company and one of the world’s largest producers of recycled cotton fiber, today announces the launch of Recover™ Yarns, a curated portfolio of ready-to-use yarn solutions designed to accelerate the adoption of recycled cotton across the apparel supply chain.

Uster’s new Recycling Opening Index guides spinners to the perfect blend

Uster AFIS 6 now offers the key data for better decisions when blending recycled fibers. Process control is decisive in determining the quality and economic outcome. The new R Recycling Module of AFIS 6 introduces the Recycling Opening Index (ROI), so spinners can optimize their circularity credentials. It was officially launched at ITM 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, an innovator of materials solutions, is supplying its high-performance unidirectional (UD) materials to world-leading armor manufacturer NP Aerospace, enabling the production of armor systems designed specifically to fit the female body. With 2,000 new armor systems, including 4,000 plates, made in the United Kingdom (UK) and delivered in June 2026, this collaboration addresses a long-standing lack of high-quality personal protection specially built for female defense and security personnel.

Textile Exchange publishes comprehensive polyester LCA study

Textile Exchange has released a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study on polyester, providing detailed data on the environmental impacts of both virgin and recycled polyester production. The study aims to strengthen understanding across the fashion, textile and apparel industries and support more informed decision-making regarding polyester sourcing and production.