#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.

RE&UP’s Next-Gen Cotton fibers power Zalando private label t-shirt collection crafted from innovative recycled textiles

RE&UP Recycling Technologies’ Next-Gen Cotton powers a new collection from Zalando’s private labels, marking a step forward in bringing textile-to-textile recycled fibers into commercial fashion production. Launching on Zalando in August, the collection comprises five t-shirts across YOURTURN by Zalando and Even&Odd by Zalando, made from a circular-knit fabric blending 80% organic cotton with 20% RE&UP Next-Gen Cotton — textile-to-textile recycled fiber produced from textile waste. This is the first time RE&UP's recycled fibers feature in Zalando's private label assortment.

Driving circularity with Uster Recycled Fiber Matrix

The textile industry’s commitment to circularity continues to accelerate, and mechanical recycling is viewed as a targeted approach to cutting textile waste and its environmental impact. At the forefront of this drive, Uster has developed the Recycled Fiber Matrix, a two-dimensional assessment of mechanically recycled fibers to guide optimum processing and end-uses.

Novel flame-retardant and recyclable fiber-reinforced composite

Airplanes and passenger trains must meet strict safety requirements, including fire safety standards. This calls for materials that are flame-retardant, lightweight, robust, and scalable. Empa researchers, in collaboration with their industry partner Elantas, have now succeeded for the first time in making such a material – a composite – fully recyclable.

Archroma wins ICIS Innovation Award for sulfur dye breakthrough

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals, has won a coveted 2026 ICIS Innovation Award for Best Product Innovation from a Large Company for FiberColors®. These high-performance sulfur dyes are synthesized from pre-consumer wool waste, reducing industry reliance on petroleum-based inputs while contributing to the circular economy by upcycling unwanted wool that farmers would otherwise pay to dispose of.

YDC 2026 names winners in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest 2026 (YDC) has named its winners at the conclusion of CENTRESTAGE in Hong Kong. Ten emerging local designers presented collections inspired by personal experiences and emotions, translating their ideas through distinctive tailoring, materials and craftsmanship.