#Recycling / Circular Economy

2020-11-12

Spinnova, Bergans and Halley Stevensons introduce apparel as next step of Collection of Tomorrow

One year after initial launch, Spinnova and Bergans are ready to take the next step and release the second product in The Collection of Tomorrow. The revolutionary Spinnova material has now evolved into the apparel category in collaboration with a new partner, Halley Stevensons.

More consumers can now experience the circular future of textiles

A year ago, the collaboration between the Finnish sustainable material innovation Spinnova, and the traditional Norwegian manufacturer of outdoor equipment, Bergans, was presented in Oslo. The Collection of Tomorrow’s goal is to develop fully circular products using only renewable resources. Product development has continued, and today the second product, a Scandinavian workers shirt, is ready for release.

The comfortable, natural fabric was created in collaboration with Halley Stevensons, British world leading manufacturer and innovator in waxed cotton and weatherproofed fabrics. This was the first apparel quality, dyed and finished fabric Spinnova has introduced.

– We have taken a giant leap forward in textile development, and especially fabric finishing. We are more than pleased with the shirt developed in collaboration with Bergans and Halley Stevensons, says Spinnova’s Chief Commercial Officer Lotta Kopra.

The three partners explain that their main focus has been further development of the 100% recyclable material, and stepping from the accessory category to apparel. The backpack introduced in November 2019 was an organic cotton blend, while the fabric of the shirt is a lyocell blend.

– The backpack was still a prototype and only available in a very small quantity, because the total amount of Bergans x Spinnova material that existed at that time was very limited. If you wanted to buy one, you actually had to apply for it. Now the fabric quantity is raised by 500%. There is no need for an application to buy the Scandinavian workers shirt, but you probably have to be quick to get hold of one, says Product Designer Johannes Flem in Bergans Future Labs, which is the name of Bergans’ innovation department.

-Sustainable innovation is the life blood of our business, and it is a process we are very comfortable with. The opportunity to work together with like mind businesses such as Spinnova and Bergans made perfect sense. We are learning the challenges of working with a new natural fibre which is both exciting and inspiring. Using our niche finishing methods, we aim to help develop a circular product that has both performance and comfortable wearer characteristics, says James Campbell, Managing Director of Halley Stevensons.

Spinnova’s production technology for cellulose-based textile materials has the potential to revolutionize the textile industry globally. What makes the patented process totally unique, is that it does not use any harmful chemicals, produce any waste or side streams and uses 99% less water than the cotton value chain. The Spinnova material is also disruptively circular, and products made of it can be upcycled in the process several times, even without dismantling the product. The Spinnova technology is scaled up to approach commercial production that the company will reach in the near future. ??Buy into it

The Collection of Tomorrow was started to explore the possibilities that lie in innovative technology and how it can take us closer to a fully circular consumption of textiles.

If you buy a Spinnova x Bergans shirt, Bergans and Spinnova emphasise that you understand what you are actually buying. Yes, you will own a really nice handmade shirt, and you will also own a small part of the total amount of Spinnova material that exists in the world. The value of the product is therefore divided in two; one part is the value of the work done to shape the material into a garment, and the other part is the value of the circulating material itself. Right now, the material is shaped like a shirt but in the future, it can be upcycled and become a completely different product in the future.

Last year the interest for the backpack was huge. People from all over the world was eager to own one of the world’s most sustainable and future oriented products. Most of the first Collection of Tomorrow owners liked the backpacks so much that they did not want to give their products back for upcycling.

http://www.bergansfuturelabs.com

Performance Apparels: Functional textiles drive innovation at Techtextil 2026

From high-performance fibres and advanced membranes to smart textiles and sustainable material concepts – functional apparel is becoming one of the most dynamic innovation fields in technical textiles. At Techtextil 2026, exhibitors demonstrate how new materials, finishing technologies and digital functions are shaping the next generation of protective, workwear and outdoor systems.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI reshape textile processing

Investment decisions in textile processing have become increasingly complex. Rising energy prices, labour shortages and geopolitical uncertainties are forcing companies to prioritise technologies that deliver measurable improvements in efficiency and process stability. This applies not only to apparel production, but also to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. Modernisation projects are therefore being evaluated more selectively – but the pressure to upgrade production systems continues to grow. Texprocess 2026 reflects this tension between cautious investment behaviour and increasing technological demand.

Textile Chemicals & Dyes: Innovation in Textile Chemistry moves into focus at Techtextil 2026

From PFAS-free finishes and water-saving dyeing technologies to advanced coatings and recycling-compatible formulations, innovation in textile chemistry is accelerating across the industry. Reflecting this development, Techtextil 2026 introduces Textile Chemicals & Dyes as a dedicated product segment, highlighting the growing role of chemical solutions in shaping the next generation of technical textiles.

textile.4U publishes special edition “Top 100 Textile Recycling Companies 2025”

With a comprehensive 176-page special edition, textile.4U is dedicating its latest issue entirely to one of the most dynamic and influential topics in today’s textile industry: textile recycling. The new issue, published exclusively in high-quality print, presents the Top 100 textile recycling companies researched and selected by TexData – organizations that already play a key role in the transition to circular textiles or are expected to have a significant impact in the near future.

Reju secures €135 Million in Dutch NIKI Funding for industrial-scale textile-to-textile regeneration hub at Chemelot Industrial Park, the Netherlands

Reju™, the progressive textile-to-textile regeneration company, has been awarded €135 million in funding under the Netherlands’ Nationale Investeringsregeling Klimaatprojecten Industrie (NIKI) program. The funding will support Reju’s planned industrial-scale Regeneration Hub at Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard-Geleen, covering both the investment phase and ongoing operations, and represents a critical milestone on the path toward final investment decision.

eeden is now a Canopy partner

eeden is committed to enable circular textiles by developing recycling technologies that turn textile waste into valuable raw materials. But the commitment goes further – eeden advocates for supply chain solutions that uphold responsible environmental and ethical standards, protecting global ecosystems including Ancient and Endangered Forests.

Carbios confirms Longlaville plant in France following financing progress

Carbios has reaffirmed its plans to build its Longlaville plant in France within a project financing framework, targeting the start of production in the first half of 2028. The company also reports a solid cash position of around €60 million at the end of 2025 and has appointed Benoît Grenot as Deputy Chief Executive Officer to support the execution of its strategic projects.

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.