#Recycling / Circular Economy

2021-04-08

PrimaLoft introduces fully recycled ethical down alternative, PrimaLoft® Insulation ThermoPlume®

PrimaLoft, Inc., a global leader in advanced material technology, has launched a new version of his best-selling down alternative, PrimaLoft® Insulation ThermoPlume®. This synthetic fill is now made entirely out of post-consumer recycled materials. Four years after the introduction of the first blowable synthetic insulation, the technology has built a strong reputation in the outdoor apparel & fashion markets, with more than 70 brands using the loose-fill microfiber insulation in their product lines for the Fall/Winter ‘21/’22 season.

It looks like down, feels like down, and delivers comparable thermal performance, but PrimaLoft® Insulation ThermoPlume® is 100% synthetic – and now 100% recycled.

“When we first developed PrimaLoft® Insulation ThermoPlume® back in 2017, we answered the growing demand from designers, brands, and customers for an ethical alternative to animal product – a purchase criterion that is becoming ever more important. At the same time, we continued to deliver the excellent performance people expect from PrimaLoft® products”, says Mike Joyce, president and CEO at PrimaLoft. “To achieve the same level of comfort and warmth in a completely recycled version is a logical next step in our Relentlessly Responsible™ approach to elevates both sustainability and performance through innovation.”

PrimaLoft® Insulation ThermoPlume® is manufactured with small, silky fiber plumes that collectively form a loose-fill insulation. It mimics the fluidity, hand-feel and aesthetics of down, but also has the proven water-repellent properties of PrimaLoft® fibers to provide a soft, compressible thermal output, even in wet conditions.

“Its construction allows it to be blown through traditional down-blowing manufacturing equipment, simplifying the manufacturing process for brands and enabling product designers the freedom to create versatile garments that combine the look and feel of down with the water-resistant performance of a synthetic”, states Vanessa Mason, SVP of Engineering at PrimaLoft. “Moreover, it helps to simplify the supply chain, combat the volatility of down prices and provide peace of mind when it comes to the ethical sourcing of materials.”

More than 70 brands to use PrimaLoft® Insulation ThermoPlume®?This synthetic down alternative has been adopted by outdoor and fashion brands all over the globe, since its 2017 introduction. Even before the new 100% recycled iteration, around 40 brands were using PrimaLoft® Insulation ThermoPlume® in their collection. For the upcoming FW21/22 season, and with the introduction of PrimaLoft® Insulation ThermoPlume 100% PCR, the number will raise drastically to over 70, with more than half already switching to the fully recycled version. Brands like 4F, CMP, Ecoalf, Ellesse, Fred Perry, Joe Fresh, Lands’ End, La Sportiva, Millet, Montane, Nike, Peuterey, Picture Organic Clothing, Polo Ralph Lauren, Rossignol, Salomon, Timberland and Woolrich will sell garments with the synthetic down alternative online and in stores, in the upcoming seasons.

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.

Heimtextil Trends 27/28: ‘Home-Maxxing’ between performance and respite

Sleep better, recover faster, live more efficiently: the desire for optimisation has long since reached our homes. Under the title ‘Home-Maxxing – The Performance of Everyday Living’, Heimtextil Trends 27/28 show how our relationship with efficiency-driven thinking and technology is influencing the design of spaces and textiles. The more sleep, wellness, routines, materials and spaces are optimised, the stronger the desire for a home that does not demand even more of us.

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.

Mimaki advances DTF productivity and stability with new TxF330-800

Mimaki Europe, a leading manufacturer of industrial inkjet printers and cutting plotters, announces the TxF330-800, its new direct-to-film (DTF) printer. Designed to support stable, high-quality garment decoration in demanding print environments, the system combines automated maintenance, expanded white ink capacity and advanced production capabilities to streamline workflow.

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.

Indorama Ventures advances circular fashion through RECO Collective 2026

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global sustainable chemical company, is taking RECO Collective into its 12th year under the theme “The Next Original,” reinforcing its mission to promote recycling and upcycling knowledge while encouraging SMEs in the fashion industry to embrace recycled materials. The program focuses particularly on recycled polyester (rPET) yarns and fabrics made from post-consumer PET bottles, using these materials to create value-added products that combine distinctive design with consumer needs and market opportunities.

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition 2026 concludes as Asia’s premier hub for trend-led innovation

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition 2026 wrapped up on 20 August having brought the global home textiles community together in Shanghai. Over 900 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions attracted nearly 36,000 visitors from 113 represented markets to the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). This edition further strengthened the fair’s status as a strategic gateway to the wider Asian buyer market, with strongly represented regions including Greater China, Southeast Asia, and increasingly Central Asia.

ICAC’s 84th Plenary Meeting to be held March 24-26, 2027, in Alexandria, Egypt

Registration will soon be open for the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s 84th Plenary Meeting, to be held March 24-26, 2027, in Alexandria, Egypt. The local Organizing Committee in Egypt has chosen “Building a Resilient and Competitive Future for Cotton and Textiles” as the theme for the event, which will be held at the Rixos Montaza Alexandria Resort.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues 2026 concludes with 50 international participants immersed in Brazilian cotton production

The Cotton Brazil Dialogues concludes its 2026 edition after a series of technical visits to farms, cotton gins and reference centers, as well as workshops focused on Brazilian cotton production. A total of 50 participants from 14 countries took part in the field trips. The initiative is led by the Brazilian Association of Cotton Growers (Abrapa) and the National Association of Cotton Exporters (Anea), with support from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).