#Recycling / Circular Economy

2021-05-06

Spinnova introduces the Everyplace Chair 2021 by Yrjö Kukkapuro

Material innovation company Spinnova and one of the most globally renown Finnish interior architects, Yrjö Kukkapuro, have today introduced a circular demo chair they have created together. The Everyday Chair 2021 is a prominent entry to the interior textiles market that holds a lot of potential for Spinnova.

"The Everyplace Chair is based on the principles of minimalism and circularity." Yrjö Kukkapuro

Spinnova and Yrjö Kukkapuro introduced the chair prototype today in the EcoDesign exhibition as part of the Lahti Green Design Week events. Finnish city of Lahti is the EU Green Capital of 2021.

The Everyplace Chair 2021 is a completely novel chair design that is upholstered with SPINNOVA® fabric. It is created to answer the needs of modern remote working, on the terms of the comfort and aesthetics of a lounge chair.- The Everyday Chair is based on the principles of minimalism and circularity. I didn’t waste any virgin natural resources on it, but instead used components left over from my previous projects. Minimalism and practicality can also be seen on the product’s weight that is only eight kilograms and makes the chair easy to move around, says Kukkapuro.

Made of a SPINNOVA® blend fabric, the upholstery is true Kukkapuro style in its simplicity. The smooth high-density twill gives the chair a sculpture-like look. The durability, sustainable wood raw material and the non-toxic, low-emission Spinnova technology in the fibre process create high eco value for the product.

- It’s an honor to contribute our material to a product created by an internationally valued designer like Mr Kukkapuro. This contemporary, i.e. practical and extremely sustainable, chair is a great way of introducing the SPINNOVA®fibre to the world of interior textiles, says Spinnova’s CEO and co-founder Janne Poranen.

SPINNOVA® fibre is a sustainable, natural fibre made without dissolving or harmful chemicals. Its fresh water and CO2 footprint are significantly smaller than those of cotton, for example. Spinnova’s materials are also 100% recyclable into new fibre, with the same sustainable process, without the need to add virgin fibres.

Yrjö Kukkapuro, 88, is a Finnish interior architect and designer. In addition to lighting, Kukkapuro has mostly designed furniture, the most famous of which are the Karuselli chair and the Ateljee sofas. Kukkapuro has been e.g. a professor and the rector of the Helsinki University of Arts and Design in 1974–1980. Artifacts designed by Kukkapuro can be seen in permanent collections of e.g. New York Museum of Modern Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In Guangzhou, China, there is a museum dedicated to Kukkapuro designs.

The chair is on display at the EcoDesign exhibition on 5-27 May, 2021, in the ProPuu Gallery, Satamakatu 2, Lahti, Mon-Fri 10-17 and 10-14 Sat.

More on Yrjö Kukkapuro & Online shop: https://www.yrjokukkapuro.com/

More on Lahti Design Week: http://www.ldw.fi

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

New skills for a circular textile economy

Based on the results of a comprehensive analysis, the Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity is developing three practical training modules covering recycling technologies, eco-design for the circular economy and sustainable manufacturing. The content of the first module, Recycling Technologies, has now been developed and validated together with industry representatives. The module provides participants with knowledge of regulatory requirements, material sorting and the preparation of textile waste for recycling.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.