#Yarn & Fiber

2021-07-29

The impact of wool in the cycling world

Many of the world’s sporting codes have picked up on the benefits of pure wool clothing. Many cyclists have switched to the innovative, knitted riding gear produced by companies such as Studio Eva x Carola and Mons Royale, and are happy to spread the news of its benefits. The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) looks at the new, all-wool riding clothing currently growing in popularity among both professional and amateur riders.

Breathable Outfits for An Increasingly Popular Activity

Quality cycling gear is not just for professional racers and mountain bikers. Cycling is an increasingly popular leisure activity as well. Around the world, the number of people taking up the pastime is on the increase. As COVID-19 lockdowns took hold, and gyms remained shut for months, people either dusted off their old bikes or bought new ones, looking for an accessible solution to help them keep fit and healthy.

This surge in popularity is not only about fitness – in a world of congested traffic and expensive, environmentally harmful transport, cycling has become a convenient, cheap and green commuting solution. So sharp was the sudden increase in demand for bicycles over the past year that suppliers struggled to keep up.

However, among the many major differences between driving, or using public transport, and cycling, is that the latter requires a fair amount of physical exertion. Riders need comfortable, breathable clothing that can keep them cool. The likes of Eva X Carola and Mons Royale have stepped up to fill this gap.

Merino Wool Innovations for Cyclists

Mons Royale is a New Zealand-based wool garment producer that has been operational since 2009. It specialises in the production of high quality garments for those who live an active lifestyle. Their best-known innovation is Merino Air-Con, a patented activewear fabric designed to keep wearers cool and comfortable through any variations in humidity, temperature and altitude. The extremely lightweight fabric is constructed from 83% Merino wool. The Merino fibres are spun around a nylon core, and this combination helps to provide comfort, odour control and breathability. Elastane is added into the mix to provide ease of movement and shape retention.

Studio Eva X Carola is already well known for their unique designs. The company recently unveiled a seamless women’s wool cycling kit constructed from Südwolle Merino wool. The ultra-lightweight kit is made from yarns knitted on a Santoni knitting machine, chosen for superior softness, breathability and moisture management. The collection consists of a bib, jersey, arm-warmers and socks. A kit for men is now also available.

“By smartly selecting the right Merino wool yarns and creating beautiful textures and loft structures, the garments not only offer a gentle-on-the-skin comfort, but also provide durability and protection during your ride,” explains Eva de Laat of Studio Eva x Carola.

If you are planning to take up cycling, either as a way of doing your daily commute, to keep fit or to compete in sporting events, you can rest assured that there is clothing available to make the experience a more enjoyable one. Be sure to choose genuine Merino wool cycling kits.

Learn More About Wool and Benefits on the IWTO Website

Wool continues to prove that it is a diverse material that can be used for multiple purposes. This innovative collaboration paves the way to a new breed of natural, sustainable performance apparel. For more information on wool as a high-performance fibre, click here:

https://iwto.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IWTO_Wool-Performance.pdf

“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.

Ministry of Industry Delegation visits NatureWorks’ second global manufacturing site at Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex

NatureWorks Asia Pacific Limited welcomed a high-level delegation led by Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, to its manufacturing site at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC). The visit follows the successful inauguration of the site on April 29, 2026, and highlights the role of public-private collaboration in advancing Thailand’s sustainable industrial development and bioeconomy ambitions.

Sorona® and WGSN announce top bio-based material trends of 2027

Sorona®, the partially bio-based polymer from Covation Biomaterials (CovationBio™), and global trend forecasting authority WGSN today release the material trends shaping the textile industry through 2027 and beyond following a comprehensive examination of bio-based functional fiber applications and global data.

Indorama Ventures advances circularity tthrough PETValue Philippines' “Zero Waste to Landfill Partnership” with Republic Cement

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, is advancing the circular economy through a new Zero Waste to Landfill initiative at its recycling site PETValue Philippines, further demonstrating how collaboration across industries can maximize resource efficiency and reduce waste.

Networking Day 2026: Industry stakeholders unite around textile recycling

In 2026, the Industry Research Group (IRG) Polymer Recycling once again brought together some of the key stakeholders in textile recycling for its annual Networking Day. This year, the event took place at EREMA’s premises in Ansfelden, Austria. It brought together key players from across the textile recycling value chain for a day of structured exchange and in-depth discussions.

The new RDJ 7/3 defines the design footprint of modern athletic shoes

Stylish, functional, and efficient to produce – spacer fabrics are the all-arounders among textile materials. These versatile fabrics are particularly in demand in the sports and casual footwear sector, as they combine comfort, breathability, and design freedom. At the same time, this industry is trend-driven, dynamic, and price-sensitive like few others. Innovations are therefore a decisive factor for success. With the RDJ 7/3, KARL MAYER offers a solution specifically tailored to these requirements. The particular strength of the new double raschel machine: its exceptional flexibility, thanks to its three jacquard bars.