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#Yarn & Fiber

Inside information: Spinnova and Ecco have signed a Letter of Intent regarding plans for their joint venture company Respin

Spinnova Plc and ECCO Investment Corporation have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) regarding the future plans for their 50/50 owned joint venture company Respin Oy. The development work of Respin’s leather waste-based fibre has shown good quality results during the current year. ECCO has successfully made a prototype shoe, which includes fibre from the Respin pilot line produced using Spinnova technology. A product launch by ECCO, using the fibre produced by Respin, is expected to take place before the end of Q1/2025.

Spinnova and ECCO see significant opportunities in scaling up Respin’s production volumes to a commercial level. According to the LOI, both parties are committed to scaling up operations and will work together in order to achieve a final decision, at the latest, by the end of Q1/2025 on how to proceed with the production scaling and commercialisation of Respin.

In line with Spinnova’s strategy and the Respin joint venture agreement, Spinnova will be the technology provider for any production scale-up. Furthermore, as stated in Spinnova’s strategy, Spinnova does not itself expect to raise further external financing to fund the increase in Respin’s production capacity.

“We are happy to move forward with our joint venture Respin. I am proud of the progress we have made with Respin’s fibre quality, which now meets commercial requirements and demonstrates the versatility of the Spinnova technology, which can use multiple different feedstocks, including protein-based leather waste. We now have a clear plan with ECCO for the next steps to reach the decision for scaling the leather waste-based fibre production,” comments Tuomas Oijala, Spinnova’s CEO.

“We are optimistic about the fibre quality reached at Respin and see a clear potential using the fibre in our future products. ECCO is committed together with Spinnova to continuing to work towards scaling the production of the leather waste-based fibre, and we are looking forward to the international scaling of the fibre,” comments Thomas Gøgsig, ECCO’s Chief Commercial Officer.



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#Man-Made Fibers

Spinnova’s partner NZ TEX GROUP supports scaling of SPINNOVA® fibre

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#Raw Materials

ECCO introduces first shoe featuring innovative protein-based fibre

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#Man-Made Fibers

Swiss industrial engineering and manufacturing company Sulzer joins Spinnova’s ecosystem

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#Recycling / Circular Economy

Textile‑to‑textile recycling leader Circulose joins Spinnova’s ecosystem to accelerate technology scale‑up

Textile‑to‑textile recycling leader Circulose joins Spinnova’s ecosystem (consortium) to help advance the scale‑up of Spinnova’s technology. Spinnova has actively sought partners to accelerate commercial scale‑up, and Circulose, as a key player in textile recycling, strengthens the ecosystem by providing a raw material that is in high demand across the industry.

More News on Yarn & Fiber

#Yarns

Yarns and technologies in symbiosis: Biella Yarn presents Fall/Winter 2027/2028 collection “New Romance_”

Biella Yarn, the flat knitting brand of Suedwolle Group, launches new Fall/Winter 2027/2028 collection, inspired by the symbiosis of yarns and technologies – elements that blend, adapt and evolve together, forming something new without losing their origin. The name “Neu Romance_” reflects the emotional and neurological dimension of the yarns: a connection that engages the senses, experienced through material, touch and interaction. The collection is further brought to life through design collaborations, featuring selected yarns used in different design approaches.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

The textile industry in transition

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#Research & Development

GenuTrace client advisory: Is your cotton supply chain UFLPA ready?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released updated operational guidance (CBP Publication No. 5560-0526) expanding its forced labor enforcement framework. The guidance supersedes the original 2022 UFLPA Operational Guidance and now covers all forced labor enforcement authorities — UFLPA, CAATSA, and WROs/Findings — in a single unified document. For cotton importers, the enforcement posture has not softened. It has become more structured, more documented, and more demanding. Learn more about UFLPA.

#Spinning

"We will become a recycling powerhouse"

The textile industry is now in its fourth consecutive year of crisis, while automation, artificial intelligence and recycling are reshaping the rules of the game. In this interview, Rieter CEO Thomas Oetterli discusses the first signs of a market recovery, reflects on his first three years at the helm of the company, explains the integration of Barmag, outlines Rieter’s vision of the fully automated spinning mill and highlights the strategic importance of recycling. In doing so, he explains why the new Rieter Group aims to play a leading role in transforming the textile value chain into a circular economy.

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#Research & Development

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

#Natural Fibers

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

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#Knitting & Hosiery

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

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#Natural Fibers

Cashmere specialist joins AbTF Board of Trustees

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