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#Man-Made Fibers

arena introduces renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber in its latest swimwear collection

Italian swimwear specialist arena has unveiled a new collection that brings sustainability and performance even closer together. Launched on December 4, the line features swimsuits made from recycled nylon and renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber — the first time the bio-based spandex has been used commercially in swimwear.


The collection includes three women’s silhouettes in warm, natural tones, produced using Vita Life fabric from long-standing LYCRA® partner Carvico. The combination of recycled and renewable materials reflects arena’s commitment to reducing environmental impact without compromising on technical excellence.

“Sustainability can happen only if all the systems work in the same direction,” said Cristina Cantoni, global PR and communication manager at arena. “This collaboration shows what’s possible when everyone along the value chain moves forward together.”

Carvico’s sales manager, Simona Osio, added that high sustainability standards must go hand in hand with high performance. “With Vita Life, we were able to match both — and that’s why arena chose the fabric.”

The launch also marks another milestone in arena’s broader sustainability journey. Alongside renewable and recycled materials, the products arrive in 100% FSC-certified paper polybags, reducing reliance on fossil-based packaging and supporting ocean conservation initiatives through the supplier’s “Sea the Difference” program.

The three swimsuit styles — one-shoulder, O-back, and swim pro-back — offer options for different preferences while keeping a natural, minimalist design aesthetic. “This collection is for women who put well-being at the center of their lives,” Cantoni said.

The LYCRA Company will bring renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber to commercial scale later this year. Made with QIRA® and containing 70% bio-based content from U.S.-grown field corn, the fiber offers the same stretch and recovery properties as classic LYCRA® fiber with a significantly reduced environmental footprint.



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#Man-Made Fibers

The LYCRA Company expands its co-creation vision through an immersive Lifestyle District at Intertextile Shanghai.

The LYCRA Company, a global leader in fiber and technology solutions for the apparel industry, is reimagining the trade show experience at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Autumn Edition, which opened today in China. Building on the success of last year's ALL IN concept, the company has expanded its co-creation vision into a 356-square-meter Lifestyle District featuring partners Jingzili New Material, JYT Textile, Lianxingfa Knitting, and Trend Textile. The district is part of a larger 895-square-meter pavilion showcasing a total of 19 co-exhibitors. Together, they demonstrate how innovations in fiber, fabric, and garments can be combined to create compelling solutions for both work and play.

#INDEX 2026

The LYCRA Company launches LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber for nonwovens, advancing comfort and fit in disposable hygiene at INDEX™ 26

The LYCRA Company, a leader in innovative and sustainable fibers for apparel and personal care, today announced the official global launch of LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber for nonwovens at INDEX™ 26, in Geneva, Switzerland, May 19–22. This breakthrough stretch fiber, already trusted by leading global apparel brands, now ushers in a new era of comfort, fit, and performance for baby diapers, disposable hygiene products, adult incontinence, and feminine care.

#Man-Made Fibers

The LYCRA Company strengthens sustainability leadership, appoints Alistair Williamson as VP of Product Sustainability

The LYCRA Company has appointed longtime executive Alistair Williamson as vice president of product sustainability, reaffirming its commitment to developing sustainable solutions for apparel and personal care products. In this role, he will guide the company’s next chapter of sustainability strategy and oversee all initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact across products, operations, and innovation platforms.

#Man-Made Fibers

The LYCRA Company announces grand opening of its largest global Spandex production facility in China

The LYCRA Company, a global leader in innovative and sustainable fiber solutions for the apparel and personal care industries, today announced the official opening of its largest spandex production facility—the LYCRA® fiber (Yinchuan) Plant in Ningxia Province, China. This milestone underscores the company’s continued investment in the Chinese market and highlights its strong commitment to developing localized supply and distribution networks while advancing smart manufacturing upgrades.

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#Spinning

Barmag’s automated maintenance processes for quality, safety, and efficiency in spinning plants

Maintenance and service processes in chemical fiber spinning plants have a significant impact on product quality, equipment availability, and workplace safety. With three new retrofittable solutions, Barmag helps Producers make manual work processes more efficient, safer, and more reproducible.

#Man-Made Fibers

Selenis acquires Polisan Hellas assets and expands specialty copolyester production to more than 200,000 tonnes by 2028

Continuous polymerisation joins Selenis’ existing lines in Portugal, Italy, Tunisia and the United States. Customers get the same grades from more than one site, supply from within their region and the cost base of continuous production for high-volume grades. Priority markets: shrink sleeves, film and sheet, healthcare, 3D printing filaments and textile to textile recycling.

#Man-Made Fibers

Textile Exchange: reporting companies advance on preferred materials as global fiber production reaches new high

Companies participating in Textile Exchange’s Materials Benchmark increased their use of materials from preferred production systems in 2025, while global fiber production continued to grow and reached a record 139 million tonnes. The contrasting trends highlight both the potential for change at company level and the scale of the challenge facing the wider textile industry.

#Man-Made Fibers

Dutch court orders Shanghai Port Star to stop sales of HMPE link chains in EU

The District Court of The Hague has ordered Chinese supplier Shanghai Port Star to stop selling and distributing certain synthetic fiber link chains in the European Union after finding that the products infringe EU design rights held by Avient Corporation. The ruling concerns link chains made from high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) fibers for marine and industrial applications.

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#Knitting & Hosiery

KARL MAYER invites the Global Textile Industry to celebrate its 90th anniversary at its German Headquarters in 2027

KARL MAYER is turning its anniversary year 2027 into a milestone for the textile sector. To mark its 90th anniversary, the industry leader is inviting customers, partners, and experts from around the world to a unique event series in September aimed at pushing boundaries, unlocking new opportunities, and jointly setting the course for a new era in textiles – just as KARL MAYER has done throughout its history. The company’s headquarters in Obertshausen, near Frankfurt, is the place to be.

#Associations

ITMF names three winners of the Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026

Three projects from the UK, Korea and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026. The projects address textile-to-textile recycling, chemical recycling for automotive textiles and a regenerative approach combining silk production with ecological restoration.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

nova-Institute launches groundbreaking Advanced Recycling Database for strategic market insight

The new Advanced Recycling Database reduces complexity by providing industry stakeholders with up-to-date expert-reviewed intelligence on companies, technologies, plants, capacities, locations, products and partnerships across the global advanced recycling landscape.

#Yarns

Durak Maxibalance thread supports users’ movement and balance comfort

Durak Tekstil, a leading brand in its industry, has developed Durak Maxibalance, a new product engineered with bio-ceramic and FAR IR technology. Ushering in a new era for sportswear, activewear, and medical textiles, this technology offers features designed to support balance and movement comfort by reflecting the energy absorbed from the body back into it.

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