Coats Footwear announced an exciting collaboration with the Lenzing Group – a leading global producer of cellulose-based specialty fibers for the textiles industry. Combining Coats Footwear’s innovative ProWeave™ technology with Lenzing’s innovative TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament, the two companies have created dynamic re-imagined footwear uppers and fabrics, which combine sustainability and performance characteristics.
In an industry first, the two companies have partnered in weaving TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament using ProWeave™ – a unique patented jacquard weaving technology which can be used with a range of different fibers and yarns. The reimagined footwear uppers and fabrics will be used in the prototype of Circle Sportswear’s “SuperNatural Runner” – the first synthetic-free performance footwear to use TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament blended with wool using ProWeave™ technology and other bio-based materials.
This innovative method and combination of technologies enables the production of stylish, sustainable, super comfortable uppers and fabrics, which have an adaptive fit that functions like a second skin. This ground-breaking collaboration will be of interest to all footwear brands that want to improve supply chain traceability, bio-sustainability, and lower the carbon footprint associated with producing high-quality uppers and fabrics for a variety of applications.
Paul Jackson, ProWeave™ Business Unit Leader at Coats Footwear, said: “This is an incredibly exciting alliance for Coats Footwear, the Lenzing Group, and the wider industry. From day one, it was clear this was a natural partnership. Both companies have combined objectives when it comes to sustainability. Independently we are committed to helping companies lower the environmental impact of textile and footwear production processes by providing best-in-class materials and manufacturing technologies. Together, we’re revolutionizing the way uppers and materials can be made – giving footwear brands and manufacturers the chance to build high-level sustainable products in the most innovative way possible, with zero constraints on creativity.”
Nicole Schram, Global Business Development Manager, Apparel (Footwear) at Lenzing Group, said: “The footwear segment has always been innovative and offers endless possibilities for the development of technical applications of the TENCEL™ brand. We are truly excited to partner with Coats Footwear to create exciting footwear uppers and fabrics that have botanic origins at heart. By combining the unique features of TENCEL™ Lyocell staple fibers and filament and ProWeave™ technology, we believe the sky is the limit for the innovation of next-generation, planet-friendly footwear. We will continue to work closely with Coats Footwear and other industry partners to innovate materials for a dynamic footwear industry environment.”
Lenzing is the first of many raw material suppliers to collaborate with Coats on ProWeave™. Derived from renewable raw material wood sourced from controlled and certified forests, TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament is manufactured using resource-efficient production processes that recycle process water and reuse the solvent at a recovery rate of more than 99%. Certified by The Vegan Society, TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament is known for its silky softness, color vibrancy, and strength.
ProWeave™ is a unique jacquard weaving technology that seamlessly integrates multi-functionality and design freedom weaving in an exclusive engineered upper or fabric. Effortlessly blending diverse yarn thicknesses, weights, and fabric references together, ProWeave™ is used to create intricately designed fabrics with distinctive gradient, rib, waffle, colour, stretch, transparency, and 3D effects.
In addition to TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament, Coats Footwear is also working closely with Lenzing to explore the adoption of TENCEL™ branded lyocell and modal fibers in footwear uppers and fabrics.