Suedwolle Group Develops Recycled Yarn for Activewear

Germany’s Suedwolle Group has collaborated with Chinese seamless garment specialist UTO and The Lycra Company to develop a collection of performance activewear incorporating polyester fibre made entirely from recycled textile waste.

Presented at Performance Days in Munich from October 13-14, the collection features a new yarn that combines ultrafine Merino wool, Coolmax EcoMade recycled polyester fibre, and a fine polyamide filament. The Coolmax EcoMade fibre is produced through a textile-to-textile recycling process using 100% textile waste, providing moisture management and quick-drying properties.

This innovative yarn is designed as a common material platform for various performance applications, ensuring next-to-skin comfort alongside the functionality required for active sportswear. UTO has utilized seamless knitting technology to create garments for base layers, yoga, tennis, and golf, allowing for enhanced fit and movement.

Each garment type addresses specific needs: base layers focus on moisture management, yoga apparel emphasizes flexibility, tennis clothing accommodates intense movement, and golf wear ensures comfort in varying weather conditions. The collaboration highlights the adaptability of a single yarn platform made from recycled fibres through advanced yarn engineering and seamless construction.

The companies have not disclosed the exact proportions of the yarn components or the overall recycled content of the finished garments.