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 is based on a new yarn combining ultrafine Merino wool, Coolmax EcoMade recycled polyester fibre, and a fine polyamide filament. The Coolmax EcoMade fibre, produced through a textile-to-textile recycling process using 100% textile waste, provides moisture management and quick-drying properties.

This new yarn is designed as a common material platform for various performance applications, combining next-to-skin comfort with the functionality required for active sportswear. UTO has utilized seamless knitting technology to create garments for base layers, yoga, tennis, and golf, allowing for fit and movement to be integrated directly into the knitted structures.

Different applications place varying demands on the material. Base layers focus on moisture management, while yoga garments emphasize flexibility. Tennis apparel accommodates intensive movement, and golf clothing ensures comfort in changing weather conditions. The collaboration showcases how a single yarn platform can be adapted for diverse end uses through innovative yarn engineering and seamless construction.

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