Eco-Friendly University Football Stands

COVID-19 has undoubtedly changed the landscape of college sports, and Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), one of the world's leading innovators in recycled and synthetic yarns, is showing its support for Stanford Athletics and the environment. As a proud sponsor of the Pac-12 Team Green, Unifi is teaming up with Stanford’s Tree House program. 

U TRUST Product Certification - SmartDye and More

Unifi, Inc. makers of REPREVE and one of the world’s leading innovators in recycled and synthetic yarns, is launching an enhanced supply chain certification and two new products at Outdoor Retailer’s Winter Market taking place Jan. 26-28, 2022, in Denver. These additional innovations—U TRUST® Product Certification, REPREVE SmartDye™ technology and Berry Compliant Knit Cord—enhance and support Unifi’s commitment to sustainability, transparency and customer service.

USA Fiber, Yarn, Sewing, Fight Against COVID-19

Yes, manufacturing in the United States contributes greatly to the fight against COVID-19.  Learn about fabric suppliers & sewing facilities in the USA that are stepping up.  And guess what these suppliers have in common.  They are obtaining yarn or fiber from Unifi.

Unifi, Inc. one of the world's leading innovators in recycled and synthetic yarns, recognizes the hard work that its customers are doing in supplying critical products during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unifi supplies yarns and fibers to more than 100 companies that are producing the masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment needed by our first responders, medical personnel and military. 

“We have customers actively engaged in the fight against COVID-19,” said Tom Caudle, President & Chief Operating Officer of Unifi. "We’re proud that our company is playing a part in that fight by providing the fiber they need.” 

REPREVE Our Ocean

Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), makers of REPREVE®, the leading recycled fiber, has launched a new sustainable product that enables customers and consumers to play a role in solving the ever-growing problem of ocean plastic.  To deal with the root cause of ocean plastic, REPREVE Our Ocean™ fiber is made from bottles collected within 50 kilometers of coastlines in countries or areas that lack formal waste or recycling systems. 

Unifi Asia Pacific Agreement with KIPAS

Unifi Asia Pacific (Hong Kong) Company, Limited (UAP) announced today that it has entered into a strategic commercial agreement with Kipas Mensucat Isletmeleri A.S. (KIPAS) for the supply of REPREVE® staple fibers into the Republic of Turkey.  UAP and KIPAS will leverage the supply infrastructure in Turkey to provide quality, service, speed-to-market and REPREVE-based staple fiber offerings to fabric mills as well as brand and retail partners.

Textile Recycling Center Expansion

Unifi, Inc. (NYSE:UFI) is proud to announce the expansion of its REPREVE® Recycling Center, which opened in Yadkinville, N.C., May 2010.  The expansion comes as Unifi dials up its commitment to Premium Value Added products, like REPREVE, which continue to be a strategic focus for the company. Recycling capacity at the REPREVE Recycling Center will increase from 42 million pounds to 72 million pounds, annually.  This increase is being driven by demand from new customer adoptions with companies such as Ford, The North Face, Nike, Volcom and Patagonia.

The expansion is expected to create 10 new jobs including two salary shift managers, four hourly operators and four hourly material handlers. The recent $5 million capital expenditure brings the total investment in the REPREVE Recycling Center, since its opening in 2010, to $15 million.

“Expanding our REPREVE manufacturing capabilities highlights our commitment to the REPREVE brand and provides increased flexibility to better serve our customers. As we bring the new machinery online, it’s clear that the increased versatility will help better position REPREVE to support the growth and demand for recycled products,” said Roger Berrier, president and chief operating officer of Unifi, Inc.

The largest and fastest growing segments for REPREVE continue to be apparel and automotive.  The expansion increases the availability of REPREVE product offerings such as lower deniers that support lighter-weight fashion trends, FR Flame Retardant yarns and WaterWise™ color technology.

“The expansion also reflects our commitment to remain the market leader in recycled products and sustainable solutions,” added Berrier.

Thank you for taking the time to read our textile industry news. We hope that you have found this information to be enlightening. 

Here is a bit more about the company.  The REPREVE® brand of recycled fibers is made from recycled materials, including pre-consumer manufacturing waste and post-consumer plastic bottles. REPREVE can be found in many products, ranging from apparel to office furnishings, and even socks. It is also used in industrial, automotive and medical applications. REPREVE has been adopted by some of the world’s leading brands and retailers, including Patagonia, The North Face, Haggar and Ford. REPREVE is a product offering of the U.S. based multi-national textile manufacturer, Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI).

Unifi, Inc. is a multi-national manufacturing company that produces and sells textured and other processed yarns designed to meet customer specifications, and premier value-added (“PVA”) yarns with enhanced performance characteristics.  Unifi maintains one of the textile industry’s most comprehensive polyester and nylon product offerings.  Unifi enhances demand for its products, and helps others in creating a more effective textile industry supply chain, through the development and introduction of branded yarns that provide unique performance, comfort and aesthetic advantages.  In addition to its flagship REPREVE^® products – a family of eco-friendly yarns made from recycled materials – key Unifi brands include:  SORBTEK^®, REFLEXX^®, AIO^® – all-in-one performance yarns, SATURA^®, AUGUSTA^®, A.M.Y.^®, MYNX^® UV and MICROVISTA^®.  Unifi's yarns are readily found in the products of major brands in the apparel, hosiery, automotive, home furnishings, industrial and other end-use markets.  For more information about Unifi, visit www.unifi.com; to learn more about REPREVE^®, visit www.REPREVE.com.

By the way, Apparel Search reported on the launch of Repreve back in 2008. We are happy to see that the brand has grown so well over the years.

If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

SORBTEK by Unifi

Breathable, moisture-wicking Sorbtek technology keeps you cool, dry, and comfortable.  This yarn helps keeps its cool.

Sorbtex yarn fiber allows for quicker drying with a permanent moisture management technology.  Acording to Unifi this fiber helps move moisture 4X faster than competitive technologies.  It also helps protect against soils like sweat and grass.

Unifi Manufacturing, Inc. is a leading producer of multi-filament polyester and nylon textured yarns and related raw materials.  They provide innovative, global textile solutions and unique branded yarns for customers at every level of the supply chain.

SORBTEK® provides permanent moisture management through their proprietary Catch, Move, Release technology.  SORBTEK® catches moisture, moves it away and releases it for quick evaporation.  The yarn is breathable, which leaves the wearer cool, dry and comfortable.  In addition to moisture management, SORBTEK® offers inherent soil release properties to protect against soil such as sweat and grass.

Lions Go Green

Repreve will turn the Aug. 8 Lions preseason scrimmage green with Matthew Stafford and other Lions quarterbacks wearing REPREVE green jerseys made from recycled plastic bottles.

Coming off of a successful first year partnership, the Detroit Lions announce a second consecutive year with Unifi, Inc.’s (NYSE:UFI) REPREVE® as the team’s official sustainability partner. REPREVE transforms recycled plastic bottles into fibers used to make fabric found in some of America’s favorite brands, including Ford, Haggar, Polartec, Quiksilver and Volcom. 

Kicking off the 2015 season, REPREVE will turn the Aug. 8, 2015 Lions preseason scrimmage green with Matthew Stafford and other Lions quarterbacks wearing REPREVE green jerseys made from recycled plastic bottles. REPREVE will be onsite to give attending fans the chance to win REPREVE-based prizes and tickets to the Oct. 25, 2015 REPREVE sponsored game. 

“We are very excited to have REPREVE back for another year of a great sustainable partnership,” said Detroit Lions Team President Tom Lewand. “Last year, Lions fans recycled nearly 60,000 plastic bottles at Ford Field. We look forward to the continuation of this aggressive recycling effort and showcasing REPREVE-based products created from recycled plastic bottles to our fans.” 

During the Oct. 25 game against the Minnesota Vikings, REPREVE will host a “Make the Smart Throw” challenge during halftime where one lucky fan will get the chance to win up to $50,000 for completing a series of difficult throws on the field. 

“This continued partnership with the Lions provides us a unique platform to educate fans on the importance of recycling and sustainability,” said Roger Berrier, president and chief operating officer of Unifi, Inc. “Compared to other countries, the United States recycles significantly fewer plastic materials, with less than 32 percent being recycled. Together with the Lions, we can show fans that through the simple act of recycling, they can play a role in transforming plastic bottles into great consumer products.” 

To further educate consumers on the cool products that can be made from recycled bottles, REPREVE will launch a national recycling tour later this year. The tour will make stops across the United States, including Ford Field, giving consumers a chance to recycle their plastic bottles in exchange for REPREVE-based products.

FYI: Unifi originally launched the Repreve website back in 2008.  It is nice to see how the initiative has grown over the years.  If you are interested, you can read the 2008 news article about the Repreve eco-focused website.

Esmetex Dress Shirts Using Activewear Properties

Great news for those of you that work in a hot & stuffy office.  Sure you may be sweating it out at one of your tense business meetings, but now you can at least where a dress shirt made with moisture wicking properties to help keep you cool.

Esmetex has news that will be benefit consumers and provide new alternatives to dress shirt manufacturers around the world.

Esmetex, a global leader in producing and sourcing fabric, is pleased to announce its first collection of casual and dress shirt fabrics that combines the cooling and moisture wicking properties of SORBTEK®, with the recycled benefits of REPREVE®.  These lightweight fabrics are ideal for bringing performance benefits to the casual and dress shirt market. 

                               

In an effort to continue offering the latest in fabric development to the industry, Esmetex is the first company to launch REPREVE and SORBTEK, both products of Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), in shirt weight fabric.  SORBTEK offers the desired properties found in athletic wear, such as moisture wicking, which allows the wearer to feel cooler, drier and more comfortable, along with the convenience of soil release technology.  Each shirt made with REPREVE will contain an average of two recycled plastic bottles. 

                               

"REPREVE with SORBTEK technology brings unparalleled benefits that are new to the casual and dress shirt market," said Victor Chao, chief marketing and product development officer for Esmetex.  "Consumers love the benefits of active wear, but traditionally haven't been able to get those same benefits in their everyday casual and dress shirts. Fabrics made with REPREVE and SORBTEK offer that cool, dry feeling we desire in athletic clothes; with the added benefit of keeping plastic bottles out of landfills."

                               

Esmetex is launching two yarn dyed fabric blends, one with 54 percent cotton/46 percent REPREVE, and the other 70 percent cotton/30 percent REPREVE.  The weight for both fabrics is 4.5 ounces per square yard, and the width is 57 inches. 

                               

"We're pleased that Esmetex turned to Unifi for eco-friendly performance technology in their latest development of light weight shirting fabrics," said Jay Hertwig, vice president of global branding for Unifi Inc. "Our work with Esmetex resulted in the combination of our SORBTEK and REPREVE technologies in shirting fabrics for a new group of consumers who are seeking performance outside the gym."

Wicking fabrics are not just for athletic apparel manufacturers now.

Dress shirt factories should be very happy about this news.

Learn more about REPREVE fabric here on the Fashion Blog.

Thank you for taking the time to read our textile industry blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

New Sustainable T-shirt Collection

Unifi teamed up with Disney, who is debuting a new sustainable t-shirt collection made with REPREVE recycled performance fiber. Plastic bottles collected from Disney parks before the COVID pandemic were turned into REPREVE and are used in the new retro Mickey & Co. collection.