Ralph Lauren unveils first polo with NFW technology
14/01/2022
NFW, which Ralph Lauren has invested in, has developed a process for welding short fibres into longer fibres to create high-performance cotton yarns that can incorporate cotton and other plant-based waste fibres, allowing the reuse of post-consumer cotton waste to bring performance characteristics into the fibre.
The technology creates enhanced cotton fibres with high-performance attributes, like quick-drying and moisture management, while still retaining the comfort and breathability of cotton. Ralph Lauren says the resulting material performs similarly to plastic-based synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon.
The RLX Clarus Polo Shirt (pictured) will debut at the 2022 Australian Open Tennis Tournament, taking place in Melbourne from January 9 to 30.
David Lauren, chief branding and innovation officer at Ralph Lauren, said: “With the introduction of the RLX Clarus Polo Shirt, we are using our most iconic product as a canvas to launch an industry-changing and scalable textile technology – a high-performance apparel product that is created with natural fibres for the first time.”
Ralph Lauren invested in NFW to expand its use of recycled cotton, as it aims to “sustainably source” 100% of its key materials by 2025 and integrate zero-waste principles across its business. The partnership will enable Ralph Lauren to reduce its reliance on non-biodegradable synthetics, such as polyester and nylon.
Luke Haverhals, CEO at NFW, said: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Ralph Lauren. We are paving the way for complete circularity with resulting materials that perform similarly to plastic-based synthetic fabrics.
“We are pioneering an entirely new system that simultaneously enables all-natural performance fabrics while reducing waste and eliminating the need for synthetic plastics.”
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