Brands unite to put polyester replacement to the test
A new project with fashion groups Bestseller, Inditex and Reformation could help fibre start-up Kintra Fibers to scale up production of its plant-based polyester replacement.
Kintra has claimed that its product matches the performance and price of traditional synthetics, but uses renewable inputs and a compostable chemistry.
In December, New York-based Kintra secured capital investment of $8 million. Just over a year ago, it was named as one of the textile innovators that start-up platform Fashion For Good would incorporate into its programmes. It is Fashion For Good that is orchestrating this new project.
Bestseller, Inditex and Reformation will work in a consortium to carry out trials of Kintra’s fibre in their product lines; this is part of a wider objective of finding more sustainable materials and processes.
Tests on yarn developed from Kintra’s material have already shown comparable levels of strength and durability to polyester’s, plus higher levels of softness. The yarns also had inherent stretch recovery properties of between 10% and 15%.
Image: Kintra Fibers.
