Hyosung is a comprehensive fibre manufacturer which produces the majority of leading world-class products such as ‘creora, aerocool and askin’. The company produces and supplies nylon, polyester yarn, textiles, and dyed, processed fabric products, including the spandex brand ‘creora’ chosen by globally renowned brands in market segments such as lingerie, swimming suits and stockings. Simon Whitmarsh-Knight, Global Marketing Director, Textiles discusses the company’s products, certifications, and contributions to sustainability.

1.    What steps has Hyosung taken to expand its sustainable offerings in textiles, particularly with regard to its creora® Bio-Based elastane?

To create a more powerful, traceable sustainable story, Hyosung has invested in expanding its creora® Bio-Based elastane offering to include the yarn to be made with a higher content of renewable resources. We were the first company to commercially introduce USDA and SGS certified creora® Bio-Based elastane made with 30 per cent renewable resources in 2021, and are excited to follow up on its success with a second phase of third-party certified fibres made with a higher content of renewable resources to meet consumer demand for traceable bio-based products.

2.    Can you elaborate on Hyosung’s collaboration with Dimension-Polyant and how it has led to the creation of a unique product using Hyosung’s regen Ocean nylon?

Our collaboration with Dimension-Polyant and its durable X-Pac® waterproof laminates made for backpacks is a perfect example of solving a specific sustainable textile solution. Dimension-Polyant was looking for a sustainable fibre to help add value to its best-selling X-Pac® laminate to make it more sustainable. The company is the world’s largest sailcloth producer with a passion for ocean protection. It was very interested in our third party-certified 100 per cent post-consumer recycled regen Ocean nylon made from discarded fishing nets for its X-Pac® VX21 laminate for backpacks to help create a more meaningful, sustainable story for the brand.

3.    How is Hyosung planning to showcase its innovations in sustainable textiles at upcoming trade shows?

We are fortunate to have a dedicated Fashion Design Centre (FDC) – a team of individuals that survey progressive global brands and retailers, researching consumer insights. From this information, the team forms bi-annual textile trends (Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter) that comprise forward-thinking trend reports, story board fabrics and concept garments incorporating Hyosung specialty materials created with our mill partners to support brands with their material innovation and product development. These developments are presented on our booth at each trade show and are much appreciated by the brands we meet with as it helps them conceptualise how a product will look and feel in final garment form.

4.    What are the different variants of creora 3D Max elastane that Hyosung is offering to meet denim brand needs, and how do they contribute to sustainability?

Hyosung’s creora® 3D Max elastane delivers high-performance stretch and recovery with a very small portion of elastane content, allowing the garment to be recycled as it follows Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Jeans Redesign guidelines for recyclable denim. Among its guidelines is a requirement that denim be made with a minimum of 98 per cent cellulosic material leaving 2 per cent of the content for stretch or synthetic material – normally a challenge for Jeans Redesign participants as consumers are accustomed to high stretch and comfort.

Anticipating denim brand needs, Hyosung has expanded its creora® 3D Max elastane offering to include more sustainable and functional versions of the fibre that match the same performance and recyclability benefits as conventional creora® 3D Max elastane. They include new USDA and SGS-certified creora® Bio-Based 3D Max elastane, RCS-certified, 100 per cent recycled creora® regen 3D Max elastane made from reclaimed production waste, and creora® Easy 3D Max elastane that provides soft power with excellent stretch and recovery.

5.    Could you discuss the different sustainable variants of creora® elastane that Hyosung has developed specifically for the denim sector, and how do they contribute to environmental responsibility?

As a textile solution provider, we offer many options to suit denim brands’ needs. We were the first company to introduce 100 per cent RCS-certified recycled elastane, which allows denim brands to make jeans that are made from 100 per cent recycled material.

As mentioned earlier, we also offer our new USDA and SGS certified creora® Bio-Based elastane, which is a great blend with natural and cellulosic materials.

Lastly, our new offering of sustainable 3D Max yarn for denim includes new USDA and SGS-certified creora® Bio-Based 3D Max elastane, RCS-certified and 100 per cent recycled creora® regen 3D Max elastane made from reclaimed production waste, and creora®.

6.   How does Hyosung collaborate with its global mill partners to develop fabrics that meet consumer needs, and can you provide examples of such collaborations?

When it comes to developing sustainable technologies and programmes, partnerships can provide many benefits for the companies and brands involved. To support improved speed to market for new yarns, Hyosung works closely with its with global denim mill partners in markets such as Turkiye, Spain, India, Vietnam, Pakistan, and China to develop fabrics that meet consumer needs.

As an example, a request from denim brands looking to develop a product made with renewable resources prompted Turkiye-based Kipas Textiles to collaborate with Hyosung and its creora® Bio-Based elastane for a project, which has successfully progressed.

7.    How does Hyosung see the journey towards sustainability in the textile industry, and what commitments has it made to be a pioneer in advancing sustainable textile solutions?

While the industry has yet to decide on a single, co-ordinated approach to sustainability (e.g., recycled, bio-based, biodegradable or other approaches), Hyosung supports our customers by offering a broad range of integrated sustainable solutions across our elastane, nylon and polyester platforms. We continue to investigate and invest in future technologies such as textile to textile recycling as our customers respond to evolving consumer needs and formal regulations. As a company, we also take our ESG commitments seriously and are continually working to improve our process, minimise our impact and help to ‘give back’ to the planet.

8.   Why do you believe collaborations between mills, brands, and fibre suppliers like Hyosung are essential in accelerating sustainable solutions in textiles?

It is critically important that all components of the entire value chain work together to accelerate sustainable textile solutions. There are times when a brand will present a need for a sustainable solution that encourages mills and fibre suppliers to develop new fibres and textiles that meet this need. Then there are also times when sustainable innovation at the fibre supplier level, such as adding multi-functional properties to our 100 per cent recycled yarns, help brands meet consumer need for environmentally friendly apparel that provides comfort, performance, and versatility.

9.   Can you discuss the significance of third-party certifications, like USDA and SGS, in validating the sustainability claims of textile products?

Appropriate and robust third-party certifications provide our mill, brand and retail customers with peace of mind that we stand by the claims we make as they have been independently verified. This is essential for all parties and ultimately for consumers who are demanding more traceability about where and how things have been produced.

10.   How do you see the role of consumer demand in shaping innovations and offerings in sustainable textiles?

Often times, it is consumer demand that drives innovation – but it is also our job to keep ahead of the curve and identify new opportunities to deliver sustainable value. Today’s consumers are more concerned with the environment than ever before. As a result, the textile industry is making great strides to advance sustainable fibre, fabric and manufacturing, in addition to improved methods of circularity to reduce carbon footprint, water usage, ocean pollution and landfill waste.