Textile Insight

launched with several brand customers in China for use with their consumer audience with the expectation that brands in other parts of the world will want to use these as well. The website also highlights Sorona's celebra- tion of its Common Thread Fabric Certification program that launched last year. The program assures the fabrics have the unique molecular footprint of partially plant-based Sorona polymer as well as meet key fabric performance attributes. Consumer Relationship Polartec has been connecting with consumers for 40 years. "Polartec is a rare ingredient brand with authentic consumer relationships that in some cases, go back decades. Connecting and engaging with them has always been a priority, and will play an even bigger role going forward," stated Steve Layton, Polartec president. Polartec is engaging more actively with consumers, particularly with 2021 being the 40th anniversary of PolarFleece and the 30th anniversary of the Polartec brand. One of those initiatives is the Family Album photo contest, a consumer promotion to crowd- source a visual history of those who've worn Polartec-made garments on their outdoor adventures. In North America, Polartec part- nered with JamBase, where entrants can win garments from partner brands or grand prizes that include VIP ticket packages to such music festivals as High Sierra Music Festival, LOCKN', Northwest String Summit, and Summer Camp. Consumer Collection An eco-friendly apparel collection will be showcased this Spring at a hip flagship outdoor store in downtown Seoul, Korea. What makes this so interesting is that the players involved are Hyosung Performance Textiles and The North Face and clothing made from recycled bottles sourced locally from the JeJu Island of Korea. (Jeju Island is known as the Hawaii of South Korea. It is also a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site drawing millions to the island every year.) The North Face (Korea) developed and launched its new S/S '21 regen Jeju line of outerwear and sportswear in its flagship store in Seoul last month complete with mannequins wearing apparel from the collection displayed in the store front windows. Additionally, TNF's Korea team built a regen jeju instore bou- tique where several of its major influencers are displayed on video monitors to entertain customers –Shin Min-a, actress and Ro-woon, K-pop singer and actor who are original TNF Korea ambassadors, Kim Yo-han, K-pop star and temporary ambassador for the regen jeju collection featured in Singles Fashion Magazine. Consumer Experience "At the end of the day, it begins with the consumer experience. Consumers are becom- ing more educated about the problem and want to be part of the solution," said Unifi's CEO Eddie Ingle. Unifi has been committed to create circular economy solutions through textile takeback pro- grams. Partners include Oak Hall and Designtex, and according to Ingle, "the results helped create a system for capturing and recycling textile waste back into first-quality goods that can be broken down and recycled again." Consumer involvement has been ongoing at Unifi. As a sustainability partner of PAC 12 Green Team, an initiative in the Pac-12 Collegiate sports conference, in recent years Unifi has collected bottles on the University of Washington campus that were used to make Unifi's branded recycled polyester, REPREVE, which Oak Hall used to produce graduation caps and gowns. Each gown contained 23 recycled plastic bottles and could be recycled back into new gowns. Additionally, Unifi recycled plastic waste collected from the Zero Waste games at Colorado University, Stanford, and UCLA. This was transformed into REPREVE fiber which was used in products sold through their bookstores, including Chico Bags and Nike apparel. Ingle believes that as a result of collaborating across the supply chain and investing in new technologies like textile and garment sorting, advanced mechanical recycling, depolymeriza- tion, etc., "we will be ready for the time when more bottles will go back into bottles." l 20 • Textile Insight ~ March/April 2021 textileinsight.com SUPPLY CHAIN • SUSTAINABILITY Textile testing provider Hohenstein has been authorized by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to verify compliance for the Green Button, a German government certification for sustainable textiles. Now, in addition to certification for MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX, a qualifier for the Green Button, Hohenstein certifies for the 46 Green Button criteria. The traceable product label proves that textile and leather products have been tested for harmful substances and manufactured in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible manner. The Green Button originates in Germany but aims to be a global seal. In line with the globalized textile value chain, all companies that manufacture and/or distribute textile goods can apply for the Green Button. For more information, visit Hohenstein.US/Green-Button Consumer-forward imagery on Sorona's refreshed website. Hyosung x TNF (Korea) regen JeJu garments feature at retail. "At the end of the day, it begins with the consumer experience. Consumers are becoming more educated about the problem and want to be part of the solution." Eddie Ingle, Unifi "Today's linear relationship with the consumer will not give way to a deeper user experience necessary for the circular economy to take shape." Brian La Plante, YKK

• Cover