Textile Insight

T he future of polyester was the theme of Performance Days in Munich. Over the duration of the two-day show, attendees and experts discussed and debated which direction synthetics would take in the future. What is clear is that polyester, not just in the performance sports and outdoor sectors, but also in the fashion domain, continues to be a staple fiber in delivering lightweight performance. e show's buzzwords focused on circularity, tile-to-textile, efficiency and waste. We have come a long way since the emergence of recycled polyester, not just through the much-improved hand feel, but also through new innovations and resource-saving attributes including water, through solution-dyed polyester, as seen at Taiwanese mills, from e.dye. In textile-to-textile rec ycling, the origin must be 100% polyester to begin with. Multiple blends are stripped, either chemically or manually. is is where we are starting to see a trend in mechanical stretch and mono fabrics - allowing for a more effortless cradle-to-cradle experience. Recycled post-consumer plastic bottles have successfully created recycled polyester, with a much better hand than before, on par with virgin synthetics. As for new commercial biodegradable polyester, circular and warp knitter Unitex has incorporated Ciclo. e technology is based on an additive blended with a base polymer in molten form during the melt extrusion, creating countless biodegradable spots in the plastic's matrix. Unlike conventional synthetics, fiber fragments from Ciclo won't persist forever in the environment, reducing microscopic fiber pollution. Newcomer Celys is offering compostable polyester. Certified in EU and NA markets, Peak Performance Performance Days Munich Proved to be Much More than a Synthetic Sports Show. By Louisa Smith IN THE MARKET/EURO REPORT 6 • Textile Insight ~ Spring 2024 textileinsight.com Attendees at Performance Days Munich

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