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Photo: NASA.gov tons/year to meet expected industry demands of bio-based spandex. (BDO is the technical name for butanediol, a chemical traditionally made from fossil fuels and a major ingredient in the manufacture of spandex.) "rough this vertical integration from raw material to yarn for regen bio spandex, our goal is to increase production efficiency, provide faster response to our customer needs and integrate value chains to help minimize carbon footprint," said Sora Yoo, CMA, Hyosung Textiles. Strides in net zero solutions are being made in footwear. OrthoLite subsidiary Cirql has introduced a new midsole foam called Cirql rTPU30 made with 30-percent post-consumer recycled TPU material and manufactured through a chemical-free, supercritical foaming process. Footwear developer Marc Scepi, VP design at GREATS, states, "Cirql's rTPU30 ushers in a pivotal shi in sneaker sustainability, marrying environmental responsibility with industry demands. is midsole, a fusion of 70 percent virgin and 30 percent post- consumer TPU, sets a new standard by reducing reliance on new materials and ensuring full recyclability. Its integration of GRS-certified recycled content like clear cell phone cases disrupts traditional production cycles, paving the way for cleaner, greener manufacturing." Scepi added, "With its dual applicability as a midsole and co-molded outsole, rTPU30 offers a complete recyclable unit, demonstrating that high-end sustainability is now within reach for everyday footwear." The Future Is Innovation Advancing wellness benefits for lifestyle product and pushing the limits of safety for new domains reflects how the industry is always looking beyond the here and now to what's next, whether that's "healthy" hosiery yarns or flame-resistant clothing for astronauts operating space vehicles during a lunar landing mission. Milliken & Company is working to design and manufacture flame-resistant (FR) baselayer fabric for NASA's upcoming Artemis missions. Due to elevated oxygen levels that increase the risk of fire in space, Milliken, in collaboration with global professional services firm Jacobs Technology through the JSC Engineering, Technology & Science (JETS) II contract with NASA, is developing a next-to-skin textile for clothing worn by astronauts while operating space vehicles during the lunar landing mission. Milliken and Jacobs are finalizing prototypes and manufacturing the new textile for final delivery to NASA. This phase is expected to be complete by Fall 2024. e launch date for Artemis III is slated no earlier than 2026. Ramesh Kesh, SVP, Milliken's Textile Business, stated, "It's the perfect marriage of the FR capabilities of our Westex brand and the knit fabrics expertise from our Polartec brand." Making wellness as easily attainable as putting on a pair of socks is an early-stage concept being explored at hosiery brand Vim & Vigr. "People don't get up and move around as much working from home, especially if they live in a 600-square foot apartment! More sitting means less movement which results in tired achy legs," explained Michelle Huie, company founder, with a background in healthcare. Infusing healthy benefits into yarns used in Vim & Vigr's stylish compression socks, can help customers live everyday wellness, according to Huie, who continues to seek ways to evolve and elevate the therapeutic performance of graduated compression hosiery. "People are more aware, and savvy about health in general, and particularly products that offer wellness features and self-care," said Huie. However, creating a delivery system in legwear is daunting. "Natural fibers are not consistent in density and you need consistency with delivery." But, Huie added, "constraints spark creativity." n The industry is always looking beyond the here and now to what's next, whether that's "healthy" hosiery yarns or flame- resistant clothing for astronauts operating space vehicles. sportstylemag.com • sportstyle July/August 2024 • 23

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