Gap Inc.’s Athleta & Ambercycle Join Forces to Advance Textile Recycling

Gap has partnered with Ambercycle to incorporate cycora®, a regenerated polyester, into its Athleta brand products. This collaboration is part of a broader movement within the fashion industry towards sustainability, as consumer demand for eco-friendly options grows. Cycora® is created from end-of-life textiles, offering a sustainable alternative to virgin polyester and helping to prevent valuable materials from ending up in landfills or incinerated.

“As the demand for circular materials rises, we are delighted to collaborate with like-minded brands in the performance sector, such as Athleta. Together, we are not only creating high-quality garments but also driving forward the circular fashion movement,” said Shay Sethi, CEO of Ambercycle.

Athleta, a certified B Corp acquired by Gap Inc. in 2008, has been at the forefront of sustainable practices, utilizing materials such as recycled polyester and nylon, TENCEL® Modal, TENCEL® Lyocell, and organic cotton. The use of cycora® in Athleta’s products aligns with the brand’s ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and reducing its carbon footprint.

“Gap Inc. is committed to evolving our supply chain and product development process in ways that help us deliver innovative products for our customers while reducing our environmental footprint,” added Dan Fibiger, Head of Global Sustainability at Gap Inc.

The fashion industry increasingly focuses on collaborations promoting sustainability, with brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Timberland working together on capsule collections featuring better materials and low-waste designs.

Similarly, Athleta’s initiative with Ambercycle reflects a growing trend where companies seek to minimize their environmental impact and actively contribute to a circular economy by repurposing textile waste.

Innovative materials are revolutionizing sustainable fashion, with designers exploring alternatives such as Desserto Cactus Leather, AppleSkin™, Piñatex, and Mylo™ mushroom leather. These materials offer long-wearing, biodegradable options that produce less waste during production.

Fibiger continued, “Ambercycle’s groundbreaking technology for transforming end-of-life textiles into new materials not only enables a more sustainable supply of high-performance fabrics, but it has the potential to cut waste and emissions and has the potential to advance circularity at scale.”

Originally published at https://retailboss.co on March 5, 2024.