Italian denim mill, Candiani Denim has joined forces with eco-friendly fiber maker Lenzing to convert recycled geotextiles into a Glacier Jacket.
Akin to the fabric used in landscaping, geotextiles play a crucial role in shielding glaciers from the detrimental effects of climate change. However, conventional geotextiles often utilise fossil-based fibers, posing a threat to water supplies due to microplastic contamination.
In response to this environmental challenge, Austria-based Lenzing innovated a geotextile crafted from cellulosic fibers, which boast natural biodegradability and recyclability. After successful trials on the Stubai Glacier in Austria, where Lenzing's geotextile received acclaim in the Swiss Bio Top Awards for wood and material innovations, the initiative has been expanded to safeguard all Austrian glaciers frequented by tourists.
Berndt Köll, Emerging Business Development, Lenzing, expressed enthusiasm about the project's positive outcomes, underscoring its potential as a sustainable solution for glacier preservation, both domestically and internationally.
Building on this success, Lenzing collaborated with Candiani Denim to take the geotextile program a step further by repurposing fibers from discarded geotextiles into a novel creation—the ‘Glacier Jacket.’ Leveraging innovative recycling techniques, Candiani repurposed glacier waste yarn into a white denim fabric, which was then fashioned into garments. This closed-loop approach ensures continuous recycling, breathing new life into materials and minimizing environmental impact.
This collaboration marks Lenzing's second partnership with a denim manufacturer this year, following a collaboration with Advance Denim in China to produce sustainable denim using Lenzing's matte Tencel lyocell fibers, renowned for their authentic vintage aesthetic.
Despite reporting financial setbacks in their 2023 earnings report, Lenzing has celebrated environmental victories, notably reducing non-recycled waste by nearly 50 percentage points and expanding partnerships to enhance circularity within its supply chains.
The eagerly anticipated Glacier Jacket will premiere at Salone de Mobile in Milan, showcasing the innovative prowess of Candiani Denim's micro-factory. In addition to Candiani Denim, Lenzing collaborated with Marchi & Fildi Spa, specialists in mechanical recycling, and Blue of a Kind, an avant-garde fashion studio, exemplifying a shared commitment to driving sustainability and innovation in the textile industry.
Florian Heubrandner, Executive Vice President-Commercial Textiles, hailed the project as a testament to the power of collaboration and shared vision in advancing sustainability goals, mitigating environmental impact, and fostering collective action against climate change on a global scale within the textile industry.
