Global workwear textile manufacturer Carrington Textiles has launched nine new fabrics developed using sustainable fibers that include recycled polyester, BCI and organic cotton, as well as a new technology that biodegrades synthetic fibers, utilized for the first time in workwear fabrics. A flame retardant fabric is also being introduced that gives garments a longer life.
With the tagline ‘weaving sustainability into our fabrics’, the launch campaign includes the release of the company’s fabric range guides with a new brand identity and design, showcasing a more dynamic look and sleek new photography to better represent today’s workwear. These new range guides were designed keeping not only the customer, but also the environment in mind as they are made with recycled paper which is also 100% recyclable, as well as being coated with antimicrobial technology for peace of mind. Here’s a quick look at the new products:
Stretch Products
New stretch products include Constance 210 gsm and Balaton 255 gsm, both named after European lakes. The fabrics incorporate REPREVE recycled polyester made from plastic bottles, and BCI cotton in their composition, and also utilize the high stretch technology from XLANCE® which is eco-friendly, solvent-free, and produced using 100% renewable energy. Constance 210 is the Carrington Textiles sustainable alternative to workwear fabric Idra, and Balaton 255 is the ‘greener’ option for Cresta.
Balance Range Weaved Sustainability
The Balance Range adds 7 more products to Carrington’s existing eco-friendly textiles:
Starting on the lighter side of the Balance Range spectrum is Kielder 18 gsm, a fabric which consists of 50% BCI cotton and 50% REPREVE recycled polyester made from plastic bottles. As an environmentally friendly alternative to Cooltex Lite, Kielder 185 offers a soft feel, a polyester face for greater durability and cotton inside for increased wearer comfort.
Next are the additions to the Delamere family in their 210 gsm and 245 gsm weights. Delamere 210 and 245 include 65% recycled REPREVE polyester and responsibly sourced cotton from the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). Delamere 210 is a sustainable alternative for Delta and Delamere 245 for Tomboy.
The Rivington family offers a leisure finish as a standard for a soft feel and incorporates 65% recycled polyester as well as 35% BCI cotton. Also providing the benefits of mechanical stretch, Rivington 205 and 220 are the eco-friendly options to Xtraflex Lite and Xtraflex 1 respectively.
Revolutionary workwear fabrics that biodegrade
Following extensive research, the company has adopted CiCLO technology, a sustainable textiles ingredient in the form of an additive that is combined with polyester at the very beginning of the fiber making process. When CiCLO polyester ends up in the environment either through washing or end of life of the garment, it behaves like natural fibers, in turn reducing microplastic pollution and textile accumulation.
The technology is being used in Carrington’s Hawksbill and Orca fabrics. Both Hawksbill and Orca are the sustainable alternative to the company’s bestselling fabric, Tomboy. Hawksbill’s composition includes 65% CiCLO polyester and 35% organic cotton. While Orca incorporates 26% recycled CiCLO polyester, 29% virgin CiCLO polyester and 35% BCI cotton.
A durable flame retardant with antistatic addition
Finally, Carrington Textiles has launched Flamestat 250 gsm, a new member of the Flamestat family which is guaranteed to last the lifetime of the garment due to its robust construction. With 75% cotton, 24% polyester and 1% antistatic, this fabric’s flame retardancy is to the standards EN ISO 11612, EN ISO 14116 index 3 and EN ISO 11611; while its antistatic properties are to EN ISO 1149-3-5 standard.
Technical data sheets of all new Carrington Textiles fabrics are available on the company’s website for registered members, and downloadable collection guides, as well as guides with samples of the new products, can be requested at carrington.co.uk/newfabrics2021.