Mike Simko from Hyosung’s marketing team spoke to WTiN at ISPO Munich about the company’s recent collaboration with Lenzing and its sustainability strategy.
Earlier this year, global fibre producers Lenzing and Hyosung announced that they had jointly developed a new sustainable fabric collection, which they presented at ISPO Munich in February. The new collaboration showcases the sustainable benefits of the two companies’ leading brands: Tencel Modal from Lenzing and creora elastane from Hyosung – offering brands and retailers ‘new levels of performance and innovation’.
Hyosung’s stand at ISPO Munich 2019
During ISPO Munich, the largest trade fair for the sports business, held on 3-6 February 2019, WTiN spoke to Mike Simko, Global Marketing Director, Textile Division, Hyosung Holdings US, to find out more about the new collection.
“[The collaboration] started about nine months ago when I met one of the marketing people at Lenzing. We started brainstorming about how we could work together – and we actually see it as a long-term partnership,” begins Simko.
He continues: “This first one started with an ‘eco’ theme. We wanted to show the industry how it can take materials and do better things. So, we took Lenzing’s dope-dyed MicroModal and put it with our dope-dyed creora spandex – and now you have a product that you don’t need to dye, saving water and energy. It makes life simpler by putting the burden back on the fibre producers to do most of the work so that the mills can just run with it.”
The collection comprises three fabric categories, starting with Lenzing Ecovero with creora eco-soft for a softer touch, whiter whites and low heat settable for reduced energy consumption. “Tencel Modal is noted for its really soft hand, but dyeing and finishing can make a fabric harsh, so we developed a spandex that can be heat-set at lower temperatures, allowing you to go down to 20oC,” says Simko. “You’re saving energy, so it’s good for the environment, and it’s also good for the hand feel of the fabrics.”
The second fabric line is Tencel Modal and creora PowerFit for a smooth, natural feel with superior shaping and compression, and the third is Tencel Modal and creora black for breathable, softer touch and deeper black with no grin through. “The third collection marries functionality and aesthetics, so again, taking Lenzing’s products and adding some of our technical moisture management. For instance, we have a nylon product that we refer to as Aqua-x; moisture management has evolved over the years to offer much more, it’s more about cooling or ‘triple cooling’ as we call it. The Aqua-x fabrics are cool to the touch, thanks to its large surface area coupled with minerals that have higher conductivity. The next piece of technology takes advantage of your body’s perspiration, allowing sweat to evaporate. And the third part of it is the quick dry” says Simko.
Hyosung rates collaboration highly among its list of priorities, enabling key players to ‘lend each other credibility. It has also played a pivotal role in Hyosung’s sustainability strategy. “About a year and a half ago, we put together a group called the Brand Marketing Group, bringing together brands, producers and retailers etc. We want to work closely with specific partners. We’re going to do all the R&D – making sure it’s targeted; we’re getting good, solid direction that we know is going to have consumer value. From a sustainability perspective, we’re going to look at lots of different solutions” he explains.
According to Simko, Hyosung takes the lead in this area. “I’m truly impressed with the way Hyosung works very quickly. I think the key to our success is working with key partners in each industry, including activewear, ready-to-wear and intimate apparel. We’re going to drill down to maybe one or two key partners – a brand in the bra business or maybe a garment producer, for instance. That’s where all the engineering is being done.”