Renewcell describes its Circulose Supplier Network expansion from 47 yarn and textile producers to 116 as a significant milestone in its journey towards a circular fashion and textile industry.
The company highlights that its geographic expansion in Southeast Asia to countries including Vietnam and Taiwan, as well as in Europe to the Czech Republic, will increase the sourcing of fashion materials made from its recycled alternative cellulose pulp.
The company's growth also includes onboarding 12 knitters and more than 30 yarn spinners to enhance the variety of qualities made with Circulose that are available for all brands to source.
It explains this expansion signifies a considerable step forward in ensuring that brands worldwide have access to a wide array of materials made from the recycled material.
Renewcell CEO Patrik Lundström says: "The Circulose Supplier Network plays a pivotal role in scaling up the availability of yarns and fabrics made with Circulose. With a more diverse network across the textile supply chain, fashion brands now have a broader range of sustainable options to incorporate Circulose into their designs."
The Renewcell's expansion also includes home textile suppliers for the first time, which Renewcell says will open up new possibilities for integrating Circulose into various facets of the textile industry and reaffirming its network's adaptability and potential.
Founder and executive director of environmental not-for-profit Canopy Nicole Rycroft says the network's expansion will make the material even more accessible for brands and retailers.
Priyanka Khanna, head of Asia expansion at global sustainability initiative Fashion for Good agrees and states: "Renewcell's strides in growing the Circulose Supplier Network are instrumental in our collective pursuit of a circular textile industry. This growth is not only significant in driving the adoption of textile-to-textile recycled output but also in providing reach and accessibility to suppliers who are the first customers of these materials."
Shakaib Nazim, general manager marketing at fashion supplier Indigo says: “Our next step towards sustainability growth is to convert our core line fabrics with Circulose fibre.”
Hatice Ates, product design and development manager at knit fabric producer Ekoten has also joined the network and shares: “We believe that the circularity of the fashion industry will be achieved through timeless designs and sustainable material selection. In this direction, we attach great importance to the use of cellulosic raw materials from secondary raw materials with low environmental impact."
Renewcell, which now has operations in 15 countries, says its network continues to grow and evolve and it believes this is driving positive change in the fashion supply chain.
