Yoga is all about stretching the body and easing the mind, yet neither state can be fully achieved if the activewear worn doesn’t have comfortable – and eco-friendly – performance stretch.
In a fresh collaboration, Hyosung TNC, the world’s largest manufacturer of spandex by market share, and Lenzing Group, renowned for its regenerated cellulosic fibers, have teamed to launch a sustainable yoga-inspired fabric collection that fuses high performance with environmental commitment.
Created with Hong Kong-based Pacific Textiles, a premium circular knit partner that specializes in sustainable fabric production, the collection blends innovative fibers including Lenzing’s high-performance Tencel and Lenzing Ecovero fibers produced with Refibra technology, and Hyosung’s Regen Bio Spandex made partly with renewable sugarcane. Also included in the mix are Hyosung’s Creora Color+ Spandex and 100 percent recycled Regen Spandex.
Pacific Textiles’ technical expertise and fabric engineering optimized the fabric structure and heat-setting process to ensure consistent stretch and a natural, soft-hand feel. This also maintained the signature smoothness of Tencel fibers while achieving excellent stretch and recovery. Such attributes are “non-negotiable” to activewear brands and discerning customers – even in sustainable materials – and failure to achieve them can yield significant brand challenges.
“Activewear brands today expect sustainable stretch materials to perform on par with, or even beyond, conventional elastane,” said Simon Whitmarsh-Knight, global marketing director – textiles at Hyosung. “Comfort and durability must never be compromised.”
Beyond Technical Performance
At the recent Functional Fabric Fair and Performance Days conferences, attending brands offered positive feedback on the Regen Bio-Based spandex, partly made from sugarcane-derived content blended with Tencel Lyocell A100.
Technical performance and softness, however, are only part of the story. Many brands also recognized the opportunities to communicate a holistic “bio-based comfort” story to their consumers, one that connects environmental responsibility with functional performance.
“We’ve had many brand partners approach us looking for a sustainably made spandex that would help them tell a fully bio-based material story,” said Whitmarsh-Knight. “We believe our Regen Bio Spandex is uniquely suited to pair with Lenzing’s luxurious wood-based fibers, creating a perfect sustainable solution. Collaborative partnerships are essential as the textile industry strives for innovative and high-performance solutions across the value chain to meet brand and consumer sustainability objectives.”
Hyosung’s commitment to sustainable textile solutions is illustrated by this expansion and evolution of its Regen Bio Spandex range. Produced using renewable content, the company has transitioned the fiber’s feedstock from corn to sugarcane, enabling reduced carbon emissions while upholding its hallmark performance.
“For the first time, the industry will have an integrated supply of bio-based spandex in one region, from raw material to fiber. This means faster market delivery, shorter development times and a stronger supply chain for partners,” said Whitmarsh-Knight, noting that Hyosung joined the VIVE Sustainable Supply Program to ensure full transparency – from sugarcane farms to fiber production.
Importantly, Hyosung and Lenzing recognize that no one company can solve the industry’s complex, systemic environmental challenges alone, and collaborative partnership is crucial.
At the recent Functional Fabric Fair in Portland, Ore., Hyosung and Lenzing gave a joint expert talk titled, “Plant-Based Solutions in Performance Fabrics: Sugarcane-Based Innovation from Hyosung TNC x Lenzing.” The seminar examined how both companies are setting a new benchmark in plant-based material innovation.
“I truly believe that the future of performance textiles lies in collaborative innovation,” said Nicole Schram, Lenzing’s head of global technical development. “Our partnership with Hyosung TNC beautifully illustrates this idea, exemplifying how material innovation and cross-industry collaboration can accelerate the transition to bio-based, traceable and scalable alternatives – delivering on both technical excellence and environmental responsibility. With this yoga collection, we’re not just blending fibers; we’re showing how working together can accelerate the entire industry toward resource-efficient practices.”
Looking ahead, Hyosung has ambitions to boost sustainability driven partnerships across the value chain – similar to what it has with Geno (bio BDO development), Lenzing (fiber collaboration), Pacific Textiles (mill partners) and Pangaia (consumer brands).
Hyosung and Lenzing will be expanding into intimate apparel, athleisure and seamless categories – areas where consumers seek both comfort and sustainability. The companies also see opportunities in casualwear and loungewear, with brands exploring soft compression and naturally comfortable shaping applications using Tencel and sustainable spandex blends.
