Lenzing Group, an Austria-based worldwide producer of wood-based specialty fibers, has launched a novel strategy that includes yarn pre-treatment and knitting techniques to achieve washdown effects in ready-to-wear and knit garments. To address pollution generated by textile dyeing and finishing, the new technique will dramatically minimize environmental effects and is appropriate for use on pre-treated textiles and yarns created with Tencel Lyocell fibers.
The technique also complements fabric mills’ wet-processing and manufacturing capabilities, delivering additional benefits to value chain partners, according to a news statement from Lenzing Group. Multiple washes employing a substantial quantity of water, energy, dyes, and chemicals may be necessary for traditional dyeing to attain a desired shade of color. With the new method, only one cycle of dyeing is necessary, decreasing water, energy, and chemical use by up to 50%, 40%, and 90%, respectively.
“As consumers become more conscious of the environmental footprint of their purchases, designers and manufacturers are seeking innovative ways to ensure that the materials and production processes deployed have a low environmental impact while expanding design possibilities,” said Rex Mok, vice president of fibre technical marketing and development at Lenzing. Our novel method can provide wash-down or antique effects on any knit fabric without the need for water-intensive bleaching methods. By overcoming the constraints of traditional dying, our novel technique provides a resource-efficient option that helps fabric manufacturers achieve higher sustainability and lower operational costs. We will continue to collaborate with mill partners to promote wider use of the new technique and to investigate additional applications within the textile value chain.”
Different shades of color, wash-down, or fade-out effects may be tailored using the new approach’s direct application to Tencel Lyocell fibers or Tencel Lyocell with Refibra technology. This makes it excellent for manufacturing ready-to-wear, knit clothing, and denim-look outfits in a variety of color tones.
Existing conventional, organic, or natural dyes used by yarn manufacturers and fabric mills are compatible with the new method. Because the new method of processing yarn and fabric does not leave dye residue on equipment, the same technology may be used repeatedly to produce textiles or garments of different hues. Because machine downtime is reduced while changing color lots, production delays are reduced, allowing yarn manufacturers and fabric mills to save money while improving production efficiency and sustainability.
