TEXTILES.ORG
Paradise Textiles, the material science hub of Alpine Group based in Taiwan, announced it has partnered with Kintra Fibers, a bio-based fiber producer based in New York, N.Y., to create the first garment using Kintra’s proprietary bio-synthetic material. The lightweight jacket serves as a proof-of-concept, representing a step in Kintra’s journey toward commercial viability.
The development follows a successful pilot project in 2023, during which Kintra Fibers and Paradise Textiles collaborated to create and test textiles made from Kintra’s yarns.
“At Paradise, we continually seek innovative fiber technologies that offer a lower carbon footprint and serve as viable alternatives to fossil-based synthetics. Kintra not only meets these criteria but also delivers additional benefits in impact and performance. We are excited to further our collaboration, leveraging Kintra’s potential to engineer a diverse range of textiles,” says Lewis Shuler, head of innovation at Paradise Textiles.
Kintra Fibers’ proprietary bio-synthetic material provides a sustainable alternative to polyester. Made on the same equipment as conventional polyester, Kintra’s resin is estimated to reduce emissions by 95%, water usage by 30% and energy consumption by 20%. These advancements are achieved with the use of bio-based inputs, lower processing temperatures and efficient production methods. Upon the completion of a full life cycle assessment, the company expects to see continued energy savings and reduced Scope 3 emissions in downstream processes, including yarn spinning, dyeing and finishing.
Testing conducted by Paradise Textiles has shown that Kintra yarns are on par with polyester with regard to strength, yet are four times softer, and have twice the stretch, resulting in a unique fabric profile. Fabric testing demonstrated that Kintra knits and wovens are on par with, or surpass, the polyester benchmark in strength and durability tests including tensile strength, seam slippage, tear strength, and abrasion and pilling resistance.
Although the properties of Kintra fabrics are versatile enough for various applications, Paradise Textiles chose to debut a jacket made from Kintra due to its abrasion and pilling resistance, which enhances garment longevity and minimizes microfiber shedding, two key properties for outerwear.
“The creation of this prototype is a testament to the viability of our material and a significant step forward in transforming the fashion industry toward sustainable practices. Paradise Textiles’ expertise in innovative fabric development has been instrumental in bringing our vision to life, and we are excited about the potential this partnership holds as we move toward commercial-scale production,” says Billy McCall, CEO and co-founder of Kintra Fibers.