Los Angeles-based materials science innovator Ambercycle is expanding the reach of its upcycled Cycora material in China through a new partnership with polyester manufacturer Shenghong Holding Group. The two companies have worked together since last year to develop regenerated filament yarns using Cycora material, which is made of upcycled polyester. The new partnership will allow the companies to scale production of those yarns in China.
“As the industry adopts textile-to-textile solutions, Cycora is leading the way in delivering materials that meet the demands of global brands,” said Jason Tang, general manager of Shenghong Chemical Fiber New Material Co., Ltd. “This partnership is pivotal in driving scalable, impactful change across the apparel sector.”
According to Ambercycle, less than 1 percent of end-of-life textiles are recycled in closed-loop systems. The company developed Cycora to help reduce the need for virgin material in apparel production by using textile-to-textile polyester recycling.
“Our partnership with Shenghong underscores our shared vision for a circular future,” said Shay Sethi, co-founder and CEO at Ambercycle. “By leveraging Shenghong’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, we can ensure Cycora is seamlessly integrated into the supply chains of leading global brands.”
Ambercycle has forged similar collaborations with a number of textile companies around the globe. In 2023, the company joined forces with Taiwan-based textile manufacturer Shinkong Synthetics, providing pelletized polyester to be extruded into performance and specialty yarns. And in August 2024, Shinkong invested $10 million in Ambercycle for its first state-of-the-art facility.
Last year, Ambercycle also partnered with Sri Lanka conglomerate MAS Holdings, providing enough regenerated polyester to make roughly 10 million garments. Days after entering that agreement, Ambercycle teamed with South Korea-based Hyosung TNC—which is known for its corn-based Creora Spandex—to incorporate Cycora in its supply chains.
Shenghong is one of the largest global producers of polyester made from recycled plastic bottles. The company has an annual production capacity of 3.6 million tons of differentiated functional fibers, and its recycled polyester fiber production capacity is approximately 600,000 tons per year. Shenghong operates two production facilities in China, one in Suzhou and another in Suqian.
Ambercycle has provided its Cycora material to a number of fashion brands, including Zara parent company Inditex, Gap, Tombogo and KZ_K Studio. Sethi said working with Shenghong will allow Ambercycle to further expand circular material usage in the global apparel sector.
“Together, we’re not just scaling production; we’re driving the adoption of circular materials across the apparel industry at the pace necessary to meet the growing demand,” he said.
Los Angeles-based materials science innovator Ambercycle is expanding the reach of its upcycled Cycora material in China through a new partnership with polyester manufacturer Shenghong Holding Group. The two companies have worked together since last year to develop regenerated filament yarns using Cycora material, which is made of upcycled polyester. The new partnership will allow the companies to scale production of those yarns in China.
