California-based swimwear brand Vitamin A has become the company to launch a swimwear collection made with a new 100% recycled fabric developed by Hyosung and warp knitter, Hung Yen Knitting & Dyeing. The new sustainable swimwear collection, called ReLux, launched on 29 January.
Hyosung and Hung Yen introduced the fabric, which is made from an 80/20 blend of Hyosung GRS-certified regen Ocean, a 100% post-consumer nylon made from discarded fishing nets, and RCS-certified 100% recycled regen spandex – during Interfilière Paris last summer.
According to an independent 3rd party Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the manufacture of 1kg regen Ocean nylon reduces CO2 emissions by 73% and water consumption by 98% as compared to production of 1kg of conventional nylon.
“We wanted to support the development of this new material and we thought that the Vitamin A customer would be most likely to understand why it was important,” said Mark Sunderland, VP of product innovation at Swim USA, parent company of Vitamin A. “Our customers want to know that their swimwear is not harming the planet – and with our ReLux line, we’re offering them a product that actively improves the health of our oceans.”
Founded in 2000 by Californians Amahlia Stevens, all Vitamin A bikinis and bodysuits are designed and produced locally in California from plant-based and recycled materials. As a member of 1% for the Planet, the company gives back to organisations who work to protect the oceans.
Hung Yen Knitting & Dyeing, part of Italy’s Carvico Group, was established in the Northern province of Hung Yen, Vietnam, in 2008 and, with around 70% of its collections made with 100% recycled materials, focuses on the production of nylon and polyester elastomeric fabrics for swimwear, sportswear, and underwear.
“Vitamin A has ranked among the top five sustainable swimwear brands for the past three years,” added the company’s General Director, Claudia Anselmi. “Given its commitment to sustainable production and the protection of our oceans, we are glad Vitamin A has attentively selected our fabric – N850 FishTale – that is entirely focused on marine preservation for its new ReLux collection.”
Laura Nilo, Hyosung US Marketing Manager, commented: “Vitamin A exemplifies the fusion of sustainability and style, demonstrating that eco-friendly fashion can effortlessly inspire and enable positive environmental choices among consumers.
“It’s an ideal brand for commercialising our 100% recycled fabric for swimwear, and we look forward to furthering our collaboration with regards to sustainable textile solutions.”
