Lenzing and The Woolmark Company signed a Cooperation Agreement and proudly presented the partnership between the lyocell fiber TENCEL® and Merino wool at recent textile trade shows in Europe. The perfect fiber duo introduces a new dimension to high-end textiles and active wear.
Merino wool has been renowned as a fiber material for a long time and has always been used as a raw material in clothing and in home textiles. In the high-end segment, Merino wool is a highly desirable fiber. Quality can be extremely fine and glossy. TENCEL® is ideal as a blending partner for Merino wool. The properties of moisture management and a smooth fiber surface are enriching factors when combined with Merino wool and create textiles for customers who love both performance and luxury.
TENCEL® and Merino wool already successful
TENCEL® and Merino wool together have already recorded a large number of successes. International brands have been successfully using the fiber duo in their collections. The blend is particularly popular among customers in Europe and the US. “In internal retail analysis, it is striking that the TENCEL®/Merino wool blend is often used in knitwear. The blend is used predominantly in the active wear segment”, says Robert van de Kerkhof, CCO Lenzing. “Therefore, in the new season our activities will focus on woven fabrics. Our goal is to target the woven fabric segment with high- quality fabrics for formal suits, clothes and shirts. We are operating with wool blends in a high-end-segment with high margins and are interested in expanding this business.”
The best of two worlds
TENCEL® is of botanic origin. Merino wool is a protein fiber. The fibers unite the best of two worlds. TENCEL® stands for a silky smooth drape and the blend with Merino wool demonstrates that the luxurious flow of the fabrics can create new and fashionable silhouettes. The smooth fiber structure of the TENCEL® fiber creates a pleasant sensation on the skin in TENCEL®/Merino wool blends. Thermal regulation is, however, one of the most interesting features of the blend. Both fibers absorb moisture vapour very well and create a pleasant micro climate on the skin. This is important particularly in warm climates and during physical exertion. “It is also very interesting that Merino wool becomes even more usable for summer with TENCEL® and TENCEL® becomes more suitable for winter as a result of blending with Merino wool,” Andreas Gürtler, Manager Business Development Outerwear, comments. “This means that the blend can be used whatever the season is.”
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