Georgia-based DNA, Jimtex Yarnshave partnered to create DNA’s R3 Denim™featuring Jimtex’s ECO2cotton® yarn.
By Janet Bealer Rodie, Contributing Editor
Denim North America (DNA), Columbus, Ga., recently launched its sustainable R3 Denim™ collection to appeal to environmentally conscious apparel brands and their clientele. At its dyeing and weaving facility in Columbus, DNA already has implemented environmentally responsible manufacturing practices to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, recycle waste to reduce landfill requirements, recover 50 percent of its process chemicals for reuse and recycle 90 percent of its process water in a continuous loop system. The weft in R3 Denim comprises recycled-content ECO2cotton® yarn produced by Jimtex Yarns, Lincolnton, Ga., a division of Spartanburg-based Martex Fiber Southern Corp.
Eco2Cotton是使用Martex从美国，墨西哥和中美洲棉针织服装制作设施收集的切割废物制成的。Martex使用不使用化学物质或水的机械工艺对材料进行浪费，并将材料供电。最终的纤维与人造纤维混合，并由Jimtex旋转成纱线。纱线有50多种库存颜色，并且可以涂上不同的颜色以产生其他颜色。根据MARTEX业务发展总监Marc Williamson的说法，该公司今年希望回收和重新处理近1.8亿磅的纺织废物，包括其他前消费和后消费者废物，除了进入ECO2Cotton。每个制造商的大量废物流使公司能够在其纱线中实现颜色一致性和材料性能。
“These waste streams aren’t all the same hue,” Williamson said. “Martex builds its yarn formulations through sourcing to ensure color consistency and satisfy program capacity. We know how many pounds a year we get from each mill, and we have built our business around this, allowing us to achieve color consistency in each lot we produce.”
The first R3 Denim fabrics contain ECO2cotton yarn comprising pre-consumer T-shirt waste and polyester in a 70- to 75-percent cotton-rich blend. The recycled content in each pair of
R3 Denim jeans is equal to two cotton T-shirts. DNA is looking to increase the recycled content in future fabrics.
According to Lisa A. Harris, DNA’s product and creative director, the five fabrics have names inspired by Georgia’s diverse topography to celebrate the fact that the collection is produced by two Georgia-based companies in partnership.
DNA is showing R3 Denim to brands and has made up some concept jean styles that are finished using waterless resin or ozone processes. “When taking its jean to market, a brand can tout the additional benefit of how many gallons of water are saved in finishing, besides what DNA is saving in the way we’re processing the fabric,” Harris noted.
The company also has implemented digital marketing with its product launch. Using a free CP Clicker app downloaded to their smartphones, customers can take a picture of a Clickable Paper™-enabled R3 Denim logo and link automatically with the R3 Denim website. “This is especially important for communicating with digitally connected designers,” Harris said. “It’s also something the brands can use as a means to communicate with tech-savvy consumers.”
September/October 2016
