FIBERS AS STARTING POINT FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND CREATIVITY
Eastman, a global specialty materials company, is a leader in creating sustainable materials while also educating the industry's stakeholders and keeping an eye on what matters most in fashion – design.
With the vision of making sustainable textiles accessible to all, Eastman Naia™ creates innovative and versatile fibers that open up possibilities for uncompromising, sustainable style. It also actively engages with young designers and educates throughout the market about sustainability and the importance of paying attention to the entire supply chain.
Acting sustainably is at the center, and the industry needs to act; today, it is at the core of design. Ruth Farrell, General Manager for Eastman's Textiles Business, sums it up: “We see that more and more designers use sustainability as the starting point for the creative process. They carefully select fabrics looking at the sustainability profile of the fibers used, considering parameters such as environmental footprint, chemicals used to make the fiber, and end-of-life.”
Eastman Naia™’s portfolio of cellulosic fibers and yarns provides responsibly sourced, bio-based options that enable mills, designers, and brands to create eco-friendly textiles without compromising on comfort, quality, or appearance. Naia™ takes a holistic approach to sustainability, including circularity and sourcing, as well as safe and sound use of chemicals and recycling of waste materials. The company has recently launched an enhanced sustainability fiber, Eastman Naia™ Renew ES. It is produced from a combination of molecularly recycled waste material (40%), recycled cellulose (20%), and sustainably harvested wood pulp (40%); the result is a high-quality, sustainable fiber product made from 60% recycled content. Naia™ Renew ES is an answer to the overconsumption of raw materials, the growing plastic and textile waste problem, and rising levels of greenhouse gases.
All stakeholders need to be included to build a more sustainable textiles industry. Naia™ works with and educates fashion designers about new, innovative fibers, how they can use them in their collections, and what needs to be done to create a “next life” for their garments. The company has ongoing engagements to educate students at world-renowned textile and fashion institutes, such as the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and North Carolina State’s Wilson College of Textiles. Eastman Naia™ also collaborates with the 2022 RISE UP Sustainable Fashion Design Challenge, spanning 108 young designers worldwide.
The idea is to inspire the young generation with forward-thinking, commercial value, and environmental impact. At the core of sustainability in fashion is the idea that sustainable garments must be fashionable to find end consumers excited to wear them. By providing these designers with sustainable yet beautiful fabrics and support, Eastman Naia™ is taking a big step in empowering and educating the next generation of the fashion industry.