Alpine Group’s material research centre, Paradise Textiles, has teamed up with Kintra Fibers, a pioneer in the development of bio-based fibres, to produce the first clothing item utilising Kintra’s innovative, in-house bio-synthetic material.
“At Paradise Textiles, we’re always looking for new fibre technologies that have a lower carbon footprint and are good substitutes for synthetics derived from fossil fuels,” stated Lewis Shuler, Head of Innovation. “We are eager to expand our partnership by taking advantage of Kintra’s capacity to design a wide variety of fabrics.”
Kintra’s resin, which is produced using the same machinery as regular polyester, is predicted to cut emissions by 95 per cent, water use by 30 per cent and energy use by 20 per cent. The use of bio-based feedstock, reduced processing temperatures and effective production techniques enable these developments. The business anticipates further energy savings and decreased Scope 3 emissions in downstream operations, such as yarn spinning, dyeing and finishing, following the conclusion of a comprehensive life cycle study.
According to Paradise Textiles’ testing, Kintra yarns perform similarly to polyester in terms of strength but are four times softer and twice as stretchy, creating a distinctive fabric profile. According to fabric testing, Kintra knits and wovens meet or exceed the polyester standard in terms of tensile strength, tear resistance, seam slippage and resistance to abrasion and pilling.
Paradise Textiles decided to introduce a jacket made from Kintra because of its exceptional abrasion and pilling resistance, which increases garment longevity and reduces microfiber shedding—two essential qualities for outerwear—despite the fact that Kintra fabrics’ qualities are adaptable enough for a variety of applications. This jacket also demonstrates Kintra’s compatibility with current textile production equipment and dyeing techniques, which makes it a great option for companies looking to smoothly switch to sustainable materials.
Billy McCall, CEO and co-founder of Kintra Fibers stated, “We are thrilled about the possibilities this collaboration holds as we proceed towards commercial-scale production and Paradise Textiles’ proficiency in creative fabric development has been crucial in realising our vision.”
