Artistic Milliners and Lenzing provide a solution to achieve two of the most desirable (and sometimes contradictory) qualities consumers look for in denim: comfort and authenticity.
The long-standing partners introduced 32MM, a new Tencel fiber that is optimized to create soft fabrications that have the authentic character of a classic cotton jean.
The fiber’s unique structure also allows Artistic Milliners to scale its use of recycled cotton in fabrics. Compared to traditional Tencel, the shorter 32MM fiber has better compatibility with cotton and allows it to blend more cohesively with fibers of modest length. It also has a greater surface area, which allows more recycled fiber to bind to it.
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Artistic Milliners said traditional Tencel can be blended with up to 30 percent recycled cotton, however 32MM can carry up to 50 percent per its study so far.
For the exclusive collection, Artistic Milliners used recycled fibers from its recycling facility Circular Park. To start, the mill focused on two blend ratios. One is comprised of 30 percent 32MM, another with 16 percent.
“32MM is a very flexible fiber. We have blended it with post-industrial cotton waste, conventional cotton, and even with regular Tencel as well, and [there are] many more to explore,” Artistic Milliners said.
The initial collection offers six fabrics that Artistic Milliners and Lenzing say have “great highs and lows of cotton,” can achieve authentic wash downs and maintain a high level of softness—a signature of Tencel. The versatile fabrics can be applied to five-pocket jeans, long and short skirts, cargo pants, carpenter pants, coordinates and tops.
Both companies are passionate about advancing circularity and creating comfort-focused products, said Omar Ahmed, Artistic Milliners managing director. Last year, Artistic Milliners and Lenzing introduced a collection of mechanically recycled Tencel, which was also processed at Circular Park.
“Artistic Milliners and Lenzing are pioneers in developing circular textile products and the 32MM partnership is a step forward in both companies’ sustainable journey,” he added.
Tuncay Kılıçkan, Lenzing head of global business development, denim, said the partnership with Artistic Milliners is an example of how collaborations help foster circularity and scale solutions “without any compromise on quality and customer satisfaction.” With 32MM, consumers get the best of both worlds—comfort and a true denim look.
“Thanks to the continued research and development activities together with Artistic Milliners we are proceeding to reach our current goals and pushing the target even further,” he said.
