Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering news from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.
Luar x Woolmark
Seven Grand Slam title tennis star Venus Williams returns to the U.S. Open in a custom merino wool performance kit designed by avant-garde label Luar in partnership with Woolmark.
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“Merino wool is a natural high performer, making it ideal for the demands of modern tennis,” said Woolmark managing director John Roberts. “Seeing Venus Williams bring this outfit to life on the court proves what we’ve always known: Merino wool doesn’t just belong in performance wear—it excels in it.”
Designed by Luar, a Woolmark licensee and finalist in the 2025 International Woolmark Prize, the performance kit showcases merino wool’s versatility in a few different fits.
The first, made for the court, features a black knitted merino wool-rich mesh dress styled with the Luar unbutton track jacket. The second, made for off-the-court, features a beige merino wool-rich two-piece knit skirt and top. Accessories include a messenger bag made from 100 percent Optim wool—Woolmark’s high-performance fabric engineered with fiber stretching technology to enhance wind and water resistance—plus a wool hat and scrunchie.
“We will continue our commitment to wool because we see its strengths: tech, versatility and legacy,” said Luar designer Raul Lopez. “It’s why Venus chose wool for her U.S. Open kit—the fiber’s natural performance qualities make it ideal for athletes, while its elegance translates seamlessly into fashion.”
UYN
Italian performance brand UYN—pronounced as “win” and short for Unleash Your Nature—has dropped its latest running shoe, the Alacrify, made with eucalyptus and engineered to handle uneven terrain.
“The Alacrify embodies UYN’s mission: the comfort of a sock with the performance of a shoe,” said Elia Redini, general manager for UYN in the United States. “We designed it for runners who want freedom, breathability and natural performance without compromise.”
Developed in collaboration with the University of Verona, the sneaker features an upper knit made from Ecolypt: a natural eucalyptus-derived fiber obtained from the gum trees’ wood.
“From the eucalyptus trees’ wood, Ecolypt has great strength and high breathability, all water and enzymes are reused after its life-cycle,” the company said, noting the material is highly elastic and moisture-retaining as well.
The midsole incorporates dual-density EVA foam, combining UYN’s softer Propulsyon foam in the forefoot with its firmer Freebound foam in the heel. The Heel Active Ligament Outerframe (HALO) system guides the foot into a neutral gait from the initial roll-off; in turn, the system’s plate can deliver stability, propulsion and impact absorption.
“Made without seams, Haloflex shoes offer a perfect fit for every foot,” the company said. “The 3D-knitted technology creates the entire shoe upper—including the sole, as one piece—allowing specific areas to be stiffened or remain flexible, opening up new possibilities in shoe development.”
Lilysilk
Lilysilk, the Gwyneth Paltrow-approved silk brand, has dropped its first activewear line made with the brand’s proprietary silk-enhanced terry fabric.
The resulting “Silkerry” is rooted in 15 years of consumer research, the company said, which identified the demand for garments combining versatility with “refined aesthetics.”
“Activewear isn’t just for the gym anymore. As fitness, work and life blend seamlessly, people expect apparel that delivers both style and elegance,” said David Wang, CEO of Lilysilk. “Silkerry brings the luxury of silk into movement apparel, creating pieces that move effortlessly from yoga mats to city streets.”
Silkerry reframes terry fabric by weaving natural silk fibers directly into the cotton terry interior. It features antimicrobial properties and high thermal conductivity as well as moisture-wicking capabilities. The outer layer—natural cotton terry—provides structure and breathability.
Dahsheng Company (DSC)
Performance foam manufacturer Dahsheng Company (DSC), formerly known as Dahsheng Chemical, introduces Dreamcell Velo: an ultra-lightweight, poured polyurethane (PU) insole made for speed, agility and energy return. It’s the lightest poured PU insole technology DSC has ever developed for elite athletes, according to DSC’s chief operating officer.
“DSC continues to push boundaries with its 80 years of innovation, designing Dreamcell Velo to deliver explosive energy return without the weight penalty, because with sports that require agility and speed—such as basketball and running—every gram and every inch matters,” said Mei-Fen Wei, COO of DSC. “What I love about this technology is that our direct-pour process not only achieves that performance edge but also creates almost zero material waste.”
Textilcolor x Chemdyes
Swiss textile chemical company Textilcolor has entered a strategic partnership with Chemdyes, a leading company for textile auxiliaries in Malaysia.
Per the collaboration, Chemdyes will take on the role of official distributor, production site and agent for Textilcolor in the markets of Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan.
This alliance brings together the innovation-edge of Textilcolor and the regional expertise of Chemdyes. Ideally, the partnership will enhance service quality, streamline product availability and strengthen technical support for these ramping-up regions.
“By combining Swiss precision with Southeast Asian agility, we are confident this partnership will deliver exceptional value, responsiveness and reliability to the industry,” the partners said in a joint statement. “We look forward to a long-lasting and mutually beneficial collaboration.”
PETA
Purses “really do” grow on trees, according to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) latest campaign. The animal rights group tapped actress and influencer Caylee Cowan for its plant leather advertisement, now visible en route to Beverly Hills, encouraging consumers to “redefine leather.”
“Once upon a time, people believed that leather had to be made out of animals,” Cowan says in the campaign. “That to have handbags, shoes, and belts, we had to kill gentle cows, clear the forests, poison the water. Then they discovered that leather could be made out of plants . . . sounds like magic, but it’s real.”
The billboard is located on Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles.
