Asia Pacific: Paradise Textiles, the material innovation arm of Alpine Group, has partnered with bio-based fiber leader Kintra Fibers to create the first garment using Kintra’s bio-synthetic material. The lightweight jacket prototype marks an important step toward making Kintra’s sustainable fiber commercially viable, presenting a promising alternative to traditional polyester.
Milestone in Sustainable Fiber Development
This development follows a successful pilot project in 2023, where Paradise Textiles and Kintra collaborated to test fabrics made from Kintra’s unique yarns. “At Paradise, we prioritize fiber innovations that reduce carbon footprints and offer real alternatives to fossil-based synthetics,” stated Lewis Shuler, Head of Innovation at Paradise Textiles. “Kintra meets these needs, providing benefits in impact and performance. We’re excited to expand our work with Kintra to engineer a wide range of textiles.”
Environmental Benefits of Kintra’s Bio-Synthetic Material
Kintra’s proprietary resin, made with bio-based inputs, is designed to work on conventional polyester equipment, reducing carbon emissions by 95%, water use by 30%, and energy consumption by 20%. The company also plans to conduct a full life cycle assessment to quantify energy savings and reduced Scope 3 emissions in downstream processes like dyeing and yarn spinning.
Performance Comparable to Polyester
In testing, Kintra’s material demonstrated strength on par with polyester but offered distinct advantages—four times more softness and double the stretch, creating a fabric with unique performance qualities. Paradise Textiles’ testing found that Kintra’s knits and wovens performed as well or better than polyester in durability tests, including tensile strength, seam slippage, and abrasion resistance.
Prototype Jacket Highlights Durability and Production Compatibility
The first garment made from Kintra’s bio-synthetic material, a jacket, showcases its durability and resistance to abrasion and pilling, ideal for outerwear. This prototype also underscores Kintra’s compatibility with existing textile manufacturing and dyeing equipment, making it a smooth transition for brands adopting sustainable materials.
Looking Ahead to Commercial Production
Billy McCall, CEO and Co-Founder of Kintra Fibers, emphasized the significance of this prototype: “The creation of this jacket proves the viability of our material and marks a major step toward transforming the fashion industry sustainably. Paradise Textiles’ innovation expertise has been key to bringing this vision to life, and we look forward to advancing toward commercial-scale production together.”
