Naia™ Renew Staple Fiber Adds Functional Performance to Casual Wear, Bedding
Some fibers have a luxury fashion story, some have a sustainability story, and some have more of a functional/performance story. Eastman’s Naia™ Renew staple fiber is a blend of the latter two. A cousin to Naia™ and Naia™ Renew’s “silky, luxurious” filament yarn, the newer staple fiber is an expansion of the company’s overall fiber offerings, as well as a continuance of its sustainability story.
Naia™ Renew staple fiber is produced from sustainably sourced wood pulp and *recycled waste materials with a complete biodegradable profile in all environments.
More from Sourcing Journal
“The launch of Naia™ staple fiber opens a new world of business because Naia™ staple can be blended with so many different fibers, from recycled polyester to modal and lyocell,” said Chad Doub, global market segment manager, casual wear & home, Eastman. “It elevates [partner] brands’ comfort collections with an additional functional performance value proposition.”
Eastman is aiming for Naia™ staple blends to range from 30 to 50 percent of the entire fabric content, focusing on how the fiber adds softness, comfort, moisture management, breathability, dry rates and pilling improvement in all applications.
When blended with recycled polyester, the fiber adds sweat and odor-management functionality, as well as versatility through one-bath dyeing. “Combined with recycled poly, Naia™ staple fiber helps the garment feel more natural,” said Doub. “And with recycled polyester disperse dyes, it helps the sustainability story.” Blended with modal or lyocell, it adds “circularity, quick-drying, longevity, and a super-soft hand.”
Eastman is working on developing “even cozier” blends for knitwear like sweaters, be they blends of wool, cotton, silk, recycled polyester and more. “Our cellulose acetate fibers blend and spin with a wide variety of yarns and can be used in cotton spinning, semi-worsted and worsted wool processes. With the ultimate blend of sustainability and style, Naia™ Renew is perfect for cross-seasonal designs that are cozy and chic any time of year,” said Doub.
Overall, Naia™ Renew staple fiber is all about the feel, making it “the perfect go-to” for everyday casual wear and athleisure. Soft, quick-drying and skin-friendly, the fiber adds a “fresh, soft hand” to garments, and in fact, recent comments from consumers referenced “super comfy” and one referenced a “buttery” feel based on their experience in wearing an outdoor casual T-shirt made with Naia™ Renew staple fiber.
Bedtime comfort
Since “nothing ruins a night of sleep like uncomfortable bedding,” Eastman has set its sights on the bedding industry, so consumers can rest easy with sheets and bedding made from Naia™ Renew staple fiber that carry the same performance properties.
In the bedroom, the staple fibers improve moisture wicking performance, so hot sleepers still wake up refreshed and cool, while moisture-wicking and cozy comfort add to an overall feeling of restorative sleep. Put simply, consumers are waking up refreshed.
Sheets, pillowcases and other bedding made with Naia™ Renew staple fibers also look as good as they feel—staying smooth and retaining their luster. They also have less pilling and look new even after multiple washes, revealing a less wrinkled and more crisp-looking bed.
Sustainability and circularity goals
Naia™ Renew has always had a strong sustainability and circularity growth story, and Eastman’s aggressive sustainability goals include having 50 percent of all its product made with Naia™ Renew in 2025. The company also aims to lower the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of the current Naia™ portfolio by 40 percent by 2030.
Circularity is helping that mission. “We’re solving a problem with waste, plastics, stuff that cannot be mechanically recycled and would be destined for landfill and incineration,” said Doub, about Eastman’s molecular recycling technology that breaks materials down into basic molecular building blocks.
As the resulting materials are indistinguishable from those made from traditional sources in quality, performance or appearance, there is “no fashion or comfort compromise” for any Naia™ Renew product. In addition, the recycling facilities at Eastman have allowed the Kingsport, Tennessee-based company to bring efforts up to scale to meet market demand.
Considering its wood-based fibers, Eastman is committed to the protection of both ancient and endangered forests as it creates all its sustainable fibers.
FSC® and PEFC-certified, Naia™ provides its partners with “full transparency and responsibility from tree to fiber,” and has been supporting reforestation projects with SOS Mata Atlantica in Brazil. The company was recently awarded once again the Canopy Dark Green Shirt as per Canopy Hot Button 2023 with 30 buttons.
*via mass balance accounting
For more information on Eastman’s sustainable forestry practices and its Naia™ portfolio, visit naia.eastman.com.
