ISKO strives to make recycled fibres the norm
Turkish denim mill ISKO returned to Kingpins Amsterdam after a hiatus with its spring-summer collections, with recycled fibres from sister company Re&UP in every fabric.
Most have a minimum of 25% recycled content and are Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified, up to a maximum of 85%.
Keith O’Brien, senior marketing and PR manager at ISKO, said: “One of the things we wanted to do with our engineering was present all our fabric technologies in recycled fibres. Our recycled fibres are commercially competitive with virgin fibres. Of course, the fabric still needs look good, it needs to be fashion first.”
In terms of its spring-summer fabrics, the mill launched ISKO Multitouch, which delivers multiple textures and styles from a single material, ideal for bold silhouettes like wide-leg and balloon cuts. It offers soft or firm finishes, striking 3D effects, permanent embossing and vintage washes, all without harsh chemicals.
ISKO Iconic features vibrant coatings like Oxi and Proxy, as well as glossy Mirror and Matrix's resin-wash effects, while ISKO Comfort2 combines dual elasticity in both warp and weft, offering the cosy feel of knits with the look of classic twill.
ISKO Colors introduces a refreshed palette of shades, tints and hues that embody the relaxed vibe of spring/summer. “We are also showing fabrics with bright colours and tones, as we wanted to show that you don’t have to sacrifice the colour when using recycled fibres,” added Mr O’Brien.
RE&UP, the “circulartech” company established by ISKO’s owner Sanko, has a capacity of dealing with 80,000 to 120,000 tonnes of waste annually, moving towards its target of 200,000 tonnes by 2025. It operates a facility in Turkey, with a new site earmarked for Spain, and with more planned globally. It aims to recycle 1 million tonnes of waste annually, on a global basis, by 2030.
Mr O’Brien acknowledged the company is in a good position to meet growing demand for recycled fibres. “Incoming EU legislation will require brands to look at their waste and will affect decision-making on materials. Before, mills would mainly talk to buyers, but now they also speak to sustainability teams, who have a say in what fabrics they buy.”
