From the Sector

For the year 2022 SCOTT Racing Team confirms its partners who kept developing and evolving its uniform in the last three years: the knitwear factory Rosti, known for its technical excellence on product and image, the premium stretch fiber ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei, internationally recognized for stretch innovation and responsibility, and Sitip, a company specializing in the production of stretch and circular fabrics that combines tradition and innovation with a choice of sustainable production. A uniform created starting from the athletes' needs to offer them the best solution in terms of style and ergonomics, high performance, easy maintenance, perfect fit and sustainability.

This year, the evolution of research and development has led to the creation of new responsible shorts, made with NATIVE-THUNDERBIKE POWER fabric by Sitip in recycled polyamide and ROICA™ EF yarn by Asahi Kasei. A fabric designed for high-performance sports, particularly suitable for making cycling pants for its maximum coverage and UV protection - thanks to ECLIPSE Sun Protection technology - breathability, comfort and fit. Also the shirt has been produced with Sitip recycled fabrics - NATIVE-BICIMANIA and NATIVE-PIRATA - made with Asahi Kasei's ROICA™ EF* sustainable, stretch and certified recycled yarns. This composition, together with Sitip MICROSENSE Soft Performance technology, made the shirt breathable, offering maximum comfort on the skin.

The Chief Creative Officer is the lead within the adidas design community and is responsible for shaping, defining, and shepherding the creative direction for the global brand and its three major labels – Performance , Originals, and Sportswear – to deliver a unified adidas brand experience. Willis will begin his contract beginning of April, reporting to Executive Board Member of Global Brands, Brian Grevy.

Willis is a creative visionary with a long-standing connection to adidas that dates back to 2005, most notably through his role in the concept and development of adidas by Stella McCartney in partnership with Stella McCartney He has remained integral to the growth and development of the partnership since its launch.

Beyond adidas by Stella McCartney, Willis has built a strong understanding of the company’s consumers, brand, labels, and categories through his work on a number of breakthrough projects, including a lead role in developing some of adidas’ most iconic material innovations.

Outside of his work with adidas he is revered for his tenure as Creative Director of British fashion heritage brand, Hunter, transforming what was a small single product business into a multi-category global fashion brand, and as co-founder of the trailblazing Wallpaper* Magazine. It is through this diverse experience that Willis brings not just creative expertise, but the ability to deliver across commercial, strategic, and leadership functions.

As Chief Creative Officer at adidas, Willis will provide global creative leadership, develop and nurture the brand’s creative culture, and empower teams across all design functions.

“Stepping into a permanent role at adidas and evolving our partnership is a great privilege and feels like an incredibly exciting and natural next step,” said Willis. “The power and influence of the brand on sport , sports culture, and beyond is immeasurable. I welcome the opportunity to help establish a new era of design and brand leadership at adidas and, together with the team, take adidas to even higher levels.”

“Alasdhair is a true icon of the industry and together we have produced some of adidas’ most innovative work, so to now have him lead our design community and set the future of our brand expression is a wonderful thing,” said Executive Board Member of Global Brands, Brian Grevy. “We are looking forward to seeing the influence of his unique creative vision, experience and expertise from developing and establishing some of the world’s most recognised brands.”

Die Weitblick GmbH & Co. KG zählt zu den besten Arbeitgebern Deutschlands. Auf Basis einer wissenschaftlich fundierten Mitarbeiter- und Managementbefragung zeichnet das Zentrum für Arbeitgeberattraktivität (zeag GmbH) alljährlich die attraktivsten Arbeitgeber des deutschen Mittelstandes aus. Das „Top Job“-Siegel 2022 wird vom ehemaligen Vize-Kanzler Sigmar Gabriel als Schirmherr verliehen. Weitblick überzeugte durch gutes Mitarbeiterfeedback im Bereich Kultur und Kommunikation.

Das in vierter Generation familiengeführte Unternehmen, das gerade sein 90-jähriges Bestehen feierte, beschäftigt ca. 150 Mitarbeitende an seinem Stammsitz in Kleinostheim und im Logistikzentrum in Alzenau.

Weitblick hat bei seinen bisher drei Teilnahmen „Top Job“ als geeignetes Mittel kennengelernt, durch umfassende Informationen über die Meinungen und Wünsche der Belegschaft ein besserer Arbeitgeber zu werden. Die Verbesserungen, die aus einer sorgfältigen Analyse der Befragungsergebnisse im Jahr 2020 abgeleitet wurden, waren signifikant.

Ein besonderes Augenmerk galt in den letzten Jahren einer verbesserten Kommunikation. Neben den vertrauten Wegen des Austauschs gibt es inzwischen z.B. quartalsweise Town-Hall Meetings und seit kurzem auch Vertrauenspersonen, die in fast allen Lebenslagen weiterzuhelfen versuchen. Außerdem können sich die Mitarbeitenden über verschiedene Arbeitsgruppen einbringen, etwa über das Kaizen- oder das Business-Development-Team. In den regelmäßig stattfindenden Visions-Workshops vermittelt die Geschäftsleitung die Vision von Weitblick und die dahinterstehenden Werte. Für das Projekt „Walk & Talk“, wo zwei per Zufallsprinzip ermittelte Beschäftigte während der Arbeitszeit miteinander spazieren gehen, um sich besser kennenzulernen, haben sich allein 40 Kolleginnen und Kollegen gemeldet.

Wie modern das Unternehmen aufgestellt ist, beweist eine eigene Arbeitsgruppe „Diversity“. In diesem abteilungsübergreifenden Team wird beispielsweise ein Diversity-Leitbild erarbeitet, über das Gendern diskutiert und identifiziert, wo innerbetrieblich noch mehr Gleichberechtigung geschaffen werden kann. Gefragt sind Menschen, die in diese spezielle Arbeitsumgebung passen, daher gilt der erste Blick nicht nur deren Qualifikationen. Es geht um die Begeisterung für die Aufgabe, und die wächst, denn die Textilprofis wollen auch einen Beitrag zur Nachhaltigkeit in ihrer Branche leisten.

Das Arbeitgeber-Programm „Top Job“
Mit „Top Job“ arbeiten mittelständische Unternehmen an ihren Qualitäten als Arbeitgeber. Das Siegel macht ihre Attraktivität für Bewerber sichtbar. Basis für die Auszeichnung ist eine umfangreiche Mitarbeiter- und Managementbefragung. Sie wird organisiert von der zeag GmbH, Zentrum für Arbeitgeberattraktivität, mit Sitz in Konstanz am Bodensee. Die wissenschaftliche Leitung des Benchmarkings liegt in den Händen von Prof. Dr. Heike Bruch und ihrem Team vom Institut für Führung und Personalmanagement der Universität St. Gallen. Schirmherr des Projekts ist Sigmar Gabriel.

• Prognose zum Krankenhaus- und Pflegemarkt
• Großes Nachhaltigkeitspotenzial durch professionelle Wäscheversorgung in der häuslichen Pflege

Die Nachfrage nach Krankenhaus- und Pflegeleistungen wird in den kommen-den Jahren weiter ansteigen. In der häuslichen Pflege ist vom stärksten Nachfrageanstieg auszugehen. Das bietet ein großes, bisher noch wenig bedientes Potenzial für die Versorgung durch professionelle Textildienstleister. Diese Versorgung ist nicht nur aus hygienischen Gründen angebracht, sondern auch unter Nachhaltigkeitsgesichtspunkten. Durch einen geringeren Wasser- und CO2- Verbrauch ist der ökologische Fußabdruck deutlich kleiner. Zu dieser Prognose kommt die Studie Health & Care von Prof. Frank Schmitz von der Hochschule für Gesundheit in Bochum, Anne Griese, M.A. von der Hochschule Rhein-Waal sowie Andreas Fastenau von der LEO System GmbH.

Bereits heute wird ein Großteil der Krankenhäuser in Deutschland von professionellen Textildienstleistern mit Textilien und Berufskleidung versorgt. In der häuslichen Pflege ist das bislang wenig bekannt. Durch die Nutzung bereits vorhandener Logistik zu den Haushalten der pflegebedürftigen Menschen und die Vernetzung der Beteiligten ist ein Waschen in industriellen Großwäschereien allerdings möglich, so die Ergebnisse der Studie.

Wachsender Markt
Vor dem Hintergrund einer alternden Gesellschaft nimmt die Zahl pflegebedürftiger Menschen in Deutschland zu. Basierend auf dem Prognosemodell des Deloitte Health Care Indicators wird von einem Anstieg von 28% ausgegangen. Insbesondere der Versorgungsbedarf in der eigenen Häuslichkeit werde stark ansteigen. Der Prognose zufolge werde die Anzahl pflegebedürftiger Menschen, die durch einen Pflegedienst betreut werden, um 33% zunehmen. Im gleichen Zeitraum werde die Zahl der Behandlungstage in Krankenhäusern um 2,8% ansteigen. Die Anzahl der Krankenhausfälle wird sich allerdings per anno um mehr als 2,8% erhöhen, da die Verweildauer weiter sinken werde.

In der Summe werde auch der Wäscheverbrauch zunehmen. Für die einzelnen Segmente betrachtet bedeutet dies im Bundesdurchschnitt: ein Anstieg von 2,8% für die Versorgung von Krankenhäusern bis 2035 und in der stationären Pflege von 3,8%. Im Bereich der ambulanten Pflege sind noch wesentlich größere Wachstumsraten zu erwarten. Unter der Annahme, dass der Wäscheverbrauch in der ambulanten Pflege je Pflegetag dem in der stationären Pflege entspricht, geht die Prognose von einem Anstieg der Nachfrage im Bundesdurchschnitt bis 2035 um 24,5% aus.

Die Entwicklung ist sowohl bezogen auf die unterschiedlichen Segmente als auch regional sehr heterogen. Regionen mit einem besonders großen Nachfrageanstieg sind geprägt durch Bevölkerungswachstum und ein höheres Durchschnittsalter in der Bevölkerung.

Geringerer Energieverbrauch bei professionellen Textildienstleistern
„In der Nutzung des professionellen Textilservice für die Wäscheversorgung in der häuslichen Pflege liegt ein großes Nachhaltigkeitspotenzial“, so Prof. Frank Schmitz. Datenerhebungen haben gezeigt, dass der Wasser- und Energieverbrauch je Kilogramm Wäsche in der industriellen Großwäscherei gegenüber den Haushaltsgeräten erheblich geringer ist. Die Studie skizziert mehrere Szenarien für die professionelle Textilpflege im Bereich der häuslichen Pflege. Bereits eine anteilige Zentralisierung der Wäscheaufbereitung von 25% führt demnach im Jahre 2035 zu einer Ersparnis von rund 5,17 Mio. m³ Wasser und 16,76 Tsd. Tonnen CO2.

Weitere Nachhaltigkeitspotenziale vorhanden
Nicht betrachtet wurde in der Studie der Nachhaltigkeitsvorteil der textilen Dienstleistung über die Energieeinsparungen hinaus. Nach Einschätzungen der Autoren und des DTV liegt ein großes Nachhaltigkeitspotenzial in der Lebensdauer der eingesetzten Textilien. Je länger Textilien eingesetzt werden können, umso weniger müssen neu produziert werden. Im zirkulären Geschäftsmodell der textilen Dienstleister ist dieser Aspekt systemimmanent. Die dort eingesetzten Textilien erreichen oftmals mehr als 100 Waschzyklen. Dies wird in der Regel durch Eigenwäsche nicht erreicht.

„Die Prognose zeigt, dass der Textilservice Antworten für viele aktuelle Problemstellungen im Bereich der Nachhaltigkeit hat. Nachhaltigkeit in der textilen Kette darf nicht nur in der Herstellung oder dem Recycling gedacht werden, sondern muss insbesondere auch den Nutzungszyklus berücksichtigen. Kreislaufwirtschaftsmodelle wie das unsere können zur Erreichung der gesteckten Klimaziele beitragen“, so Andreas Schumacher, Hauptgeschäftsführer des Deutschen Textilreinigungs-Verbandes. Die vollständige Studie gibt es online.

Sitip confirms for the third year its partnership with SCOTT Racing Team in the production of the team uniform created in collaboration with ROICA™ EF of Asahi Kasei and Rosti.

The partnership was born in 2019 and celebrated during Ispo 2020, which returns for the third consecutive year to re-propose an exclusive and special uniform, designed to be extremely performing but also, and entirely, eco-sustainable.

Starting from the performance requirements of athletes, who need highly technical fabrics extremely breathable, comfortable on the skin, resistant and with perfect shape retention able to support them in competitions, Sitip has chosen the fabrics of its Native Sustainable Textiles line - technology which applies to fabrics produced with recycled yarns and chemicals with low environmental impact, implementing the GRS (Global Recycle Standard) standard, with Asahi Kasei’s premium ROICA™ EF stretch yarn.

This line includes NATIVE-BICIMANIA and NATIVE-PIRATA, two GRS-certified recycled polyester fabrics chosen for the production of the uniform shirt, enriched by Microsense Soft Performance technology - able to guarantee the product a delicate softness and maximum comfort on the skin.

This year the absolute novelty is represented by the shorts, for a complete uniform: made with the NATIVE-THUNDERBIKE POWER fabric, designed for high performance sports, in recycled polyamide and always with the ROICA™ EF yarn by Asahi Kasei.

For its 2021 Green Collection, the Italian luxury hosiery brand Sarah Borghi presents a broadened product offer in terms of colors and categories, meeting the needs of a stylish, yet sustainable consumer. By mixing fashion, quality, innovation and research, the tights and stockings powerhouse continues its development in the journey towards a conscious future.

A decisive step has been added to the brand’s history thanks to the publication of the Integrated Report by Gizeta Calze. Sarah Borghi is one of the first Italian companies in the hosiery sector to include sustainability throughout its business model. A commitment of responsibility and transparency on a path that has been carried on for years and that, today more than ever, becomes of the utmost importance, as stated by Luca Marzocchi, CEO of Gizeta Calze. The Integrated Report provides a complete view of the business strategy, operating model and governance, which combines financial information with sustainability insights, conceived as complementary to other strategies and, indeed, essential for increasing business value.

The collection presents a range of versatile, colorful products combined with extra-luxury comfort and designed for every type of woman: from seductive tights to everyday socks, together with knee- highs, up to athleisure with leggings.
 
The collection features two new generation materials. One is Amni Soul Eco®, a biodegradable in anaerobic conditions polyamide 6.6 yarn that degrades in around 5 years* after disposing of in landfill, developed by SOLVAY and produced and distributed by FULGAR. The other is ROICA™ V550 by leading fiber manufacturer Asahi Kasei, a premium sustainable stretch yarn boasting the Gold Level Material Health Certificate by Cradle-to-Cradle Product Innovation Institute** as it has been evaluated for impact on human and environmental health. Moreover, it smartly breaks down without releasing harmful substances in the environment according to Hohenstein Environment Compatibility Certification. Key elements that makes ROICA™ V550 a precious choice when it comes to Circular Economy material approach.

*Reference System: ASTM D5511 - Standard Test Method for the Determination of Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastics Under High-solids Anaerobic Digestion Conditions
** The Cradle-to-Cradle Product Innovation Institute, a non -profit organization, administer the Cradle-to-Cradle Certified™ Product Standard. It was created to bring about a new industrial revolution that turns the making of things into a positive force of society, economy and the planet. The Cradle-to-Cradle Certified Product Standard™ provides designers and manufacturers with criteria and requirements for continually improving what products are made of and how they are made aiming to achieve a circular economy approach.

For the summer events at the Berlin exhibition center, the Premium Group is relying on a new mix of fashion, business, content and entertainment.

The State of Style & Culture
The Premium Group is expanding its portfolio in the summer to include the consumer festival THE GROUND in addition to the existing PREMIUM and SEEK trade fairs and is presenting numerous innovations for the long-awaited reunion of the industry in Berlin.

The new location Messe Berlin will become the Premium Group cosmos, a holistic inspirational hub for all relevant topics related to fashion, trends, retail, lifestyle, marketing, digitization, sustainability, metaverse and more.

In July, brands and partners can also present themselves to end consumers for the first time as part of the new event THE GROUND, 'Direct to Consumer'. Consumers get access to THE GROUND, while trade visitors are invited to view the full range and be inspired throughout the site.

PREMIUM: New tripartition with new segments
In order to be able to show all relevant segments of advanced contemporary fashion even better and more holistically, the PREMIUM portfolio will be divided into three new areas from the summer. With the segmentation into High, Icon & Volume, large, commercially successful brands as well as more focused designer brands, newcomers and smaller innovators will now find their place. Here the PREMIUM fashion team advises all partners in detail in order to guarantee ideal positioning and the possibility of storytelling.

SEEK: Premiere of the SEEK Conscious Club
Sustainability has been part of the culture of the SEEK brand since it was founded 12 years ago. With the new SEEK Conscious Club, in addition to the SEEK area with well-known and new SEEKERS, a dedicated area for sustainable brands is being created. SEEK offers them the stage and space to grow and the attention to optimally spread brand values. The international SEEK community is represented by niche brands as well as commercially successful players. And the established TRADE UNION for brands with a particularly sharp sales strategy will once again have an exclusive area in the new location.

THE GROUND: Festival for Style & Culture
With the new Direct to Consumer Festival THE GROUND, the Premium Group is now also inviting Gen-Z, Gen-Y and Culture Pioneers once a year. Music acts, panels and live talks with well-known speakers and influencers, creative workshops, sports and wellbeing sessions are intended to inspire, enrich, enlighten and inspire exchange: entertainment, edutainment and experiences.

THE GROUND turns live streams into live encounters, consumers into co-creators and classic retailers into strategic marketing and event partners. Here, through emotional experiences and unique showcases, brands can be experienced and interested customers become loyal brand fans. Topics relevant to society and generations, such as fashion, sports, beauty & well-being, metaverse & gaming, will be featured in the area as well as in talks and master classes as part of the FASHIONTECH content format.

"In order to remain sustainable, we want and need to merge B2B and D2C and create a place - a marketplace for ideas and products - where brands, retailers and consumers come together and learn from each other. For the first time, we are offering holistic reach, synergy and network effects,” explains Jörg Arntz, Managing Director Premium Group.

“B2B and D2C will take place in parallel on one site, although of course there will still be an area for professionals only, i.e. exclusively for the industry. The D2C area is accessible to both end consumers and trade visitors. In addition to our trade fairs, we create new content from which our visitors and exhibitors benefit.”

During the event, which will take place from Thursday to Saturday for the first time, it will be about exchange, trends, inspiration and emotion, new brands, the further development of well-known players, creative collection presentations and of course what the fashion world and its protagonists * inside: joy and passion. In order for this to work and for the long-term existence of the new event concept in Berlin to be guaranteed, everyone involved is asked, challenged and responsible.
 
Selected brand highlights:
American Vintage // Aigner // At.p.Co  // Ben Sherman // Blue de Geñes // Buffalo // Camper // C.O.F. Studio // Copenhagen Studios // Coster Copenhagen // Crep Protect // Denham // Dstrezzed // Drykorn // Ecoalf 1.0 //  Edwin // Ellesse // Fabienne Chapot //  Fleurs de Bagne // Floris Van Bommel // Gant //  Happy Socks // Helene Galwas // Herrlicher // Hiltl //  Horizn Studios // Ilse Jacobsen // Izipizi Paris // Kangaroos // Kennel & Schmenger Schuhmanufaktur // Keen // K-Swiss // Lee // Merz b. Schwanen // Moss Copenhagen // Nautica  // Novesta // Nudie Jeans //  O My Bag // Pantofola D’Oro 1886  // People of Shibuya // Palladium // Pendleton Woolen Mills // Puma // Property Of //  Reyn Spooner // Sandqvist // Saucony // Studio Seidensticker // Stutterheim // Sofie Schnoor // Steve Madden // Thinking Mu // Ucon Acrobatics //  Uniform Bridge // Veja // Womsh // Wool & Co // Wrangler// Yaya // Zespá

Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating - specialists for cast film, sheet extrusion and extrusion coating lines - will showcase a new production process for cost-effective film/nonwoven composites with an exceptionally low grammage at ICE (International Converting Exhibition) Europe. The leading international trade show for paper, film, and foil conversion and processing will be held at Messe München (Munich trade fair center) from March 15-17, 2022.

The Covid-19 pandemic and current supply shortages have exposed the dependence of companies on global supply chains. This situation is both a warning signal and an opportunity to boost and reorganize the local production of semi-finished products from the ground up. Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating has now developed a trend-setting production process termed Ultrathin Coating, in particular for the sector of medical protective clothing. The process will permit customers to produce particularly lightweight film/nonwoven composites with greater cost efficiency and, as a result, more competitively. The patent-pending process has several advantages: It cuts film grammage by 66%; material consumption in the overall composite is reduced by 28%; and it slashes costs by up to 34% compared to conventional semi-finished products. Significant cost savings are achieved in various ways, for example, by replacing hotmelt adhesives, which reduces line maintenance to a great extent at the same time.

Mark Borutta, Sales & Marketing Specialist bei Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating, erklärt: „Wir erleben derzeit einen nachhaltig wachsenden Mehrbedarf für medizinische Schutzbekleidung verbunden mit einer Rückholstrategie für lokale Produktionskapazitäten. Vor diesem Hintergrund erzielen Produzenten mit ‚Ultrathin Coating‘ einen schnellen Return on Invest und hohe Profitabilität – auch bei einer Produktion innerhalb Europas.“ Die Vlies-erfahrene Schwesterfirma Reifenhäuser Reicofil –führender Hersteller von Vliesstoffanlagen – hat die Entwicklung unterstützt.

Mark Borutta, Sales & Marketing specialist at Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating, explains: "We are currently experiencing a sustained increase in demand for medical protective clothing combined with a return strategy for local production capacity. Against this backdrop, producers achieve a fast return on investment and high profitability with Ultrathin Coating - even when production is based in Europe." The sister company, Reifenhäuser Reicofil, an experienced and global leading manufacturer of nonwoven lines, provided their support to the development.

Even if manufacturers already produce medical protective clothing and prefer to handle the coating process internally in the future instead of importing the necessary composites, it is worthwhile to set up an in-house production facility. In either case, the investment in Ultrathin Coating usually pays for itself in less than 12 months. The lower material input also reduces the consumption of fossil raw materials and this in turn responds to the increased demand for more sustainable products.

• C.L.A.S.S. ICON 2021 winner DUARTE returns to Milan Fashion Week launching its SEASON 2 “Eco-Street Dance” collection as a special feature at White Sustainable Milano inside the “Unveiling the fashion backstage” event

By mixing C.L.A.S.S. responsible materials, colorful prints, urban feels and artistic inspiration, the Portuguese streetwear brand creates a new style and a clear yet cool message for conscious fashion consumers
The rewarded 2021 C.L.A.S.S. Icon Award Portuguese brand Duarte is ready to presents its Fall/Winter 2022/23 collection developed in collaboration with C.L.A.S.S. Eco Hub during Milan Fashion Week. With the support of WHITE, Duarte’s creations will be featured as a special project at WSM (WHITE Sustainable Milano) platform space inside “Unveiling the fashion Backstage”, a docu-event focusing on an immersive journey into the amazing world of premium and smart supply chains that make innovative and responsible fashion wardrobes a reality.

For its second collection Duarte still counts on C.L.A.S.S. support in sourcing materials and communication activities as part of the Icon Award yearly program. The streetwear designer Ana Duarte, with the help of the Milanese hub, is back with a renewed collection that counts 40 pieces continuing the concept and the story behind the previous World Keeper: the irresistible superhero Tadao - Ana Duarte’s dog – fighting against the environmental issues created by mankind and personified as Smog Man (air pollution), Fire Man (climate change), Deforestation Man (forests destruction) and Wave Man (water overconsumption).

This time the inspiration is also Street Dance drawn directly from the city streets, with majorly unisex pieces (apart from some small specific details linked to sizes or ergonomics) and materials that both respect the planet and keep you warm. The prints drawn from ripped posters giving birth to a sort of new style that we can name “Eco-Street Dance”. The color palette explores the dark shades of grey, cream, blue and black, with artistic pops of color of a hopeful urban culture that tears apart posters from the past and turns them into a new brighter story. 

The linings complete the full sustainable picture, thanks to Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei fabrics by Gianni Crespi Foderami. Bemberg™ is a new generation material made from the smart-tech transformation of cotton linter pre-consumer material, converted through a traceable and transparent closed loop process. Entirely made in Japan, it comes with Compostability and Ecotoxicity Certifications verified by Innovhub-SSI, RCS, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 and the Eco Mark certifications. The factory is ISO 14001 certified, too.

The collection will mark the return of Duarte’s cool and responsible style to Milan Fashion week and White Sustainable Milano. “We are proud to support Duarte as her style, her creations, visual communication and message are so beautiful, innovative and responsible. On top of that, her message to the consumer is so clear and easy for everybody to understand. With Duarte it is very easy to make a “conscious choice” without any sacrifice, and completely in line with the C.L.A.S.S. manifesto” says Giusy Bettoni, C.L.A.S.S. CEO & founder.

• Where performance and responsibility all together become the new norm
• Discover ROICA™ groundbreaking innovations in the sports field, and the bold partnerships that made them possible

Today ROICA™ main objective is to focus on and respond to new generation values in fashion. Values that are key for contemporary consumers, who are the ones leading the change throughout all the supply value chain, and have received even more attention since the beginning of the pandemic. ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei team knows that value creation is the basic foundation of contemporary business. Its teams are ready to go to the next level, answering to the market demand for top-notch innovation while sharing its responsibility efforts towards the new generation of consumer.

For this reason, the ROICA™ strategy is based on two key elements. On the one side, a strong focus on responsible innovation, able to respond to new fashion needs and desires while not harming the environment nor the society at large. On the other hand, a consolidation of partnerships along the whole supply chain through conversations and collaborations with companies sharing the ROICA™ values, in order to deliver creativity, solutions and design to all contemporary consumers.

It is of the utmost importance to share the current wardrobe stories developed and offered to contemporary consumer throughout our ROICA™ supply chain efforts. Starting from the various applications of ROICA™, from the fibre down to the outfits, passing from fabrics and manufacturing.

Activation
Performance sportswear styles for Gym, Athletics, Cycle wear, Athleisure as well as mindful Yoga and Exercisewear. Its main keywords are freedom, fit, performance and responsibility. Among the brands recurring to this application we can find:

- Edelvissa is an emerging all-Italian brand, born in the heart of Milan. The designer Elisabetta Bianco, who grew up under the wings of her grandfather and father, both expert knitters, decided to found a reality that would fully represent her vision of luxury homewear. Flanked by her partner and her brother, Elisabetta created a brand with a transparent soul, based on the quality of materials, complete product traceability and social and environmental sustainability. From the heart of Milan, Edelvissa aims to share the centuries-old textile culture and the high Italian craftsmanship tradition. In its first collection, a crop top with a beautiful embroidery of blooming flowers and a pair of comfortable, yet stylish leggings are both crafted from a Maglificio Ripa fabric developed with Q-NOVA® BY FULGAR recycled polyamide and ROICA™ EF* recycled stretch yarn, both GRS certified. Maglificio Ripa is a premium partner of ROICA™.

- Scott Racing Team: A partnership born in 2019 and celebrated at Ispo 2020, based on two premium partnerships: Rosti for the style and manufacturing, ROICA™’s partner Sitip for technical fabrics made from GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified recycled yarns including ROICA™ EF*, the certified recycled stretch ingredient produced by Asahi Kasei. A synergy that has given life to high-tech clothing, customized for this team able to face the climatic conditions and the performances necessary to face the activity in the summer season: light resistance as well as maximum comfort. In addition to the values of sustainability, high performance, breathability, comfort on the skin, shape  retention and resistance, ease of maintenance, style and ergonomics, there is now the commercial distribution of the uniform, which finally passes from the team to the end consumer who can purchase it exclusively on the Rosti e-shop.