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.
Ambercycle
Cycora is created using an advanced molecular regeneration technology that breaks down textile waste to its base molecules, Ambercycle said, then separates, purifies and reconstitutes them into a virgin-grade raw material.
Ambercycle
Ambercycle just received a strategic investment from Goldwin Play Earth Fund.
Better known by its acronym—GW-PEF—is the Japanese brand’s corporate venture capital arm, co-managed with fellow Tokyo-based CVC arm Ignition Point Venture Partners. The fund’s 10-year operating period manages a capital pool of 3 billion yen (approximately $24.6 million).
The Ambercycle investment is aligned with Goldwin’s larger sustainability goals and commitment to integrating regenerated materials, like Cycora, into the brand’s performance and outdoor product lines.
“Bringing Cycora to Japan offers a great opportunity to reach a market known for its precision, craftsmanship and technical innovation,” said Shay Sethi, co-founder and CEO of Ambercycle. “Goldwin’s commitment to intentional design and material harmony mirrors our own and together we’re showing that circularity isn’t a distant future—it’s a new standard with solutions being built right now.”
Goldwin Play Earth Fund has previously invested in innovations including Colorifix, Infinited Fiber Company and Dimpora, among others.
A limited quantity of Cycora will be featured in Goldwin’s Fall/Winter 2025-26 collection. At present, both teams are co-developing products for a full-scale launch for the Fall/Winter 2027 season, the partners said.
As Goldwin is a limited partner of GW-PEF, the Brewed Protein partner will collaborate with Ambercycle to develop performance-oriented products using the Los Angeles-based materials science innovator’s regenerated polyester.
Fulgar
Fulgar’s Q-Cycle yarn becomes part of Albini Studio’s experimental collection.
Courtesy
Italian man-made fiber manufacturer Fulgar brought its Q-Cycle to Milano Unica, where Albini 1876 selected the yarn for its next Albini Studio capsule collection for Autumn/Winter 2026-2027.
“Collaborating with a prestigious name like Albini 1876 is a significant recognition for Q-Cycle,” said Daniela Antunes, marketing manager at Fulgar. “It’s tangible proof that sustainable innovation is not only possible but can also become a key player in the creation of refined and sophisticated fabrics.”
Q-Cycle is a new-generation polyamide 6.6 yarn that’s made through a certified mass balance process. That process uses an entirely alternative raw material: pyrolysis oil, as obtained from the recycling of end-of-life or disused tires.
In addition to its technical performance attributes—including lightness, durability and elasticity comparable to virgin polyamide—Q-Cycle has a lower environmental impact, too. International certifications and labels such as RCS by Textile Exchange and Oeko-Tex, among others, attest to its sustainability credentials. The versatile material can be combined and processed with a variety of fibers, ideal for textile applications across performance and ready-to-wear.
“We chose Fulgar’s Q-Cycle yarn because it fully reflects the values of sustainability, innovation and traceability that guide our vision of contemporary textiles, said Ippolita Scandolera of Albini Studio.
Albini Studio, the capsule collection of Albini 1876—a brand of the Albini Group—serves as a “creative and experimental space where craftsmanship meets innovation to bring to life fabrics capable of inspiring the most visionary fashion brands,” the company prefaced. Within this context came the Kenzia fabric, made with Fulgar’s Q-Cycle and used in combination with either Tencel Lyocell or blended with cotton.
R0AM
A footbed featuring 30 percent Bloom Rise reportedly cleans 53.4 liters of water, according to the company’s “Eco-Facts.”
R0AM
Los Angeles-based footwear brand Roam just introduced some serious sustainable underfoot technology with its first-ever slipper. The company’s debut flip-flops feature material innovator Bloom’s Rise algae technology.
The Meridian, Mississippi-based company “leverages the positive attributes of algae to create environmentally-friendly materials,” the company said, which also tackles the “issue of harmful algae blooms by aiding in the harvesting of nuisance algae and returning clean water to the environment.” The flip-flop’s footbed comprises 30 percent of Rise by Bloom.
“Growing up in Hawaii, the outdoors shaped everything about who I am; my love for the ocean, nature and the planet runs deep. I’ve spent the past decade seeking out credible, certified innovations that align with our commitment to responsible design,” said Kay Sides, founder of Roam. “Bloom’s algae technology has been on my radar for a long time; it felt like the right time to integrate it. As we expanded into slippers, I wanted this design to reflect our elevated DNA while also embodying our belief that every conscious material choice matters.”
Rise by Bloom is an algae-blended resin containing a “significant fraction” of algae biomass and bio-based additives with a reported renewable content of at least 45 percent. The “More Algae! Less Oil!” company harvests and squeezes algae into a paste so it can dry. The algae paste is dried with heat to produce crunchy flakes. Bloom’s proprietary processes are used to “refine the algae flakes into unique blends of green powder.” The algae powder is then blended with polymers to produce pellets, Bloom said, which are then converted into foam and rubber for the finished products. Roam joins the ranks of brands like Volcom, Tommy Hilfiger, Merrell, Blowfish and Red Wing Shoes, among others, who have products featuring Bloom.
Ororo
The ZenFlow Power Cooling Jacket uses Ororo’s quiet cooling fan technology to bring fresh air into the jacket, providing up to 9.5 hours of consistent circulation for maximum comfort, the Kansas City brand said.
Ororo
Heated apparel brand Ororo is cooling down. The Kansas City-based brand expanded its thermodynamic range with the ZenFlow Power Cooling Jacket, Ororo’s first-ever cooling apparel piece.
Located in the lower back of the piece is a pair of three-speed cooling fans, powered by Ororo’s new PD5K battery. The lithium-ion battery (50575 mAh) is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global independent safety science certification organization. The battery features a 7.4V DC output port that’s compatible with Ororo’s heated offerings, too.
“Our apparel gives our customers the freedom to keep doing what they love by empowering them to challenge the climate,” said Mark Hu, Ororo’s co-founder and CEO. “This mindset—[and] listening to our customers—is what inspired us to expand; the ZenFlow jacket is just the beginning.”
As of July 31, the ZenFlow Power Cooling Jacket is available for preorder on Ororo’s website for $149.99 and is expected to begin shipping in early August.
AloJapan.com