New Collection
Ucon Acrobatics
* Lotus Infinity Series
written Sarah Arendts
As the orange and brown hues of autumn sweep across Berlin, change is in the air, and it's not just the changing of the leaves. A trailblazer in rethinking fashion’s carbon footprint, Ucon Acrobatics, is shifting the paradigm of textile production by launching its "Lotus Infinity" series.
This fall, bags and backpacks, inspired by minimalist design, will not just be another addition to the world of fashion. They are a statement. Each backpack in the "Lotus Infinity" series will reuse an impressive 850g of textile waste - a blend of 82% discarded garments and 18% industrial waste from textile production. A response to an industry notorious for being the second-largest pollutant, this innovation looks to mitigate the 10% of global carbon emissions rooted in textile manufacturing.
With disturbing data indicating that only 0.6% of textiles were recycled in 2021, the efforts of Ucon Acrobatics co-founders, Martin Fussenegger and Jochen Smuda, are timely and radical. "Every second, a truckload of textiles faces the grim fate of being either burned or landfilled," laments Fussenegger. By shifting focus from recycling PET bottles to harnessing textile waste, they're hoping to address the pressing need for sustainable production methods.
The process, as fascinating as it is revolutionary, involves transforming textile waste, especially those rich in PET, into high-quality PET granules. These are then metamorphosed into yarns, slashing CO2 emissions by 35% when contrasted with synthetic virgin polyester. The brand's commitment doesn’t stop there. Those familiar hard plastic elements and foams? They're now being substituted with felt derived from textile waste.
But, innovation isn't limited to just recycling. Ucon Acrobatics has spent close to three years perfecting a material, “PUrTEX∞”. This isn't just any 'vegan leather'. It boasts a scratch resistance upped by 100 times, completely devoid of solvents.
Taking a leaf out of nature’s playbook, Ucon Acrobatics employs a “dope dye” technique, a dyeing process that's resource-efficient. Think of a scenario where water consumption drops by 90%, chemical usage dives by 80%, and energy and CO2 emissions are halved. That’s the reality they’re creating.
The vision for 2024 is bold. Ucon Acrobatics aims to lead the textile world into an era of complete circularity. It's not just about sustainability but redefining the term. By ensuring products are recyclable at the end of their lifecycle, they're championing a movement where textiles find a new lease of life, time and time again.
For Fussenegger, the mission is clear, “Our measures are extraordinary, yes, but necessary. The higher production costs are a price we're willing to pay, for the circular economy is the call of our times.” The gauntlet has been thrown, beckoning the industry to follow suit, because as he rightly points out, “The industry must evolve – preferably sooner than later.”
Born in Berlin, Ucon Acrobatics is synonymous with bags and backpacks that resonate with the urban soul. Their ethos is firmly rooted in minimizing environmental impact while crafting designs that stand the test of time. With products available in over 1,000 stores across 34 countries, their footprint, both in fashion and sustainability, is global. Because at Ucon Acrobatics, the belief is that style and responsibility aren't mutually exclusive. They're two sides of the same recycled coin.
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(c) Ucon Acrobatics