High-performance fabric manufacturer Ventile is showcasing a range of fabrics from its sustainable fabric catalogue at Innovate Textile & Apparel.
This will include the award-winning Ventile Eco 205 made from 68% organic cotton and 32% hemp fibre, and the popular Ventile Eco recycled, made from 110% recycled cotton. Alongside this, online visitors will also get to view the all-new lyocell blend and linen blend fabrics at the show for the first time.
This is the second consecutive year that Ventile has increased its sustainable fabric offering on the back of high customer demand. Despite the challenges faced by fabric producers as a result of the global pandemic, the technical textile manufacturer has developed three new fabrics to add to its expanding sustainable fabric range.
“In a market first, Ventile launches a lyocell and linen blended fabric, Ventile Eco 290, combining 70% lyocell and 30% linen fibres. The result is a sustainable, water-repellent fabric for designers,” says the company.
To support growing customer demand, Ventile has also added two new fabrics to its current recycled offering. The lighter-weight Ventile 250 RCO, and the Ventile 230 RCO poplin fabric, are both made from 100% recycled cotton and are GRS-certified. After the successful development of its recycled fabric in 2018, the popularity of the Ventile sustainable range has grown ‘exponentially’, according to the company. Last year the brand reported a 115% growth in its sales of Ventile Organic Cotton Fabric over the past three years, with a quarter of all Ventile sales now coming from sustainable fabrics.
Ventile production manager, Daniel Odermatt, says: “Our Ventile sustainable range has developed over time almost entirely from customer requests for sustainable fabrics. At our core, we are committed to offering well-made fabric that offers a sustainable textile option. The latest edition, Ventile Eco 290 – a lyocell and linen blend – is made from the wood-like fibres of the eucalyptus tree. This raw material is a great sustainable option for fabric yarns.”
“Our Eco 290 fabric comes in at 290 g and so it is one of the heavier fabrics we produce,” he continues. “This trait means it is great for coats and accessories and has proven popular with shoe manufacturers. For Ventile, the expansion of our offering is vital to us as we continue to work with our customers to create products of the highest quality that only get better with age.”
Virtual opportunities
Discussing the main reasons behind Ventile’s exhibit at Innovate Textile & Apparel, the team says: “Ventile has worked with WTiN for a number of years as part of articles, news stories, and journal pieces. For Ventile, it is important that the brand is mentioned in the same conversations as WTiN. WTiN speaks directly to our customers and so it makes perfect sense to be part of its first virtual show.”
Expanding on the advantages of virtual platforms during this challenging time for the industry, the company says: “With the ongoing pandemic, many physical trade shows are running at a reduced capacity or are postponed. In this modern age, meeting with customers, talking through fabrics, and discussing their different needs is vital for successful partnerships between suppliers and brands. With the limited number of shows this year it remains important that Ventile continues to have a presence in the market. In addition, virtual shows also offer the opportunity to meet new customers that may not attend the traditional shows. We must adapt to these circumstances and embrace the alternatives.”
Revealing its plans for the remainder of 2020 and for 2021, Ventile says that, alongside the launch of its new lyocell blend fabric, it plans to continue its investment in new markets such as Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand.
