A startup in downstate Peoria wants to help Ralph Lauren make clothes of the future.
Natural Fiber Welding, a startup that turns recycled cotton into new high-performance materials, announced Thursday that it received a minority investment from the Ralph Lauren Corporation. The investment will allow Ralph Lauren to help scale NFW’s process and create clothing from natural, sustainable materials.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Founded in 2015, NFW takes recycled cotton---which is typically unsuitable for use in new cotton apparel after it's been used---and creates a process that transforms the material into a product that can be worn again. NFW welds the short fibers from cotton waste into longer fibers to create high-performance cotton yarns. This allows designers to reuse the cotton to create upcycled material that outperforms synthetic fabrics while still retaining the feel of cotton, the startup says.
“We are thrilled to have the investment, support and insight of Ralph Lauren, an industry icon whose commitment to timelessness – to true sustainability – is central to who they are,” founder and CEO Luke Haverhals said in a statement.
Ralph Lauren said it plans to use the startup's technology to expand its use of recycled post-consumer cotton and reduce its reliance on non-biodegradable synthetics like polyester and nylon.
“Today, sustainability is an area where this is especially important, and investing with partners to scale innovative solutions is a key part of our sustainability strategy," David Lauren, vice chairman and chief innovation officer at Ralph Lauren, said in a statement. "We are excited to support the work of NFW, a pioneer in this field. Their technology has the power to not only advance our work at Ralph Lauren, but effect positive change across the entire industry.”
