An RTP-based textiles startup has teamed up with Mitsui to make antimicrobial yarn in Asia with recycled polymers.
PurThread, which has developed patented antimicrobial yarns, is now combining its technology with recycled polymers – an answer for both antimicrobial solutions and sustainability, says CEO Lisa Grimes. And through the expanded partnership, those yarns can be created in Asia.
Since the onset of the pandemic interest has increased in antimicrobial textiles, she said.
PurThread, by using silver salts, has developed a way to create anticmicrobial fabric for use in everything from hospital curtains to T-shirts. And the global worry over the spread of viruses has only increased inquiries.
“That’s why we are trying to make PurThread more readily available,” she said. “A lot of products are manufactured in Asia, so we think this will help further the ability to solve consumer requests.”
Mitsui was already tied to PurThread from a distribution standpoint.
“This just takes it a step further so we are actually able to produce yarn in Asia rather than producing it here and having to ship it,” she said.
In addition to creating new revenue opportunities, the expanded partnership can help streamline the headaches felt in the ongoing supply chain crisis, she said.
“The fact that we’ll be both in the U.S. and Asia I think will definitely help,” she said.
PurThread has had a longstanding relationship with Mitsui, having renewed its exclusive distribution agreement multiple times over the years. The companies were initially introduced through one of PurThread’s yarn partners.
“They asked if we would like an introduction because they thought that PurThread’s antimicrobial technology would be a good fit,” she recalls.
Mitsui conducted a lot of due diligence, specifically to make sure the solution PurThreat had come up with was antimicrobial – and permanent.
It conducted product testing and liked what it saw, Grimes said.
PurThread is based in RTP but has operated virtually since the pandemic, outsourcing its manufacturing, primarily in the southeast.
Mitsui is one of its largest partners, Grimes said.