Decathlon's develops new swimwear fabric that’s sustainable and stretchy

Decathlon has developed a new swimwear fabric called Negombo that is both made from recycled materials and recyclable itself. This innovation eliminates the use of elastane, traditionally used for stretch but difficult to recycle.

Negombo uses a special knitting technique with Lycra's T400eco fiber and recycled PET bottles to achieve elasticity and shape retention. It boasts a high percentage (76 per cent) of recycled fibers and offers chlorine resistance exceeding 500 hours.

The eco-friendliness extends further. Negombo's opacity eliminates the need for a liner, reducing fabric use and drying time. Additionally, printing on the fabric uses sublimation techniques with 60 per cent lower carbon dioxide emissions than conventional dyeing.

To further enhance recyclability, Decathlon partnered with Resortecs. Resortecs' Smart Stitch threads dissolve at specific temperatures during garment disassembly, facilitating the process. Smart Disassembly, their industrial system, efficiently separates materials for recycling at a large scale.

This combination of Negombo fabric and Resortecs' technologies creates a more sustainable swimwear option from production to disposal.