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Kaltrina Bylykbashi
NuYarn is classified as a transitional material.
NuYarn makes merino Wool more efficient by using a patented spin-free process that drafts wool fibres along a high-performance filament. This is said to make the material 25% warmer, 38% more durable, 16% stretchier, 5x quicker drying, 51% more water resistant and 62% more air resistant, while maintaining its positive qualities such as odour resistance.
These figures are based on independent tests carried out by AgResearch, New Zealand. By enhancing wool’s qualities, the company is making it more accessible for day-to-day use, which prevents consumers from using synthetic apparel. NuYarn was named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2022 and is a ISPO Award winner in 2022.
NuYarn has an exciting premise, but unlike ordinary wool it features nylon as part of its filament thread. It's made by wrapping merino fibres around a nylon core and contains 57% nylon and 43% merino. Nylon manufacture creates nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and is not biodegradable. While the company says it uses recycled materials, and the clothing items do tend to last longer, we would rather steer away from using harmful plastics entirely.
Many companies are working on developing yarns that are free of synthetics to limit damage to the environment. One such brand is HeiQ AeoniQ, which has created a cellulosic filament yarn sourced from Algae, bacteria and food waste. Because its biopolymers bind to carbon as they grow, the company claims it is in fact carbon negative in its production, which certainly beats leaving plastic parts in landfill.
