Pyratex Seacell

Pyratex Seacell fabric / Source: Pyratex

EuropeLow-CarbonNorth AmericaPyratex SeacellRegenerativeSeaweedTemperature-ResistantTextiles

WHAT WE SAY:

When you are going plastic-free, there has always been the choice of natural fabrics – cotton, linen, silk and the like. Now there is a new plant-based material to add to your list: seaweed.

Yes, seaweed. Its low impact, sustainable production and its natural antioxidant, skin-soothing properties make it an ingredient that goes beyond personal care into fabrics. Pyratex Cosmetic has some interesting initial partnerships with clothing brands, but it appears very marketing-led and is fundamentally an ‘ingredient,’ so care is needed to delve deeper into finished products.

Pyratex Seacell

WHAT IS PYRATEX SEACELL?

Pyratex Seacell is the most popular line of fabric from Madrid-based textile innovators Pyratex, who makes materials solely from plant-based, regenerative or recycled fibres.
Pyratex Seacell is a Seaweed-based fibre, available in 14 different varieties that can be washed at 75° and tumble dried at 90°.
The company claims that due to the seaweed’s antioxidant properties, the fabrics can help alleviate skin complaints, calm itchiness and reduce inflammation. Worth questioning the percentage needed to deliver such claims.
The Pyratex Seacell range is made from Icelandic seaweed and wood pulp in a carbon-neutral closed-loop process (similar to traditional lyocell and viscose production), with no hazardous chemicals released as waste.
Like all Pyratex fabrics, Pyratex Seacell is a B2B product available to fashion brands.

KEY PROPERTIES:

Low-Carbon
Regenerative
Temperature-Resistant

INDUSTRY:

Textiles

AVAILABILITY:

Commercially Available

DIVE DEEPER:

Traditional natural fabrics do not always offer the innovative properties designers need, while also being a drain on scarce resources like land and water. We cannot replace all fossil fuel plastic textiles with those derived from trees. This has led innovative textiles manufacturers to experiment with other natural materials, such as seaweed.
Pyratex Seacell is a 14-strong range of fabrics made from seaweed, which is added to a eucalyptus wood cellulose NMMO (N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide) solution. Each fabric in the range blends the seaweed fibre with other fibres, such as organic cotton and Tencel.
The seaweed for Pyratex Seacell is harvested in Icelandic fjords in a sustainable process, which only removes the part of the seaweed that is able to regenerate. Seaweed can be grown in clean water up to 30 times faster than land-based plants and does not require food or fertiliser.
The seaweed is washed, dried, ground and added to the cellulose in a carbon neutral, closed-loop process. Pyratex then uses its proprietary formula to turn the fibres into a yarn before locally knitting its fabrics in specialised factories.
The moisture in skin enables an active exchange of vitamins, trace elements, amino acids and minerals in seaweed, which can help soothe skin complaints. Pyratex claims that these properties are permanently preserved within the final fibre, even after several wash cycles.
Pyratex uses reactive dyes, which uses 90% less chemicals than fully-synthetic dyeing, while also recycling the water used.
It advises against printing on its fabrics, which can adversely affect its properties.
Pyratex Seacell can be bought in a one metre (10 square foot) quantity for prototyping, with MOQs for bulk ordering ranging from 50-300 metres (540-3200 square foot) depending on the fabric, with lead times of 5-12 weeks. The company may also be able to recommend a garment manufacturer to designers in need.
Pyratex is a GOTS, GRS and OCS-certified textile supplier, and its factories and processes also use Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Bluesign, EU Ecolabel, USDA Biopreferred, FCS and PEFC certifications. The company has also partnered with sustainability platform BCome to create an impact passport for each of its fabrics.
Pyratex produces in Italy, Spain and Portugal to better control traceability, emissions, waste and resources. It has also recently started production in Mexico for its America-based clients.
Brand partners using Pyratex Seacell include Alter Made, Zalando, Camper, Tellus Baby and 1People.

Camper x Pyratex / Source: Pyratex

Pyratex Cosmetic VI / Source: Pyratex

KEY FACTS:

30x

Seaweed can be grown in clean water up to 30 times faster than land-based plants.

90%

Pyratex uses reactive dyes, which use 90% less chemicals than fully-synthetic dyeing.

Key Questions to Ask:

Beware of greenwash. What is the exact makeup of each type of Pyratex Seacell and does it fit your sustainability needs?

Pyratex itself is opaque on the blend of materials in each of the 14 varieties in its Pyratex Seacell range, though listings from its partners and other parties note the presence of organic cotton, Tencel, and even elastane (such as in these Camper socks), which undermines a lot of its sustainability and compostability credentials. A BCome impact passport has been written for each fabric and full clarity on its contents would be welcome for designers at the earliest stages of development, and also for consumers at the point of purchase.

Is there enough seaweed in the finished fabric to actually deliver the claimed benefits?

Seaweed’s antioxidant attributes are certified by European laboratories, but we would like to see the company obtain certification for its finished Pyratex Seacell product, too. And it is important to consider how this will follow through into your finished products. Many products involve blends of materials, which will further dilute the ratio of seaweed in the garments and impact on its efficacy.

What happens to Pyratex Seacell at end-of-life?

Pyratex’s wood-based Power and abaca-based Musa fibres are compostable, but the company does not make this commitment for its Seacell range. This is unsurprising given the presence of materials other than seaweed and eucalyptus wood in some of the line. With that in mind and depending on the exact makeup of your variety of Pyratex Seacell, you will need to come up with a suitable end-of-life plan for your product to ensure it is discarded responsibly.

What happens to the outputs of Pyratex’s production process?

While it is encouraging to see Pyratex has received multiple certifications, as with all cellulose-based fabrics it is important to understand the waste streams and treatments involved.

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Pyratex Seacell

WHAT WE SAY:

When you are going plastic-free, there has always been the choice of natural fabrics – cotton, linen, silk and the like. Now there is a new plant-based material to add to your list: seaweed.

WHAT IS PYRATEX SEACELL?

KEY PROPERTIES:

INDUSTRY:

AVAILABILITY:

Commercially Available

DIVE DEEPER:

Pyratex Seacell is a 14-strong range of fabrics made from seaweed, which is added to a eucalyptus wood cellulose NMMO (N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide) solution. Each fabric in the range blends the seaweed fibre with other fibres, such as organic cotton and Tencel.

The seaweed for Pyratex Seacell is harvested in Icelandic fjords in a sustainable process, which only removes the part of the seaweed that is able to regenerate. Seaweed can be grown in clean water up to 30 times faster than land-based plants and does not require food or fertiliser.

The seaweed is washed, dried, ground and added to the cellulose in a carbon neutral, closed-loop process. Pyratex then uses its proprietary formula to turn the fibres into a yarn before locally knitting its fabrics in specialised factories.

The moisture in skin enables an active exchange of vitamins, trace elements, amino acids and minerals in seaweed, which can help soothe skin complaints. Pyratex claims that these properties are permanently preserved within the final fibre, even after several wash cycles.

Pyratex uses reactive dyes, which uses 90% less chemicals than fully-synthetic dyeing, while also recycling the water used.

It advises against printing on its fabrics, which can adversely affect its properties.

Pyratex produces in Italy, Spain and Portugal to better control traceability, emissions, waste and resources. It has also recently started production in Mexico for its America-based clients.

Brand partners using Pyratex Seacell include Alter Made, Zalando, Camper, Tellus Baby and 1People.

KEY FACTS:

30x

90%

Key Questions to Ask:

Beware of greenwash. What is the exact makeup of each type of Pyratex Seacell and does it fit your sustainability needs?

Is there enough seaweed in the finished fabric to actually deliver the claimed benefits?

What happens to Pyratex Seacell at end-of-life?

What happens to the outputs of Pyratex’s production process?

MEET THE MAKERS:

Pyratex

KEY PRODUCTS

LOCATION
Europe, North America

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Pyratex Seacell

WHAT WE SAY:

When you are going plastic-free, there has always been the choice of natural fabrics – cotton, linen, silk and the like. Now there is a new plant-based material to add to your list: seaweed.

WHAT IS PYRATEX SEACELL?

KEY PROPERTIES:

INDUSTRY:

AVAILABILITY:

Commercially Available

DIVE DEEPER:

Pyratex Seacell is a 14-strong range of fabrics made from seaweed, which is added to a eucalyptus wood cellulose NMMO (N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide) solution. Each fabric in the range blends the seaweed fibre with other fibres, such as organic cotton and Tencel.

The seaweed for Pyratex Seacell is harvested in Icelandic fjords in a sustainable process, which only removes the part of the seaweed that is able to regenerate. Seaweed can be grown in clean water up to 30 times faster than land-based plants and does not require food or fertiliser.

The seaweed is washed, dried, ground and added to the cellulose in a carbon neutral, closed-loop process. Pyratex then uses its proprietary formula to turn the fibres into a yarn before locally knitting its fabrics in specialised factories.

The moisture in skin enables an active exchange of vitamins, trace elements, amino acids and minerals in seaweed, which can help soothe skin complaints. Pyratex claims that these properties are permanently preserved within the final fibre, even after several wash cycles.

Pyratex uses reactive dyes, which uses 90% less chemicals than fully-synthetic dyeing, while also recycling the water used.

It advises against printing on its fabrics, which can adversely affect its properties.

Pyratex produces in Italy, Spain and Portugal to better control traceability, emissions, waste and resources. It has also recently started production in Mexico for its America-based clients.

Brand partners using Pyratex Seacell include Alter Made, Zalando, Camper, Tellus Baby and 1People.

KEY FACTS:

30x

90%

Key Questions to Ask:

Beware of greenwash. What is the exact makeup of each type of Pyratex Seacell and does it fit your sustainability needs?

Is there enough seaweed in the finished fabric to actually deliver the claimed benefits?

What happens to Pyratex Seacell at end-of-life?

What happens to the outputs of Pyratex’s production process?

MEET THE MAKERS:

Pyratex

KEY PRODUCTS

LOCATION Europe, North America

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

LOCATION
Europe, North America