In 2023, we kicked off an innovation journey by developing a new version of our wool blend suiting for one of our corporate customers. The new fabric is composed of 55% recycled polyester, 43% washable wool, and we added a new innovative stretch fibre, ROICA™. We went through our usual testing with Intertek which it passed with flying colours, and we were pleased to see it met our strict durability and performance criteria.

The fabric underwent a 6–8 week wear trial with customers who reported they couldn’t detect much difference from the original material—a strong endorsement of this new innovation. This feedback confirmed that the new fabric delivers on both performance and ease of maintenance, eliminating the need for costly dry cleaning.

We chose this composition to combine quality with practical care solutions. Washable wool with a higher twist yarn added the warmth and comfort of natural wool, while the recycled polyester, sourced from recycled plastic bottles, allowed ease of care and durability. The ROICA™ stretch yarn was selected as an alternative to normal elastane, as it is made from recycled resources, but maintains the same performance attributes.

To ensure we maintain the highest quality standards, our innovation and development timeline does take time, but we are pleased to see the outcomes of these wearer trials and hope to continue our development into new innovative fibres in the future.