Ambercycle Teams With Corn-based Spandex-maker Hyosung

Days after entering a three-year offtake agreement with Sri Lanka’s MAS Holdings, Los Angeles textile-to-textile recycling upstart Ambercycle has forged another offshore partnership.

The group announced Wednesday that it’s teaming with Seoul-based Hyosung TNC to introduce its signature creation, Cycora, into the manufacturer’s supply chains. The regenerated polyester is made from discarded polyester and poly-blended textiles at Ambercycle’s California facility.

Known for sustainable innovations like Creora Spandex, a bio-based alternative to conventional spandex made from corn, as well as the Regen lines of spandex, nylon and polyester made from upcycled industrial waste, Hyosung claims to be the largest supplier of stretch fiber offerings in the world. In April, the company announced the launch of a bio-based fiber manufacturing plant in Vietnam for its circular offerings.

In a statement, the collaborators said the move will advance their shared vision of a circular textile ecosystem, allowing Ambercycle to leverage Hyosung’s nearly six decades of experience in advanced fiber manufacturing.

“Our collaboration with Ambercycle is another important step we are taking to help our customers meet their sustainability goals and scale solutions that both present and future generations can enjoy,” said Hyosung chief executive officer Chi-Hyung Kim. “We’re impressed with Cycora for its quality but also for its potential to divert tons of textile waste from landfills and incinerators and reduce the extraction of raw materials used in the production of virgin polyester.”

“The fashion industry is searching for accessible, high-quality circular solutions,” Ambercycle CEO Shay Sethi said. “This partnership is a testament to that demand and an important step to ramp up the production of Cycora and make it easier for brands to source regenerated materials for their fashion lines.”

“We’re closely aligned with Hyosung on both our high-quality standards and our commitment to circularity, so we are thrilled to have them as a partner in our commercialization journey,” he added.

In recent months, Ambercycle has been working to swiftly scale Cycora and reach a broader audience of global brands and manufacturers.

The group recently underwent testing by the European Center for Innovative Textiles, or CETI, to prove that its regenerated polyester could stand up to virgin options and outperform other recycled alternatives.

This spring, it announced a partnership with Gap Inc. athleticwear subsidiary Athleta — its first large-scale agreement with a U.S. fashion firm — following a 70 million-euro deal with Zara parent Inditex last fall. Also in 2023, the material innovation firm launched its first overseas manufacturing partnership with Taiwan’s Shinkong Synthetic.

To support its growth, Ambercycle recently relocated to a sprawling new L.A. campus complete with a lab and showroom.