Decathlon Pulse Backs Unspun’s 3D Weaving European Takeover

Decathlon just brought Unspun one step closer to serving the European market with 3D-woven goods.

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In July, Unspun raised $32 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round to rapidly scale its 3D weaving technology, Vega. While DCVC led the round, Decathlon participated alongside Lowercarbon Capital, E12 and SOSV .

That funding, Unspun said, would help the Oakland, Calif.-based fashion tech firm scale its operations through licensing its Walmart-approved tech with European manufacturing partners. Now, the global multi-specialist sports brand’s investment arm and startup studio, Decathlon Pulse, will take things to the next. Acting as a collaborator and industrial partner to expand 3D weaving throughout Europe, Decathlon Pulse will help the B Corp bring Vega machines to “pioneer local, low-waste and low-inventory production” in the region.

While the exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, the partnership hinges on the investment and a multi-year offtake agreement—through 2030—to scale the 3D weaving technology in Europe.

“ Decathlon has been a great partner from the very beginning,” said Walden Lam , co-founder and CEO of Unspun. “This collaboration enables us to provide apparel products that have been produced in a more sustainable way to mainstream customers in Europe.”

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The Collina Strada collaborator introduced Vega last year as the world’s first 3D weaving technology for apparel after closing a $14 million Series A round. Eckhaus Latta became the first brand to use Vega last fall at New York Fashion Week, while a pilot project with Walmart producing 3D woven workwear pants began in March. By weaving semi-finished products directly from yarn, Unspun’s state-of-the-art tech “revolutionizes” the manufacturing process.

“This partnership will enable Decathlon to reduce waste within the manufacturing process and strengthen our commitment to sustainability,” said Franck Vigo, Decathlon Pulse’s CEO. “By leveraging the potential of 3D weaving , we are working to revolutionize the garment manufacturing process and offer consumers customized, recyclable, and locally produced products.”

Furthermore, with the EU’s Waste Framework Directive regulations looming in the not-so-far-distance, Unspun wants to help brands better manage their finished goods inventory levels and reduce waste from what goes unsold. In “skipping” the conventional cut-and-sew process, Unspun’s low-inventory method is “crucial” in combatting the growing global waste problem, expected to jump by 70 percent come 2050, per the World Bank Group .

“Collectively, we are contributing to carbon neutrality objectives on millions of garments in a bid to help the fashion industry reduce waste from the supply chain,” Lam said. “Our Vega technology is a key step on this journey to bring fast, low-impact, circular and cost-effective production in low operating volumes to Europe.”

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