Time includes Armedangels' windbreaker in its list of best inventions of 2026
German fashion brand Armedangels has been featured on American magazine TIME's Best Inventions 2026 list for its 100 percent Tencel Lyocell windbreaker in the outerwear category. According to the brand, it is the first windbreaker with a ripstop outer fabric woven entirely from this wood fibre, without a membrane, synthetic fibres or PFAS.
Each year, TIME selects 300 inventions based on criteria such as originality; effectiveness; ambition and impact. For this year's list, the magazine requested nominations from its editors and correspondents worldwide, as well as through an online application process.
Armedangels, which was founded in Cologne in 2007, developed the jacket with the Lenzing Group, textile consultancy Montebelo and weaving mill Hermin Textile. The brand launched the windbreaker in March as part of its spring/summer 2026 collection.
“For functional outerwear, the industry is still almost entirely dependent on polyester, polyamide and chemical finishes,” said founder and CEO Martin Höfeler. “We therefore started with a simple question: can a fabric made from wood do what typically requires synthetic materials?”
From fibre to fabric
The jacket is made from Lenzing's Tencel Lyocell fibres, which are sourced from certified or controlled wood. They are produced in a closed-loop process where the solvent is recovered. According to Lenzing, this requires at least 50 percent less water and results in at least 50 percent fewer CO₂e emissions than conventional unbranded lyocell, calculated according to ISO 14040/44 via Higg MSI 3.8.
The fibres are spun into ultra-fine, strong yarns in Taiwan. Hermin Textile weaves these into a dense ripstop fabric. This fabric is then permanently densified under pressure and heat, a method derived from the way rock compacts under pressure. According to the brand, this results in wind resistance of up to 97 percent.
When exposed to moisture, the lyocell fibres swell slightly, causing the fabric to close. A PFC-free finish provides protection against light rain. The jacket is slightly water-repellent but not waterproof.
Almost completely without synthetic trimmings
The components are also as free from synthetic materials as possible. 99.9 percent of the trimmings are non-synthetic and not petroleum-based. These include a cotton zip tape with metal teeth; metal cord stoppers; cuffs made of cotton and natural rubber; and a water-based reflective print. Only a small end piece of the zip is still plastic, as a sufficiently sustainable alternative is not yet available.
The windbreaker was digitally designed in CLO3D, has a gender-neutral fit and is available in three colourways. Armedangels views the jacket as a proof of concept and a foundation for developing more outerwear without synthetic fibres.