Oroblù launches tights made entirely with bio-derived yarns from Fulgar and The Lycra Company

Italian hosiery brand Oroblù, part of CSP International Fashion Group, has launched a capsule collection of tights made entirely with bio-derived yarns. The Bio-Derived Sneakers Tights line is the result of a collaboration with yarn producer Fulgar and The Lycra Company.

The tights combine Fulgar's Q-Geo, a bio-based polyamide, with Renewable Lycra EcoMade Fiber, The Lycra Company's bio-based elastane. According to the companies, it is the first time an Oroblù tights style uses bio-derived yarns for both of its main textile components, the polyamide and the elastane. The project brings together companies working at different stages of the supply chain, from yarn development to the finished product.

Corn-based polyamide at the core

Almost half of the raw material in Q-Geo is bio-based. The renewable component comes from industrial corn grown on land not used for rice, wheat or other traditional food crops. Fulgar said 40 percent of the corn kernel goes into the bio-based component, while the rest is used for purposes including food and animal feed production.

Fulgar, which specialises in man-made fibres for the textile industry, said the yarn absorbs 50 percent more moisture than standard polyamide and offers improved breathability. It also dries quickly and is flame-retardant without the use of additives, while retaining the strength and durability of polyamide. Q-Geo forms part of Fulgar's wider development of yarns from renewable sources, alongside its other sustainable materials.

"Our collaboration with CSP and The Lycra Company is a concrete example of how material innovation can translate into real-world, high-value applications," said Daniela Antunes, marketing manager at Fulgar. "The use of Q-Geo in combination with Lycra EcoMade Fiber has enabled us to contribute to the development of a product in which both of its main textile components are derived from renewable sources."

Bio-based elastane cuts carbon footprint

The elastane in the tights is Renewable Lycra EcoMade Fiber, which is made from approximately 70 percent industrial corn not intended for direct use in the human food chain. According to The Lycra Company, the fibre reduces the carbon footprint by up to 45 percent compared with its conventional fossil-based Lycra fibre, based on a cradle-to-gate assessment.

Designed for sneakers and booties

The resulting tights are semi-opaque and designed for comfort and fit. Intended to be worn with sneakers and booties, the style has a reinforced sole for added durability and comfort.

The Oroblù Bio-Derived Sneakers Tights collection is available now via the Oroblù website.