On one side there’s Coats Footwear’s ProWeave and on the other is Lenzing’s Tencel Lyocell Filament. Put together, they result in an “industry first” to create “dynamic re-imagined footwear uppers and fabrics, which combine sustainability and performance characteristics”. It will be introduced for the first time at the Lineapelle show in Milan on 19–21 September.

We’re told the combined products create “unique patented jacquard weaving technology” which can be used with a range of different fibres and yarns. First off, the reimagined footwear uppers and fabrics will be used in the prototype of Circle Sportswear’s ‘SuperNatural Runner’, claimed to be “the first synthetic-free performance footwear”.The combination “enables the production of stylish, sustainable, super comfortable uppers and fabrics, which have an adaptive fit that functions like a second skin”. Furthermore, “this… collaboration will be of interest to all footwear brands that want to improve supply chain traceability, bio-sustainability, and lower the carbon footprint associated with producing high-quality uppers and fabrics for a variety of applications”, they said.Paul Jackson, ProWeave Business Unit Leader at Coats Footwear, added: “Together, we’re revolutionising the way uppers and materials can be made – giving footwear brands and manufacturers the chance to build high-level sustainable products in the most innovative way possible, with zero constraints on creativity.”Nicole Schram, Global Business Development Manager, Apparel (Footwear) at Lenzing Group, added: “By combining [our] unique features… we believe the sky is the limit for the innovation of next-generation, planet-friendly footwear.”