Ralph Lauren has launched the RLX Clarus Polo Shirt, showcasing the brand’s latest innovation in collaboration with sustainable material startup Natural Fiber Welding (NFW).
“We are using our most iconic product as a canvas to launch an industry-changing and scalable textile technology – a high-performance apparel product that is created with natural fibres for the first time,” said David Lauren, chief branding and innovation officer.
The product is made with the world’s first cotton-based performance cotton fabric, utilising a first-to-market patented platform to transform virgin and recycled cotton. According to the company, the material performs similarly to plastic-based synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon, which use petroleum-based fossil fuels to achieve performance benefits.
“Through this collaboration, we are paving the way for complete circularity with resulting materials that perform similarly to plastic-based synthetic fabrics,” said Luke Haverhals, CEO at NFW.
“We are pioneering an entirely new system that simultaneously enables all-natural performance fabrics while reducing waste and eliminating the need for synthetic plastics.”
The RLX Clarus Polo Shirt will make its exclusive debut at the 2022 Australian Open, before rolling out global distribution. Additional styles and colours, as well as women’s apparel, will be available in the coming weeks.
The collaboration follows Ralph Lauren’s investment in NFW in 2020, which is expected to help scale their patented process and develop performance apparel made from natural, sustainable materials. The launch is part of the company’s progress toward sustainably sourcing 100 per cent of its key materials by 2025 and integrating zero-waste principles across its business.
