In the apparel industry, fabric is the foundation on which aesthetics, comfort, durability and circularity are built. This is why it matters.

Placing robust, sustainably sourced and recyclable materials at the core of development is essential for Arksen apparel to create products that deliver high-performance while supporting the shift from a wasteful linear model into a responsible, long-term approach.

Arksen’s apparel range uses advanced textiles, engineered for protection and movement across every environment. The development team is continually exploring new technologies and processes, working to support new innovations that can further advance the cutting edge of the industry in performance and sustainability.

The use of lightweight, high-performance recycled Pertex and Schoeller fabrics in many products, for example, delivers durability, breathability and weather protection, while also being fully recyclable. A partnership with Italian textile innovator Majocchi / Majotech, through the WATER ZERO® line, reduces water and chemical use.

Industry-leading Polartec® insulation provides exceptional performance in the mid-layer, while the use of adaptive Schoeller C-Change® fabrics in jackets and outerwear offers smart performance with self-adjusting breathability and in some products, the pure simplicity of wool integrates the benefits of natural fibres.

So, what benefits does good material selection bring to performance apparel?

Durability and performance

Durability is the first line of defence against a throwaway society – and one of the simplest ways to maximise performance and minimise textile waste is to make quality garments that last longer. Key to this is using fabrics that are lightweight and comfortable but also have superior strength to resist tears, pilling, UV degradation and repeated washing.

The use of innovative fibre lay-ups and weave patterns – which can be easily tested in the virtual world – helps balance durability with comfort, enabling garments to resist the elements without being so cumbersome as to hamper the opportunities for adventure. This may cost more initially, but lifetime value is what really counts.

Intelligent garment design is also important in maximising the performance of the chosen fabric. These approaches can include reinforcements to high-stress zones, the use of stronger stitching or even the provision of spare parts or repair instructions as part of the product sale – all of which result in longer product lifetimes.

Sustainable sourcing

Fabric durability is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to sustainability. A longer lasting fabric brings its benefits, but if it is made using carbon-intensive, water-hungry or polluting supply chains, that benefit is compromised. As such, it is important materials are chosen not just for performance but for traceability, with a controlled ecological footprint. 

Sustainable fabric approaches include low environmental input, where fibres are grown or manufactured with minimal water, fertilisers or energy; and closed-loop or low-impact chemistry, where dyeing and finishing processes minimise toxic effluent. Certifications such as GOTS, OEKO-TEX and Bluesign help validate this.

Advanced manufacturing approaches can be used limit the impact of a fibre materials, such as reducing water use and chemical waste, and planet-conscious brands are starting to turn to long-term partnerships to lock in circular supply, helping to quantify the benefits of water saved, emissions avoided and waste diverted.

Recycling and circularity

Durability and recyclability go hand in hand and designing for end-of-life also plays an important role in fabric choice. More robust fabrics can often be more challenging to disassemble for recycling, and balancing the high-performance requirements of in-life design with the ability for materials to re-enter the system at end-of-life is a delicate balance.

Common mechanical recycling methods such as shredding and re-spinning struggle with material blends such as cotton/poly mixes. Meanwhile, chemical recycling methods, in which fibres are broken down into molecular building blocks, are still an emerging technology, again often limited by fibre combinations. 

Using fabrics designed for deconstruction and reuse and avoiding complex blends and multi-material elements can help ensure that recycling downstream is feasible. As an example, Mono-material garments – where zips, labels and threads are all made from a single type of fibre – can significantly simplify recycling.

Less than one percent of the total fibre market currently comes from textile-to-textile recycling – according to the United Nations Environmental Programme – and in 2023, only around eight percent of textile fibres were made from recycled sources. This is an area being pioneered by Arksen, leading the advance of future standards.

Ultimately, the path to quality clothing starts with the fabric itself. Intelligent, tough and well-crafted textiles maximise performance and reduce turnover; sustainably sourced materials reduce upstream burden; and recyclable design ensures a future beyond landfill – creating a future where high-performance clothing no longer needs to burden the planet.