LE Textile GmbH is a pioneer in the production of stretch warp-knitted textiles made from Tencel yarns, which has been developing a knitted fabric made from ecologically grown cotton since 2006, and has incorporated the elastomer, Dorlastan V550, to give the fabric elasticity. Later, in 2014, the company replaced eco-cotton with Lenzing’s Tencel fibres. Lyocell fibre is based on wood, a raw material that does not have the ecological disadvantages of fibres made from agricultural crops.

The company has recently exhibited its range of smooth products and lace goods at Interfilière 2016 in Lyon, and had many conversations there on the subject of environmentally friendly textiles. “Tencel is really a hot topic right now,” explained Reiner Luckhardt. According to the Sales Director of LE Textile, the fabrics produced by his company have already been very well received by clothing manufacturers, and the lingerie sector is now also following suit.

Applications

Most of the queries came from Germany and northern Europe. There, consumer behaviour is being increasingly determined by a generation of middle classes, who have grown up with the concept of environmental protection, Reiner Luckhardt explains.

LE Textile, among others, was showing that ecology does not necessarily have to mean dull and boring  - by offering a sportswear collection made from Tencel warp knits, featuring an attractive orange/anthracite colour combination.

Alongside the fashion sector, manufacturers of medical textiles are becoming increasingly interested in stretch Tencel fabrics. The reason for this is their unique wear comfort. The fabric is softer than silk, cooler than linen and keeps dry longer than cotton – as tests carried out by the company and German institutes have shown. These characteristics are particularly important for patients suffering from neurodermatitis. “We have had good experiences with our fabrics for people with skin disorders,” confirmed Reiner Luckhardt.

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