The Lycra Company's Coolmax CloakFX fibre technology is one of just 16 innovations selected for the Innovation Forum at Performance Days in Munich, running 13-14 October. The curated showcase highlights new materials and technologies, and the selection places the fibre at the top tier of this season's functional textile launches.

Coolmax CloakFX uses optical masking to diffuse light at fibre level, reducing the visibility of sweat marks while retaining moisture-wicking and cooling performance. The fibre now contains 100% recycled polyester and carries Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification, giving sourcing teams a traceable compliance credential.

"Visible sweat on apparel is a leading pain point for consumers across demographics, often forcing them to compromise between performance, comfort, and appearance," said Tara Maurer-Mackay, Product Category Director, Branded Specialty Products, The Lycra Company. "Consumers want one fabric that does it all, and Coolmax CloakFX fibre is designed to help garments look drier while helping keep the wearer cool and dry."

The takeaway: brands seeking recycled-content claims with third-party certification now have a GRS-certified option addressing a known performance gap.

What else is on the stand?

The company is also presenting fabrics and garments using renewable Lycra fibre, which contains 70% plant-based content. The fibre targets a reduced carbon footprint for apparel while maintaining the performance characteristics of conventional elastane.

Turkish mill EKOTEN will present garments incorporating Coolmax CloakFX, demonstrating the technology's route to commercial fabric and apparel production.

The takeaway: mill-level partnerships signal the fibre is moving beyond concept stage toward volume supply.

Which collaborations are featured?

Two named collaborations anchor the display.

• Set the Pace: a project with Italian textile manufacturer Brugnoli and cycling apparel specialist PISSEI. It combines Brugnoli's patented Br4 technology and bio-based polyamide with renewable Lycra fibre to produce a technical stretch fabric containing up to 89% bio-based materials. PISSEI has used the fabric for a high-performance cycling kit.
• From Waste to Motion: a collaboration with Südwolle Group and UTO. It pairs Coolmax EcoMade fibre, produced from pre-consumer textile waste, with Merino wool and polyamide filament in engineered yarns from Südwolle. UTO has knitted these yarns into a seamless collection for yoga, tennis, golf and base-layer applications.

The takeaway: the projects map how recycled fibre, yarn engineering and seamless knitting combine into commercial-grade performance apparel.

What should sourcing teams do?

Buyers at Performance Days can view the fibre innovations and sample fabrics from international mills at stand C09-C10. The compliance decision the news forces: brands building recycled-content or bio-based claims into 2024 lines should verify GRS certification and mill availability now, while the named partners show which supply chains already run the fibres.