Athleta has plans to be the first performance apparel brand to use Ambercycle’s Cycora at scale.
“As a mission-driven, B Corp-certified brand, Athleta is committed to reducing our environmental footprint by using recycled materials like Cycora, which not only aligns with our values but also meets our uncompromising quality standards,” Athleta CEO Chris Blakeslee said.
Starting in 2026, the Gap-owned brand will leverage the regenerated polyester in Athleta products. The company said it’s still “very early in the process” regarding the partnership and was unable to provide any additional details regarding how Cycora will be utilized.
“As the demand for circular materials rises, we are delighted to collaborate with like-minded brands in the performance sector, such as Athleta,” said Shay Sethi, CEO of Ambercycle. “Together, we are not only creating high-quality garments but also driving forward the circular fashion movement.”
Debuted in 2021, Cycora’s proprietary molecular regeneration technology utilizes end-of-life textile waste as a feedstock to create new, circular polyester. The resulting fiber allegedly maintains the same attributes as virgin-grade polyester while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; the Ganni collaborator previously estimated that Cycora offsets nearly half the carbon dioxide emissions associated with virgin polyester production.
“Gap Inc. is committed to evolving our supply chain and product development process in ways that help us deliver innovative products for our customers while reducing our environmental footprint,” said Dan Fibiger, head of global sustainability at Gap Inc. “Ambercycle’s groundbreaking technology for transforming end-of-life textiles into new materials not only enables a more sustainable supply of high-performance fabrics, but it has the potential to cut waste and emissions and has the potential to advance circularity at scale.”
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Athleta joins the growing list of brands investing in Cycora. Last October, Zara’s parent company committed to buying 70 million euros worth of the regenerated polyester. In July, Bestseller unveiled its first product made with fiber: a summer dress made with 50 percent Cycora and 50 percent recycled polyester. The Los Angeles-based material innovation company also partnered with the likes of running brand Saucony and fashion label Tombogo in 2023.