The Dutch trainer brand launches its new Simbiosi model, developed in collaboration with the world leader in the development and production of high-performance rubber soles Vibram and the avant-garde textile company BYBORRE. Inspired by the concept from which it takes its name, the Simbiosi model was born from the fusion of the identities of both brands into a single product.

Designed with the award-winning BYBORRE Create design tool, the textile upper is made from sustainable materials and revisits the brand’s most distinctive patterns and tones.

Each shoe is unique thanks to the cut-out pattern. Simbiosi also features VIBRAM’s lightweight Megagrip rubber sole and is finished with a unique lacing system. In particular, the Simbiosi model is the first trainer ever to feature Vibram’s Sphike Wrap sole. Thanks to Vibram Wrap Tech, the grip-optimised technology that wraps around the upper of the shoe, the sole is able to define a bold unconventional style that gives the shoe a unique personality. The Vibram Sphike Wrap sole is made with Vibram Megagrip compound, the best solution in terms of grip on wet and rough terrain, and Vibram Litebase technology, which reduces the thickness of the rubber at the base of the sole, while maintaining the same arrangement and shape of the tread blocks.

After three years dedicated to development FREITAG launches another circular innovation: the Mono[PA6] backpack is not only functional, durable and water-repellent, but also recyclable in its entirety and therefore entirely circular. From the fabric to the zips to the buckles, the backpack is made from a single material so that it can be easily recycled as a whole at the end of its life cycle. The material chosen is polyamide 6 or PA6, better known as nylon: versatile, robust and multifaceted. With the launch of this innovative product, the Zurich-based bag manufacturer closes a material loop and takes a new important step towards its vision of a circular economy.

FREITAG also followed a co-creative approach in the product design phase: the Mono[PA6] backpack was developed together with British designer Jeffrey Siu and features the musette, a small, removable bag and at the same time a homage to an iconic cycling accessory, which can be worn as a practical shoulder bag or attached to the backpack at several points as an additional outer bag. The volume of the rucksack can also be expanded or reduced thanks to the folded bottom and flexible roll-top closure.

Among the company’s choices already made in favour of the environment, of primary importance is the installation of a photovoltaic system at the Parabiago headquarters, which makes it possible to considerably reduce emissions, with 97,500 kilos of CO2 saved and a total power output of 183 kWp: numbers that translate into an environmental benefit comparable to the planting of 1772 trees. Even more recent is the plant in Pieve a Nievole, with a total power output of 80 kWp, also capable of significantly reducing emissions, with 42,640 kilos of CO2 saved per year and an environmental benefit comparable to the planting of 776 trees; the Fossò site in Veneto, soon to be opened, is also preparing to become IFABA’s new flagship, especially in terms of sustainability.

In addition to what has already been mentioned, there is the installation of a new plastic moulding machine in Parabiago – which will make machine stoppages close to zero, reducing energy consumption on an annual basis by 28% compared to the previous decommissioned plant, – and the overhaul of the numerical control lathes present in all the factories of the industrial group, which will significantly reduce energy requirements thanks to the use of innovative software capable of controlling and optimising consumption in real time.

Discarded lasts for shoe factories will be recovered to be shredded and sent for recovery and recycling to finally be reused by the last makers as raw material for new lasts: this joint effort will maximise the recovery of materials, minimising the use of resources and promoting circularity.

An agreement with the company Omnisyst also ensures the company monitors CO2 savings. Thus, the industrial group based in Parabiago (MI) – which has two branches in Italy and one in Romania – is preparing to obtain ISO 9001 certification on quality management systems, ISO 14001 on environmental management systems and ISO 45001 on safety in the workplace in the course of 2024.

NATIVA™ Cotton accelerates the shift towards a more sustainable production system, from farm to brand. Made in Europe, NATIVA™ Cotton is a one-stop solution that certifies cotton growing, sourcing and production under the NATIVA™ Regenerative Program. The NATIVA™ Regenerative Agriculture Program is a robust system with a triple impact based on scientific research and backed by data.

NATIVA™’s Regenerative Agriculture Program protects the land by bettering soil quality, safeguards crops by ensuring soil health, and supports farmers and local communities by improving their livelihoods. These multidisciplinary efforts further result in greater water quality and increased CO2 capturing levels. Measured over a five-year period, NATIVA™ aims to achieve a 20% increase of organic materials (natural nutrients) in the soil through its regenerative agricultural practices. This is supported by a 25% reduction in pesticides, with an eventual goal of zero pesticide use throughout time, and the effective eradication of tillage.

“As part of NATIVA™’s goals of positively impacting the supply chain for a more sustainable system, we wanted to expand our reach from wool into new fibers. With cotton playing such a significant role in the fashion industry, it was only natural to extend our programme to this iconic fiber.” said Maria Estrada, NATIVA™ Global Director.

NATIVA™ Regenerative Cotton’s founding partner, Nafpaktos Textile Industry SA, is based in Greece. Every step from the cultivation to the fiber processing and yarn making takes place in Greece – resulting in a farm to fiber cycle fully accomplished within the EU and complying with EU standards in labour and environmental conservation rights. Among partner brands NATIVA we find Stella McCartney, Gucci, Pangaia.