Decathlon Pulse, the investment arm and start-up studio of Decathlon, and fashion-tech company Unspun have formed a partnership to deploy Unspun’s 3D weaving technology, Vega, across Europe. Vega is said to be the world’s first 3D weaving technology for apparel, claims Unspun. The new partnership centers around the investment and a multi-year offtake agreement through 2030. The exact terms of the deal have remained undisclosed.
SGI Europe has reported about Decathlon Pulse before.
Unspun’s 3D weaving technology, Vega, is described as a fast, clean and cost-competitive way to make woven apparel. The technology allows semi-finished clothes to be woven directly from yarn within minutes. It simplifies fashion supply chains into a vertical operation, regardless of the location, explains Unspun. It offers scalable potential for on-demand production, allowing brands to establish micro-factories for localized and automated manufacturing.
The new partnership will enable Decathlon to reduce waste within the manufacturing process, thereby strengthening its commitment to sustainability. The 3D weaving technology will offer consumers customized, recyclable and locally-produced products, said Decathlon. The multi-specialist sports retailer and brand, headquartered near the French city of Lille, has a global staff of 101,000 people and 1,750 stores worldwide.
