Under Armour has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hemp Black, a subsidiary of Australian biotech firm Ecofibre, which will see Hemp Black provide specialty yarn to the sportswear brand for use in its performance apparel. The agreement, covering an initial three-year period, will also allow Hemp Black to invest in new production technology as Under Armour has reportedly pledged to allocate $6.74 million towards specialized manufacturing equipment for Hemp Black, according to Apparel Resources.
Ecofibre’s signature product is Eco 6: a lightweight, low density and conductive product with integration opportunities in high-performance textile, industrial and fashion products. The product is derived from harvested hemp sourced from accredited US farms, employing a patented activated carbonization process. Eco 6, which is aimed at replacing petroleum-based alternatives, has received certification from the Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Institute. However Under Armour have clarified that the yarn Hemp Black will supply is not Eco 6 and does not include hemp.
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that the yarn to be supplied included hemp. The article and headline were updated on Aug. 28, 2023, to reflect the fact that the yarn being supplied to Under Armour will not contain hemp.
