US yarn maker Unifi will launch two yarn technologies at Performance Days in Munich on 13-14 October, led by a water-resistant yarn designed to replace topical durable water-repellent (DWR) finishes. Resist2O Pro builds water resistance directly into the yarn, targeting the finishing tier of textile production where fluorinated chemistry has drawn regulatory scrutiny.

Unifi, headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, says Resist2O Pro is fluorine-free and PFOA-free, with PFOA levels below five parts per billion (ppb). The yarn minimises water absorption without topical treatments and works across different fabric formation methods. Removing a separate finishing stage could simplify production for mills and cut processing cost.

The company lists apparel, footwear, furnishings and industrial textiles as target applications. For fabric mills and brands sourcing water-repellent materials, the yarn offers a route to DWR performance without the compliance burden of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) restrictions now tightening across the EU and several US states. Takeaway: buyers can specify repellency at the yarn stage rather than manage chemistry at the finisher.

What does the second yarn, Cofira, offer?

Cofira combines the aesthetics and handle of spun yarns with the performance characteristics of filament yarns. Unifi says manufacturers can tailor it using synthetic, blended and functional fibres to deliver different fabric properties and effects.

The yarn suits apparel, furnishings, equipment and accessories. It can also carry Unifi's existing technologies, including:

• AMT moisture management
• ChillSense cooling
• ReFlexx stretch and recovery

Cofira is available globally in virgin polyester and Repreve recycled polyester versions, including fibre made through Unifi's Repreve Takeback textile-to-textile recycling process. Recycled versions carry traceability through the company's FiberPrint technology and are available with GRS and SCS recycled-content certification. Takeaway: sustainability claims trace to named standards, which simplifies recycled-content audits for buyers.

What did Unifi say?

"These new products bring multifunctional capabilities that help reduce complexities associated with high-performance products," said Unifi CEO Eddie Ingle.

Unifi is best known for its Repreve recycled fibre platform. The company says Repreve has converted the equivalent of more than 46 billion plastic bottles and one billion T-shirts of textile waste into recycled fibre.

Both yarns debut at Performance Days in Munich at booth J18, followed by the Functional Fabric Fair in Portland, Oregon, from 26-28 October. Sourcing teams evaluating PFAS-compliant repellency or certified recycled content should assess both platforms at these shows before committing production volumes.