X-Loop from Tecnifibre: A Breakdown
At Tennis Warehouse, we are always looking for way to increase sustainable practices in this sport. When it comes to sustainability, tennis is often looked upon with doubting eyes, as many of the products have a shorter and more disposable lifespan. Tennis balls, strings, and even racquets all wear out, especially when used at higher levels.
One of the more innovative approaches to sustainability in tennis comes from Tecnifibre, as they unleash their patented X-Loop line.
X-Loop products make use of recycled materials to manufacture fabrics from old tennis strings. The process starts by collecting old string scraps from tennis clubs, stringers, and from the manufacturer themselves.
After the scraps have been collected, the strings are then ground down into little pellets. These pellets serve as the building blocks for producing the fabric known as X-Loop.
When in pellet form, the recycled strings can now be converted into thread, manufactured on giant spools. This fabric is incredibly lightweight yet strong, much like tennis strings themselves, of course! From there, the fabric can be dyed and converted into rolls and sheets of fabric.
Once in fabric form, the X-Loop materials can then be made into t-shirts, the primary application thus far of Tecnifibre’s X-Loop application.
Our product testers found the X-Loop shirts to be exceptionally light and easy to move with. Though some people experienced some issues with moisture wicking, the overall feeling on court was positive. Our testers who wore these shirts out and about also noted receiving compliments on the look of the X-Loop products. All-in-all, Tecnifibre's X-Loop construction emphasizes both performance and sustainability to the highest degree.
