In the heart of Berlin, a revolution brews within the walls of Ucon Acrobatics, a company not content with the status quo. Founded in 2001 by Martin Fussenegger and Jochen Smuda, Ucon Acrobatics has embarked on a journey to transform the textile industry from its linear, wasteful practices to a model of circular economy.
This Fall, the company is set to release a line of bags and backpacks that are not just accessories but symbols of change. These products are crafted from over 95% recycled textile waste, a bold statement against the industry’s norm of disposability and environmental harm. Ucon Acrobatics’ approach is a beacon of hope in a sector responsible for a staggering 10% of global carbon emissions.
The statistics are alarming: every second, the equivalent of a truckload of textiles meets its end in landfills or incinerators. In 2021, a mere 0.6% of textiles were given a new lease on life through recycling. Ucon Acrobatics stands as a defiant answer to this challenge, recycling textile waste into high-quality PET granules and then into yarns, slashing CO2 emissions by 35% compared to traditional synthetic polyester.
Innovation doesn’t stop there. The company has replaced conventional dyeing methods with a resource-efficient process called “dope dye,” cutting water usage by up to 90%, chemical usage by 80%, and halving energy and CO2 emissions. Despite the higher costs, Fussenegger’s commitment to progress is unwavering, driven by the belief that the circular economy is not just a business model but a moral imperative.
The culmination of nearly three years of development is PUrTEX∞, a custom tech material that outperforms conventional vegan leathers in durability and environmental friendliness. As Ucon Acrobatics looks to the future, its goal is clear: complete circularity by 2024, setting a standard for the industry and inspiring others to follow suit.
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Issue 26 brings together two electrifying covers that take the dopamine dive from Sadiq Desh captured by Cris Cerdeira to multidisciplinary visual artist and photographer Tomás Pintos’ cover story, Besos hasta agotar stock (Kisses Until Sold Out), developed from the live performance creating a space where glamour
meets exhaustion.
