From September 3 to 7, 2024, the 2025 S/S Seoul Fashion Week took place at Dongdaemun Design Plaza and various locations including Seongsu, Cheongdam, and Hannam-dong area. Since its inception in the fall of 2000, Seoul Fashion Week has become Korea's largest global fashion business event held twice a year. This season focused on the emerging fashion keyword of “sustainable fashion,” featuring exhibitions and resource recycling projects, attracting over 120 buyers from around the world.

Reflecting this theme, Hyosung TNC, which has contributed to expanding the market for recycled textiles, also made a significant impact. Following the introduction of its new functional polyester "CREORA Conadu" at the 2024 Preview in Seoul (PIS) in August, Hyosung TNC garnered attention at Seoul Fashion Week by revealing its "regen" manufacturing process. In an era of climate crisis that demands proactive changes, let's explore the trends and solutions HYOSUNG presented at Seoul Fashion Week.

A Glimpse into the Present and Future of Hyosung TNC

On September 4, Hyosung TNC held a presentation show as part of the newly introduced program at Seoul Fashion Week. This showcase aimed to introduce high-value-added fabrics and collections to domestic and international buyers and the press. Buyers, selected based on stringent criteria including purchasing history from the latest three seasons of domestic fashion brands, engaged in one-on-one consultation sessions. Hyosung TNC was the only company recognized for its leadership in sustainable materials, earning a spot as a speaker at the event.

To seize this opportunity, Hyosung TNC actively promoted the importance of sustainable fashion and its role as an innovator in the circular economy. One of the standout features was the thoughtfully designed presentation space, which highlighted four themes that reflected the trends in sustainable fashion and the vision for recycled textile technology.

The main stage showcased the sustainability efforts currently being pursued by Hyosung TNC. This included their leading recycled textile brand, "regen," featuring products such as regen Polyester, regen Ocean Nylon, and regen BIO Spandex.

▲ Hyosung TNC introduced the raw materials and manufacturing processes of regen products, which are gaining attention in the global recycled fiber market.

Hyosung TNC showcased the production processes of regen Ocean Nylon, the world's first recycled fiber made from discarded fishing nets developed in 2007, and regen Polyester, the first recycled polyester fiber made from PET bottles in Korea. These were highlighted using large LED displays. The unique characteristics of regen BIO Spandex, which uses renewable raw materials to achieve carbon reduction from the raw material stage, were also demonstrated. Additionally, the exhibit featured verified effects alongside actual raw materials and products, providing a wealth of information for visitors to see and experience firsthand.

▲ Visitors experiencing sustainable fashion by seeing and touching regen Polyester.

The Starting Point for an Ideal Circular Structure: Garment Recycling

▲ Fashion items created in collaboration with MONTSENU as part of the garment recycling initiative.

In the showroom, Hyosung TNC presented "Garment Recycling," taking the conversation about future sustainability a step further from the previously introduced themes. Garment recycling refers to the process of reusing waste fabric generated during product development, unsold inventory that consumers did not purchase, and the increasing amount of discarded clothing influenced by fast fashion. This initiative aims to address the hundreds of billions of clothing waste generated annually by recycling it into new materials or fashion items. 

The key here is the technology to sort and separate mixed waste clothing into recyclable and non-recyclable materials before physical and chemical processing. Hyosung TNC has conducted extensive research on garment recycling to maximize resource circulation, and as a result, unveiled products applying the "Textile to Textile" (recycling of textiles) concept at Seoul Fashion Week.

This sustainable fiber technology retrieves fiber waste generated during the clothing manufacturing process and transforms it back into yarn. Collaborating with the fashion startup MONTSENU, Hyosung TNC created products using discarded hotel bedding and clothing. MONTSENU, known for producing sustainable fashion products that harmonize aesthetic and socio-environmental values, has been partnering with Hyosung TNC since 2023.

The presentation showcased outerwear, t-shirts, and bags that minimized difficult-to-recycle materials while maximizing high-quality fabrics and unique designs, capturing the attention of visitors. This resource regeneration system, based on a circular economy, instilled confidence in the technological innovations that Hyosung TNC is poised to develop.

Hyosung TNC's Vision for Future Textile Trends

▲ Presentation on sustainable yarn trends and the outlook for the 2026 S/S textile industry.

The presentation highlighted Hyosung TNC's role as a global leader driving sustainable fashion trends. Divided into morning and afternoon sessions, it covered the rising trends in sustainable yarns and projected developments for the 2026 S/S textile industry, garnering positive responses from on-site buyers and fashion stakeholders.

The first segment addressed the global movement towards stricter environmental regulations and initiatives, including the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). It also outlined the fashion industry issues and response strategies. Predictions were made for the 2026 S/S season, identifying key designs and functions across activewear, swimwear, outdoor, casual, and lounge wear, along with recommendations for suitable textiles and yarns. Additionally, various fashion items related to the presentation were displayed to enhance understanding among visitors.

The 2025 S/S Seoul Fashion Week offered a fresh interpretation of sustainable fashion. For Hyosung TNC, which aims to maximize customer value through sustainable innovations, it was a valuable opportunity to explore new connections with customers. The company continues to invest in research and development of recycling technologies that encompass the entire lifecycle of textiles, from production to disposal. We invite you to watch as Hyosung TNC works towards a sustainable future where everyone can coexist and dream together.