ETSA News

As part of our ongoing series highlighting ETSA members, we spoke with Filippo Colnaghi and Lorenza Gardella, respectively Brand Manager and R&D Manager at XLANCE, an innovator in high-performance elastic fibres for workwear and professional textiles. With a strong focus on durability, comfort, and circularity, XLANCE is helping to redefine how garments perform in demanding industrial environments—proving that long-lasting stretch and sustainability can go hand in hand. In this interview, Filippo shares insights into the company's technology, its approach to innovation, and how collaboration within ETSA can support a more resilient and resource-efficient textile service industry.

What motivated Xlance to join ETSA, and what do you hope to achieve through this partnership?

We joined ETSA because we see XLANCE® as a true enabling technology for the future of workwear, where comfort, durability, and sustainability must coexist.

Our elastic fibre allows garments to retain their fit and elasticity even after 80+ industrial wash cycles, helping extend product life and reduce "cost per use." This directly supports the industry's shift toward more durable, resource-efficient textiles.

Through this partnership, we aim to contribute to the conversation around durability, recyclability, and innovation in textile services, while collaborating with key players across the value chain to accelerate the adoption of longer-lasting, higher-performing workwear solutions.

What are the specific characteristics of Xlance fabrics, and how do you ensure their durability - particularly in the context of industrial laundering and professional use?

Fabrics made with XLANCE® fibre combine long-lasting stretch, consistent fit, and high resistance to harsh treatment, making them particularly suited for professional and industrial environments.

Unlike traditional elastane/spandex, XLANCE® is an elastolefin-based fibre engineered to maintain its elastic performance even under extreme conditions. It offers excellent resistance to high temperatures, aggressive washing cycles, and chemical exposure, including chlorine and detergents commonly used in industrial laundering.

We validate durability through standardized testing aligned with industrial laundering protocols, such as ISO 15797, ensuring garments can withstand 80+ wash and drying cycles at high temperatures (up to 75°C washing and 155°C tunnel finishing) without significant loss of elasticity or fit.

This durability translates into garments that keep their shape, comfort, and performance over time, reducing replacement frequency, lowering cost per use, and ultimately supporting a more sustainable approach to workwear.

How does Xlance approach innovation, and what recent developments or technologies are you most proud of?

At XLANCE®, innovation means continuous improvement driven by real performance needs, not trends. Our focus is on enhancing quality, durability, and consistency in ways that deliver tangible value to both manufacturers and end users.

Among our most important recent innovations is our bio-circular XLANCE® yarn, produced from polymers derived entirely from renewable and waste-based feedstocks, specifically used cooking oil. This solution delivers the same high-performance standards as our conventional fibre, while significantly reducing reliance on fossil resources and lowering environmental impact, without competing with food production.

In parallel, we are advancing traceability through technologies such as FibreTrace, allowing full transparency along the value chain. Combined with ISCC PLUS certification, this ensures verified sourcing, compliance, and accountability.

How do you plan to leverage your partnership with ETSA to promote and exchange best practices, particularly in areas such as durability, sustainability and circularity?

Our goal within ETSA is to actively contribute to, and learn from, a network of experts working at the forefront of textile services.

By bringing data, testing standards, and real-use case insights, we aim to support the development of best practices that extend garment life and improve cost efficiency.

At the same time, engaging with ETSA members allows us to better understand the operational challenges faced by textile service providers, helping us refine our solutions to be even more aligned with real-world needs.

Which EU policies or directives do you believe will have the greatest impact on the textile service industry in the coming years, and how should companies prepare to adapt?

Several EU initiatives are set to reshape the textile service industry, particularly those linked to circularity and end-of-life management.

The EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) will make companies responsible for the end-of-life of their products, pushing them to actively consider recycling and waste management. At the same time, the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) will introduce mandatory design requirements, including durability and recyclability, fundamentally changing how products are developed.

Another important measure is the ban on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear, which reinforces the need for more responsible production and inventory strategies.

To adapt, companies should start integrating end-of-life thinking into product design, prioritize durable and recyclable materials, and align their processes with a more circular model.