ARENA: A BOLD STEP TOWARD SUSTAINABLE SWIMWEAR
arena introduces renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber in its latest collection
12月 04, 2025
Let’s go swimming!
On December 4, Italian swimwear brand arena debuted a collection of swimsuits crafted with recycled nylon and renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber, our innovative spandex made with 70% bio-based content. It's the first commercial adoption of our plant-based spandex in swimwear — and a huge cause for celebration.
arena’s sports swimsuit collection, featuring three silhouettes in earth tones, will be crafted from Vita Life fabric by Carvico, global leader in the production of warp-knitted fabrics for beachwear, sportswear, and performance garments and longtime partner of The LYCRA Company.
“Sustainability can happen only if all the systems work in the same direction,” said Cristina Cantoni, global PR and communication manager at arena, during a panel discussion at MarediModa in October. Our partnership on arena’s latest swimwear collection is proof — from fiber to fabric to finished garments, arena’s new swimsuits consider the planet at every step.
"Going green doesn’t mean we accept a lower standard. Every fabric we make has been tested rigorously, and before we present something to the market, we make sure that our performance standards are met. With Vita Life, we were able to match the highest performance with the highest sustainability standards. This is why arena chose the fabric in the end."
Simona Osio
Sales manager
Carvico
ARENA'S SUSTAINABLE SWIMWEAR JOURNEY
arena's sustainability journey started years ago as part of its broader commitment to environmental protection and responsible innovation. The partnership between arena and LYCRA® brand represents another important step forward.
By introducing bio-derived spandex — sourced from renewable materials — arena is reducing its dependence on virgin fossil-based resources while maintaining uncompromised quality. Renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber will stand alongside the recycled yarns, organic fibers, and OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN-certified products that arena has adopted across its product range.
For the Vita Life launch, the company also committed to a packaging solution that is less dependent on fossil-based materials: a 100% FSC-certified paper polybag, sourced from certified and responsibly managed forests, instead of a plastic polybag. The paper polybag helps protect one of the world’s most precious resources, too — the ocean — as the supplier participates in the "Sea the Difference" campaign, donating 1% of its annual profits to ocean protection and conservation projects.
THE TOUCH OF NATURE
The swimsuits are available in three styles: one-shoulder, O-back, and swim pro-back, offering options for every underwater adventure.
"This collection is for women who put well-being at the center of their lives."
Cristina Cantoni
Global PR and communication manager
arena
RENEWABLE SPANDEX FROM LYCRA® BRAND
Later this year, The LYCRA Company will launch renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber at commercial scale, making our more eco-friendly spandex widely available to fabric producers and brands worldwide. Custom hang tags highlighting the content of renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber will be available and can be ordered for certified finished garments from the LYCRA ONE™ portal.
Renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber made with QIRA® offers the same benefits as our classic LYCRA® fiber with a lighter impact on the planet. Crafted from 70% renewable content derived from field corn grown in the US Midwest, this fiber has the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of LYCRA® fiber by up to 44%*. It’s the future of sustainable stretch.
*Estimate from Cradle-to-Gate Screening LCA for a representative LYCRA® fiber manufacturing facility, June 2022, prepared by Ramboll US Consulting, Inc.