A new collaboration between ALLIED Feather + Down, NetPlus, PERTEX, and Resortecs has resulted in the development of the R&D Helium Loop Anorak, a circular apparel concept designed with recyclability and performance in mind by outdoor apparel brand Peak Performance.
The project aims to address one of the major challenges in recycling performance apparel—products made from multiple materials such as insulation, trims and technical fabrics that are difficult to separate at the end of their lifecycle.
Circular design approach
The Helium Loop Anorak has been designed from the outset to allow easier disassembly and recycling of its components. The garment integrates materials and technologies from multiple partners to create a system where each element can be separated and processed individually once the product reaches end-of-life.
According to Matthew Betcher, Creative Director at ALLIED Feather + Down, circularity must begin at the design stage.
“Garments need to be designed for circularity before any sense of recyclability can even start to be possible. This project shows how collaboration between material innovators and brands can create products that support circularity from the beginning.”
Material innovations
Each partner contributes a key component to the jacket’s circular system.
ALLIED Feather + Down provides 800-fill power down insulation, which is renewable, recyclable and biodegradable.
The outer shell and liner are made using yarn derived from NetPlus, a material created from discarded fishing nets recovered from coastal communities before they enter the ocean. The recovered nets are recycled into 100% post-consumer recycled nylon yarn, which is then woven into technical fabrics by PERTEX.
To address the disassembly challenge, Resortecs supplies Smart Stitch™, a heat-activated thread designed to enable controlled separation of garment components. Using the company’s Smart Disassembly™ technology, the stitching dissolves under controlled conditions, allowing the insulation and shell materials to be separated and recycled individually.
Designing garments for multiple lifecycles
Designer Marie Andersson highlighted the concept behind the project.
“True circularity isn’t about accepting compromises; it’s about engineering garments to be unmade as thoughtfully as they’re made. When premium materials meet thoughtful disassembly design, every component can maintain value across multiple lifecycles.”
Reducing reliance on fossil-based materials
The project also focuses on reducing dependence on virgin fossil-fuel-based materials used in technical outerwear.
David Stover, CEO of Bureo, the company behind NetPlus, said the initiative demonstrates how responsible materials can help prevent pollution while supporting the outdoor industry’s sustainability goals.
He noted that the project illustrates how combining improved materials with circular product design can help the industry move away from conventional petroleum-based production models.
Long-term circularity goals
The R&D Helium Loop Anorak forms part of Peak Performance’s broader strategy to achieve total product range circularity by 2030, demonstrating how technical apparel can be designed with recyclability and resource efficiency built into its lifecycle.
