Footwear produced by Usaflex, with the effective participation of all links in the sector’s chain, allows greater productivity with reduced resources and  materials, in addition to offering greater comfort and sustainability.

 

A collaborative innovation project in the fashion chain is a highlight at a panel held during Inspiramais.

 

 

São Paulo, June 4, 2019 – Rhodia, a company of the Solvay Group, innovates once again and, in association with Usaflex, brings to the market an unprecedented solution for the footwear industry.  

 

A shoe featuring a sole made based on direct PU (polyurethane) injection with a Coim system, using Rhodia raw materials and a Knit upper made of Amni Soul Eco® biodegradable polyamide yarn also manufactured by Rhodia, opens new possibilities for the footwear industry by adding productivity to its industrial process as resources and materials are reduced. In addition, final consumers get a sustainable and comfortable product.

 

This shoe is the result of a collaborative project in line with the latest market trends, and is made through new production processes. The project is carried out with the participation of Rhodia  (Solvay Group), Usaflex, Coim, Cofrag, Bertex, Polako, Linhasita, and HS Injetados.

The product was presented in the beginning of June at Inspiramais 2020_II, an event dedicated to opinion leaders and professionals in the fashion, design and components sectors, as well as to footwear industry suppliers.

 

According to Marlise Margaritelli, from Solvay Group’s Polyamide and Intermediates global business unit, the collaborative project shows the efforts of the entire footwear production chain in the development of solutions in step with market trends: increased productivity and sustainability in the industrial processes and added comfort, well-being, quality and design for consumers.

 

“The combination of these technologies in this project optimizes and reduces many stages in footwear production. Overall, according to our indicators, there is a savings of around 30 percent in the production process, considering the consumption of energy, water, raw materials, equipment and labor”, added Marlise Margaritelli.

 

This shoe’s upper is made using the world’s first biodegradable polyamide, namely Rhodia’s Amni Soul Eco® textile yarn. The shoe is constructed employing Knit, a 3D weaving technique whereby the yarn forms an almost-totally-ready upper, allowing the shoe not only to have a good structure, flexibility and lightness, but also optimizing the use of raw materials and minimizing waste during the production process. The upper was made by Bertex, a company specializing in footwear components, which employed all its Knit technique know-how in the project.

 

The insole, also made of Amni Soul Eco® yarn, was developed by the Cofrag Group. And Linhasita’s Green Fiber® stitching thread ensured that the entire sneaker assembly had biodegradable polyamide from start to finish, reinforcing the development of a complete and sustainable footwear solution.

 

“The eco-friendly Amni Soul Eco® polyamide yarn provides the shoe with breathability and extreme comfort, fully in line with Usaflex's purpose”, pointed out Mayra Montel of Solvay Group's Fibers global business unit.

 

The project also includes a special dual-density sole constructed using direct PU (polyurethane) injection with a Coim system to meet the comfort, lightness and flexibility criteria. This PU system was developed using Rhodia’s raw materials, which helps simplify the footwear production process. Coim, a leading supplier of polyurethane systems for the footwear industry, participated for the first time in this collaborative project initiative.

 

According to Alexandre Matte Júnior, Innovation Management Analyst at Usaflex, a recognized brand  that focuses on comfort and well-being in women's shoes, this collaborative project is in line with the company's growth strategies for the coming years, by offering innovative and sustainable products while putting a premium on footwear comfort and design.

Currently, Usaflex’s portfolio includes 800 models of men’s and women’s shoes.

 

 

Shoe made by Usaflex in association with Rhodia using the world’s first biodegradable polyamide, the Amni Soul Eco® yarn.

 

 

Inspiramais 2020_II – Materials Design and Innovation Exhibition

Date: June 4th and 5th 2019 -  9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Venue: Pro Magno  Events Center - Avenida Professora Ida Kolb, 51 - Casa Verde

São Paulo -  Brazil

Special presentation of the collaborative project on June 4th at 4:30 p.m. -

Collaborative Innovation in the Fashion Chain: Rhodia and Usaflex Product

 

 

Rhodia celebrates the 100th anniversary of its presence in Brazil – Marked by a pioneering spirit and innovation, Rhodia, a Solvay Group company, is celebrating 100 years of activities in Brazil in 2019. The company’s successful track record began in Santo André, state of São Paulo, with the installation of an industrial unit for the manufacture of chemical products, which represented the first step in industrialization of the so-called ABC Paulista region. Always ahead of its time, throughout this period Rhodia has made a decisive contribution to the strengthening of the chemical / textile sector and of the Brazilian industry as a whole, with the development of technologies, processes and products for various markets, and a deep relationship with the Brazilian society. Since September 2011, Rhodia has been a member of the Solvay Group, one of the major international players in advanced materials and chemical specialties.

Learn more at www.rhodia.com.br and  www.solvay.com

 

 

About the Solvay Group

Solvay is an advanced materials and specialty chemicals company, committed to developing chemistry that addresses key societal challenges. Solvay innovates and partners with customers worldwide in many diverse end markets. Its products and solutions are used in planes, cars, batteries, smart and medical devices, as well as in mineral and oil and gas extraction, among many other applications, enhancing efficiency and sustainability.  Its lightweighting materials promote cleaner mobility, its formulations optimize the use of resources and its performance chemicals improve air and water quality. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with around 27,000 employees in 62 countries. Net sales were €10.3 billion in 2018, with 90% from activities where Solvay ranks among the world’s top 3 leaders, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 22%.  Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB- Reuters: SOLB.BR) and in the United States its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a level-1 ADR program. In Brazil, Solvay also operates under the Rhodia brand.

 

Further information for the Press:

About the Solvay Group and Rhodia in Brazil.

Roberto Custódio – roberto@pexpress.com.br and

Marcela de Paula – marcela@pexpress.com.br

Phones. (55 11) 3284 5164 or cell phone (55 11) 999 33 8148