Roica™ V550: the elastane in our lace
Some of our lace collections contain Roica™ V550 yarn from Asahi Kasei instead of conventional elastane. Here you can read what it is, and what we can and cannot say about it.
Roica™ V550 is an elastane yarn from the Japanese manufacturer Asahi Kasei. It is used like conventional elastane: it adds stretch to knits and lace. In our products it makes up the elastane share of the lace, not the whole product.
What the manufacturer states
These two statements come from Asahi Kasei, not from us. We reproduce them as the manufacturer substantiates them:
According to Asahi Kasei, Roica™ V550 is partially degradable in a laboratory test (ISO 14855) under industrial composting conditions: 29.9% in 180 days. This does not happen in nature or in household waste.
“… uses ROICA™ V550 by Asahi Kasei, a fiber that has obtained Cradle to Cradle Certified® Material Health at Gold level based on version 5.0.” This result applies to the yarn, not to our finished product.
We do not call our products circular, biodegradable or Cradle to Cradle certified. The degradation Asahi Kasei describes is partial and depends on industrial composting. The Cradle to Cradle result concerns the material health of the yarn, not the product you buy.
We use Roica™ V550 because of these manufacturer statements. It is not an environmental promise for the whole garment.
Where we use Roica™ V550
In the Iconic Lace and Dreamy Lace collections, Roica™ V550 makes up the elastane share of the lace. The exact composition is listed for each item.
Frequently asked questions about Roica™ V550
What is the difference from conventional elastane?
Both are elastane yarns and both provide stretch. For Roica™ V550, Asahi Kasei states degradation behaviour under industrial composting conditions that conventional elastane does not have. This information comes from the manufacturer and refers to the yarn.
What does Cradle to Cradle Material Health mean?
It is an assessment of the ingredients used in a material. Asahi Kasei states Gold level under version 5.0 for Roica™ V550. The assessment applies to the yarn. Our finished garment is not Cradle to Cradle certified.
How do I care for products with Roica™ V550?
Like all stretch textiles: wash at a maximum of 40 °C on a delicate cycle, ideally in a laundry bag. Air-dry, not in the tumble dryer.
