Surat-based textile mill, GBM Fabrics has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an Austrian yarn company Lenzing who invented the lyocell filament yarn. Lyocell filament yarn were made by separating cellulose from wood through closed-loop production that leaves no residue behind, said Akash Kriti Marfatia, Managing Partner. It is sustainable yarn and causes no harm to the environment, he added.

Marfatia stated the yarn is suitable for the production of different fibers like georgette, silk, satin, chiffon and crepe and will prove to be very useful for the Indian market. This will help his company to tap opportunities in the export market and the weavers and traders can use this yarn in high-value products. Marfatia expects demand for fabric made from this yarn to reach 5000 tonne in the next three-four years. He informed that the yarn can be weaved on a power loom, rapier loom and air-jet loom and has a higher tenacity than silk. It is stronger than silk and the fabric made from it is the best man-made biodegradable fabric that starts degrading in 15 days when disposed of, he added.