Camira Group takes stake in UK textile recycling business iinouiio

Camira Group has taken a majority stake in UK textile recycling company iinouiio to develop innovative textile items based on circularity. Camira Yarns has become the majority shareholder in iinouiio, which has secured major investment funding to install state-of-the-art wool textile reprocessing machinery, the first of its kind in the UK for over 20 years.

iinouiio was established in 2019 by Dr John Parkinson, who retains part ownership and will head up the new venture, building on a long-standing family history of textile recycling, working alongside his father over 40 years ago. Parkinson will be speaking at UKFT’s Sustainability in UK Textiles conference in May.

Headquartered in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, Camira operates manufacturing sites in and around Huddersfield giving the company textile manufacturing capabilities from yarn spinning, to weaving, dyeing and textile finishing and printing. There are sites in Birkby, Meltham and Holmfirth, a technical knitting plant in Nottingham, and a European manufacturing facility in Lithuania.

The iinouiio principle of textile repurposing will be adopted by Camira Yarns at the company’s Birkby, Huddersfield, facility which specialises in woollen spun yarns for commercial fabrics, providing a dedicated ground floor location for the new processing machinery together with a self-contained showroom to promote the capability.

Capital expenditure funding, amounting to £165,000, has been awarded by UK registered environmental charity Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) which works on wide-ranging projects to achieve a circular economy and divert waste away from landfill. This will provide brand new machinery to set up a new textile reprocessing line which will convert high value raw materials – from textile manufacturing waste and pre-loved wool and cashmere products – back into fibre which can then be re-spun into new yarn to make new fabric, UKFT said in a press release.

The machinery is due to be installed in April and will be used to produce iinouiio-branded products, provide take-back schemes for manufacturers and retailers, and open new recycled product opportunities for Camira.

“The fit with Camira is perfect for iinouiio: two like-minded companies who share a passion for textiles and sustainability who together can take textile circularity to another level. The installation of the new recycling line will be a milestone for the UK textile industry and iinouiio are thrilled that it will be located within the Camira Yarns facility in Huddersfield,” Parkinson said.

“We’re genuinely excited about this fantastic opportunity, which not only builds on the sustainability reputation of Camira, but will position us as a market leader in textile circularity. Market demands for less waste and eco-conscious consumers have now put textile recycling at the top of the agenda, so we can’t wait to get working with John to develop the iinouiio brand alongside new environmental products and initiatives from Camira,” Anthony Croall, Camira Group commercial director, said.