Santini’s commitment to sustainability has previously seen it switch to recycled materials and compostable packing. But now it's taking a step into the future with a fabric that is made from CO2 emissions.
The new Santini Aero Race cycling jersey, which will officially launch in April, features Polartec’s new Power Dry Carbon fabric. This uses carbon capture technology to compress CO2 emissions from steel mills into polyester fibres.
Explaining the tech at the COREBike trade show, Santini’s Jonathan Sangan said the process was a “miracle of science”, and that the fabric’s credentials extend beyond being good for the environment.
“That [process] creates an extremely lightweight fabric, but also an extremely breathable fabric with a lot of UV protection”, Sangan said.
Official details about the Polartec fabric have not been released yet. But the name suggests it will be a version of the company’s Power Dry base layer material, which is said to quickly wick moisture away and to be comfortable against the skin.
Polartec is not the first to use carbon capture to create polyester materials. Companies such as Fairbrics, Craghoppers and LanzaTech are already using the technology to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
LanzaTech has worked with brands such as LuLuLemon and On, which released its first collection using the technology in 2023.
Santini uses Polartec’s Power Dry Carbon fabric for the new jersey’s front and rear panels, while it uses a ribbed aero fabric for the sleeves and across the upper back.
The jersey will cost £160, putting it at the premium end of the market. But Sangan says the fabric should trickle down to lower price point kit in the coming years.
Alongside the standard Aero Race, there will be a limited edition Mads Pedersen version as part of Santini's forthcoming collaboration with the Lidl–Trek rider.
The collaboration will also launch in April and is said to have an aesthetic that expresses Pedersen's “grit and distinctive style”.
This is the most recent example of cycling products using more environmentally friendly materials from Polartec.
In 2024, Santini released the Magic rain jacket which uses Polartec’s PFAS-free and waterproof Power Shield RPM fabric.
Last year, Castelli released the new Perfetto jacket which uses Polartec Aircore – another PFAS-free fabric which is said to be lightweight, breathable, windproof and water repellant.
Santini’s Mads Pedersen collection is set to launch at the end of April and is said to be “dedicated to aerodynamics and speed”. The Italian clothing company is the official apparel supplier to Lidl–Trek, Pedersen's cycling team.
