ALLIED Feather + Down, NetPlus, PERTEX and Resortecs Partner with Peak Performance to Launch Circular Jacket

ALLIED Feather + Down, NetPlus®, PERTEX, and Resortecs have collaborated with Swedish backcountry ski apparel brand Peak Performance to develop the R&D Helium Loop Anorak. The project focuses on creating a jacket designed with circularity and end-of-life disassembly in mind. The initiative combines recycled materials, down insulation, and specialized stitching technology to allow easier separation of components for recycling.

ALLIED Feather + Down, NetPlus®, PERTEX, and Resortecs have partnered with Swedish backcountry ski apparel brand Peak Performance to develop a circular outerwear concept known as the R&D Helium Loop Anorak. The project brings together companies specializing in recycling, material innovation, and garment design to explore a product designed for end-of-life disassembly and recycling.

Performance apparel that combines multiple components such as down insulation, zippers, and elastic trims has traditionally been difficult to recycle due to the complexity involved in separating materials. The R&D Helium Loop Anorak was designed through collaboration between Peak Performance and its partners to address these challenges by integrating circular design principles from the beginning of the product development process.

“For years now, brands have wanted to introduce more circularity into their products, but the onus has fallen on their ingredient partners and startups to make that happen,” said Matthew Betcher, Creative Director with ALLIED. “The reality is that garments need to be designed for circularity before any sense of recyclability can even start to be possible. That is why we are excited to bring our areas of expertise as innovative ingredient brands to Peak Performance to build, from the very beginning, a truly circular product. And what is even more exciting is that this project can stand as a beacon for entire product lines in the future.”

Each participating company contributed a specific material or technology to the project. ALLIED provides 800-fill power down insulation, described as renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable. NetPlus produces nylon yarn from fishing net waste collected before it enters the ocean, which is then re-engineered into 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) nylon. The yarn is woven by PERTEX to form the outer shell and liner of the Helium Loop jacket.

Resortecs contributes Smart Stitch™, a heat-activated thread designed to support easier material separation. At the end of the product’s lifecycle, the stitching can be removed through Smart Disassembly™ under controlled conditions, allowing the down insulation and outer materials to be separated and recycled individually.

Speaking about the project, designer Marie Andersson commented, “The core insight is that true circularity isn't about accepting compromises, it's about engineering garments to be unmade as thoughtfully as they're made. Our R&D Helium Loop proves that when premium materials meet thoughtful disassembly design with end-of-life in mind, circularity becomes a performance advantage as every component maintains its highest value across multiple lifecycles.”

David Stover, CEO of Bureo, the company behind NetPlus, added, "The Helium Loop R&D project demonstrates how responsible materials and design can prevent pollution and reduce reliance on fossil fuels – a win for the outdoor community. Technical outerwear is typically built from crude oil (virgin plastic), an outdated model that negatively impacts people and the planet through the entire supply chain. By connecting better materials with thoughtful design, the Peak Performance team was able to explore the worthwhile challenge of building products suited for end-of-life recycling and push forward on the industry transition away from fossil fuels."

The R&D Helium Loop Anorak forms part of Peak Performance’s long-term objective to achieve circularity across its entire product range by 2030.