In this interview, we talk to Steven about the vision, the use of materials and the future plans of our outdoor collection. What started as a niche project has grown into an innovative and versatile range, supported by sustainable choices, technical know-how and a strong focus on colour and finish.
Steven explains how European Spinning Group strengthens its position in a competitive market.
On the one hand, by investing in quality, circular co-operation and international partnerships. He also explains how we make a difference at the highest level in the textile world.
Steven, you have been intensively involved in the development of our outdoor collection for many years. If you look at it today, what do you think makes this collection truly distinctive? Not only in terms of material, but also in approach, vision and positioning?
Steven: What makes our collection special is the combination of a high-quality material and our specialized production processes. This combination enables us to offer a wide range of applications. This interplay of material and technique is at the heart of our approach, and we consciously present it forward as an asset of our spinning mill.
You took the initiative to explore the market with this yarn collection from ESG, why did you specifically choose solution dyed acrylic?
Steven: The outdoor segment is now impossible to ignore globally. That market has evolved so much over the last five or six years. There are of course different products based on other raw materials. But in the end, there is only one top product.
We only use solution dyed acrylic fibres. Solution Dyeing means that the fibre is already dyed during its production process. Firstly, you save a lot of water and chemicals, as it is only an intermediate step during production. Thanks to this dyeing technique, the fibre gets one uniform colour down to its core. The colourfastness of a fibre, yarn or cloth is also much better than when dyed afterwards.
This is not only very important for outdoor applications. Take your curtains or your sofa, for example; with cheaper raw materials, the colours will fade and the fabric will also break down faster. We therefore abandoned the idea that this collection should only be promoted for outdoor use.
How does sustainability play a role in the choice of this material, especially compared to fibres that still have to be dyed afterwards?
Steven: Because the fibre is already coloured during the production process, no dyes, chemicals or extra water are needed afterwards. This efficiency fits perfectly within the broader vision of European Spinning Group. We consciously choose fibres that already offer natural benefits, thus avoiding burdensome steps in the production process.
What does that mean for our customers?
Steven: The fabric stays beautiful for years and is resistant to the sun. In addition, it is easy to maintain. You can clean them with household bleach. It is also resistant to chlorine and salt, which makes it ideal for use around swimming pools, on the beach or at sea.
How does ESG distinguish itself in the market?
Steven: In contrast to the classic approach to sun protection, we focus on upholstery fabrics, carpets, curtains and applications in the maritime sector. All stemming from the approach that we want to spread geographically and find the right partners for long-term collaboration.
Thanks to our colour collection, we can link customers from different segments. In this way, we bring a strong total concept to the contract market. This strategy ensures little competition amongst them and allows hotel chains to extend their brand across the board. That yields fantastic results and is worth all the effort.
We specialize in extensive mélange colour collections. What does that mean for flexibility towards customers?
Steven: We offer more than 100 colours in our standard colour chart, and thanks to our expertise, we can also create additional colours upon the customer's request. We do this not only with single yarn, but also with twisted, cabled or fancy yarn such as bouclé, in collaboration with external partners. Our colour compositions are truly unique. No one else spins colour in the same way we do.
And customers also remain loyal to the collection?
Steven: Yes, and that's a big compliment for me. Customers who have been working with this collection since 2017 are still buying our yarns today. This shows that our product is top notch and that it grows with the market. We continue to invest in colour development and keep a close eye on trends. I would like to expand on that even further.
Let's look ahead for a moment. What trends or market developments have you noticed recently, and do you see new opportunities that we can respond to?
Steven: I see a lot of potential in our recycled collection that also has a GRS label and our solution dyed acrylic colour collection in combination with hemp. We are fully testing our possibilities with hemp in our spinning mill. It is no coincidence that ship ropes were traditionally made from hemp. The fibre behaves well in humid conditions and sun-drenched environments.
This strong fibre still has so much potential in various markets. Combined with our own colour concept, we are constantly putting together a bigger puzzle and positioning ourselves clearly in the market.
How did the collaboration with Purfi come about?
Steven: We have had a strong partnership with Purfi from Waregem for years. We also buy recycled cotton from them, among other things. Unlike other recyclers, Purfi can supply us with fibres that have a good length to be reprocessed. This allows us to spin yarns with high recycled content that achieve impressive test results. This collection is still young and also has a lot of growth potential.
How important is sustainability in the outdoor sector, and how do our products fit in with it?
Steven: It is important to note that there are two facets. Because the basis of acrylic is oil and chemistry, something you don't associate with sustainability. It's all in the lifespan of the material. During the production process, the colour of the fibre is already added, thus eliminating crucial and highly polluting production steps. We believe it is important to offer very high-quality materials that customers can enjoy for years; we will not settle for less.
There is, of course, a second key point: collaboration across the value chain to recycle acrylic. This includes re-spinning the recycled material and creating new products with recycled content. We are strongly committed to supporting and contributing to textile recycling ecosystems in line with ESG principles. Not only is this possible, but we also actively participate by offering this type of recycled yarn ourselves.
"We are being flooded by fast markets on all sides, not just fashion. It is important to counterbalance that and, especially, not to run in that race. As a production company, we want to be smarter and more responsible with our materials."
What are you personally most proud of when you look at our outdoor collection?
Steven: I think it's particularly clever that we, as a small Belgian European spinner, manage to export this product to the roof of the world. Even as far as Nepal, where it is used in the highest quality hand-knotted carpets. The volumes may not always be large, but they are high-end applications.
Our yarns, spun here, are processed into artisanal masterpieces that are then used in the most exclusive places in the world. We can be very proud of that. When looking at the world map, we are only a small dot. But our products are used worldwide.
How do you see the future of outdoor textiles in the coming years?
Steven: Modern architecture contains more and more glass sections and open spaces. This means that interior textiles must be increasingly resistant to sunlight. We are already seeing that our yarns are increasingly used indoors. This is an important growth area for us. By further specializing our product, we are expanding the scope of application and strengthening our market position worldwide.
ESG News | July, 4th 2025