HONG KONG, S.A.R., 30 September 2020 – The Billie System is excited to announce it has teamed up with knitwear designer label Cynthia & Xiao and luxury hospitality group Shangri-La Hotels within the South China region to launch a meaningful collaborative project that repurposes retired hotel bed linens into travel and guest amenities. Following the pandemic’s unprecedented impact on the travel industry this year, Shangri-La Group is pleased to pioneer a meaningful project that gives back to the community and provides a stylish experience to global travellers. 

From October 2020, a limited-edition collaboration designed by Cynthia & Xiao will be available at selected Shangri-La Hotels in the South China region and in selected boutiques. The campaign is inspired by Diqing, located in the Tibetan Autonomous prefecture, China. The county’s name is synonymous with “earthly Eden”, and the region is considered an epicentre of Chinese biodiversity for its diverse ethnicity. The vibrant art and cultural scene of Diqing boasts vividly coloured, intricately handmade products by different ethnic groups, which inspired the designs. 

“Though 2020 has been very challenging for many fashion brands, we saw new opportunities where companies from different sectors are opening their doors to collaborate and share their own resources,” says Cynthia Mak, co-founder and designer of Cynthia & Xiao. “This project is the perfect example. We feel honoured to be part of such a meaningful and fun experience that expresses our shared vision for sustainability.” 

“We’re very excited to have the opportunity to partner with two wonderful brands in Cynthia & Xiao and the Shangri-La Group in South China,” says Ronna Chao, Chairperson of Novetex Textiles. “We believe that circularity is the future of sustainability – and collaborating across different industries will pave the way for all of us.” 

The fashion industry is notorious for being one of the largest polluters in the world, with an estimated 18 million tonnes of textile waste produced annually – 95 percent of which could have been recycled. The large volumes of textile waste include other products apart from clothing, such as bedding. A single hotel, for instance, could potentially dispose up to three tonnes of linen every year. Particularly for luxury hotels where standards are high, beddings with even the slightest imperfections are regularly discarded. 

Conceived to help alleviate the issue of textile waste is The Billie System, a textile recycling system created by Novetex Textiles together with the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA). Whereas other recycling processes typically require high volumes of water and chemicals, The Billie System does not consume water nor produce chemical waste – creating an efficient solution for brands and companies that wish to revive excess inventory or unused raw materials. 

Through The Billie System’s innovative and environmentally-friendly textile recycling process, discarded bedsheets from regional hotel groups are broken down into fibres to produce new yarns. The recycled yarns will be incorporated into the exclusive line of travel and hotel amenities that comprises a robe, cardigan, and travel pouch. The products come in vibrant colours and whimsical graphic prints, drawn from the playful spirit of Cynthia & Xiao.