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SKYPRO and The Woolmark Company began discussions at the end of 2023 and have since developed two innovative projects in collaboration with national industrial partners, within the Corporate Wear segment, placing wool – and Made in Portugal – at the centre of international attention among leading airlines.
In the first project, involving SKYPRO, Woolmark and Paulo de Oliveira, trials were conducted in the jersey division of the Covilhã-based company, resulting in a coordinated set comprising trousers and a jacket, as well as a dress. The concept was presented at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg in April last year, where it received a positive reception from visitors.
During testing, certain constraints were identified, particularly regarding wash resistance and shrinkage, which are currently being addressed to deliver an improved final product to the market. The key innovation of this project is the ability to allow domestic washing of garments, a feature uncommon in professional uniforms.
“This is a partnership to strengthen. In the professional uniform segment, there is a growing use of wool in corporate wear due to its thermoregulation, superior comfort and longer durability, all aligned with sustainability requirements,” said Ricardo Silva, Board & Chief Sustainability Officer at SKYPRO, in an interview with T Jornal.
“A polyviscose uniform lasts on average 12 to 15 months, whereas a wool uniform can reach up to 24 months. Major airlines are transitioning not only for environmental sustainability but also for economic reasons,” he added.
Comfort is a decisive factor driving the demand for wool corporate wear. Silva explains that “in enclosed environments, such as airplanes, polyviscose feels very warm, causing significant discomfort.” The Woolmark Company highlights other fibre properties, noting that “the thermoregulating and anti-odor characteristics of wool are equally important for user comfort.”
According to SKYPRO, approximately two-thirds of products are developed with a composition of 40–45% wool, 2–3% elastane for mobility, and the remainder in polyester, which enhances wash resistance and colourfastness.
Aware of wool’s potential, the partners also launched a second project focused on circularity, in collaboration with Fitecom, a Woolmark-certified company. SKYPRO participates in the Bioshoes4All Project, supported by PRR and led by the Centro Tecnológico do Calçado de Portugal, where SKYPRO’s activity focuses on developing wool-based materials incorporating fibres from post-consumer uniform recycling for use in footwear, leather goods and accessories.
“This is a way to leverage the synergies and vertical integration of Portugal’s textile and apparel sector, which makes it unique,” Woolmark emphasises.
This project is part of a circular uniform management service, in which SKYPRO collects end-of-life garments from clients, assesses their condition, and if reuse or repair is not feasible, redirects them for recycling. Garments are disassembled, buttons and other components removed, and the potential for material reuse evaluated. “For trousers, we can reuse about 90% of the material; for blazers, the percentage is lower, around 30%.”
After disassembly, the material is sent to J. Gomes for shredding and fibre production. Fitecom then develops a new wool structure, composed of roughly 50% recycled wool fibres and 50% virgin fibres. “Fitecom is the industrial partner, while SKYPRO coordinates with the various partners and clients,” clarifies Ricardo Silva.
The results of this project, now in its final phase, will be presented in April at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, including products such as footwear, slippers, bags and other accessories.
Specialising in corporate uniforms, SKYPRO works primarily with airlines but is expanding into other sectors, including rail, public transport and hospitality, operating under a model without internal production. The company delivers turnkey solutions, relying on a network of mostly national suppliers and internally managing design, prototyping, validation testing, procurement and logistics. SKYPRO also offers a digital uniform management platform that allows clients to monitor stocks, inventories and forecast future needs.
Currently, SKYPRO serves over 50 airlines worldwide, with a vision to be the most competent company in corporate uniform management, leading in innovation and sustainability. This positioning is reinforced by its commitment to circularity and integration of new material solutions, exemplified by these two wool-focused projects.
“SKYPRO is a pioneer nationally and likely in Europe in implementing circularity solutions in uniforms. We were also the first Portuguese SME to publish a voluntary ESG report according to EU Directive metrics, even before the topic gained prominence,” Ricardo Silva notes, highlighting the company’s pioneering role in integrating circularity in corporate uniforms.
For Woolmark, the partnership strengthens wool’s positioning in this specific market. “Wool is already well established in Corporate Wear, but we want to reinforce its presence. SKYPRO is a leader in this area, especially in aviation, and the perfect partner to highlight wool in this segment and increase its recognition,” the company concludes.
The collaboration also gained international visibility when SKYPRO was included as a case study in Woolmark’s latest toolkit, showcasing a Portuguese company and the know-how of Made in Portugal.
According to Ricardo Silva, this partnership with Woolmark and other industrial partners has enabled the development of cutting-edge solutions and positioned SKYPRO as a pioneer. Continuity is crucial, converting these developments into commercially available solutions, establishing new partnerships and projects. A notable example is the new project with the Portuguese brand Sanjo, combining the brand’s extensive expertise in casual and sports footwear with new recycled wool materials, currently in the final validation tests, with a product launch planned for the first half of 2026.