DuPont Collaborates with Anta on Chinese Delegation's Olympic Champion Uniforms

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DuPont Collaborates with Anta on Chinese Delegation's Olympic Champion Uniforms

New Generation of "Dragon Uniform" Key Ingredient is DuPont™ Sorona® Renewably Sourced Fiber

DuPont Industrial Biosciences announced collaboration with Chinese sports brand Anta in the design of champion uniforms for Chinese Olympic team members using DuPont™ Sorona® - a sustainable, patented fibre made with renewable, plant-based ingredients. Sorona® -which leverages innovation and sustainability to produce fibres that are uniquely soft, extremely durable and have excellent stretch and recovery will be a key ingredient in the Chinese team's "Dragon Uniform" at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Since 2009, Anta Sports has been an official partner of the Chinese Olympic Committee, collaborating with the Chinese sports delegations at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter, London 2012 Olympic Games and more than 30 other international competitions. Anta provides a full set of medal award stand apparel to show case the spirit and style of Chinese Olympic athletes.

"By incorporating DuPont™ Sorona® renewably sourced fibres in the Olympic champion uniform for the Chinese delegation, we hope to incorporate the concepts of health, environment and public welfare into our champion uniforms, so that the 'Dragon Uniform' is more meaningful," said James Zheng, president of Anta. Anta is dedicated to the application of sports science and innovation in the development of high performance, comfortable sports apparel. Anta's and DuPont's shared values of innovation and sustainability are a strong connection between the two companies. As a result, the Chinese sports brand selected DuPont™ Sorona® as its raw material partner four years ago. "Sustainability is not just a concept; it also can bring real value to consumers by the brands that adopt sustainably sourced materials," said Dennis Tsai, DuPont™ Sorona® Asia-Pacific regional director. "Sorona® brings unique performance innovations and properties to fabric mills and brand houses in a way that is on trend and meets market needs."

DuPont has a rich and deep history in the textile market. As an industry leader, DuPont's inventions include fibres such as nylon, Lycra®, Kevlar® and rayon (the world's first man-made fiber). More recently, in addition to Sorona®, DuPont's biomaterials group has focused its innovations on creating high-performing, sustainably sourced materials that become ingredients in products consumers use every day.

"Innovation comes from the material" has become a consensus for many brands, including Anta. Through close collaboration with Anta, DuPont developed a series of sports apparel applications successfully launched into the mainstream Chinese consumer market.