Photo Credit: Courtesy by arena

arena collaborates with Healthy Seas in first-ever FINA-approved racing suit made with recycled nylon

08 June 2023

arena is proud to announce the launch of Powerskin ST NEXT, a next-generation competition swimsuit that is lighter, more durable, and is made from ECONYL®regenerated yarn, a 100% recycled nylon made out of fishing nets and other nylon waste.

The release date of June 8th has been chosen to coincide with World Oceans Day.

For this occasion, arena has partnered with Healthy Seas, a registered charity founded in 2013 to tackle the ghost fishing phenomenon that is responsible for the needless death of marine animals. Amongst its activities, the charity, working with volunteer divers of the Ghost Diving Foundation, recovers fishing nets from the seas and oceans. Aquafil – a founding partner of Healthy Seas – in turn reconstitutes those nets suitable for recycling, together with other nylon waste such as carpet flooring and industrial plastic, into ECONYL®, a 100% regenerated nylon yarn whose source materials would otherwise have been destined for contaminating landfills. ECONYL® yarn is then used by one of arena’s primary textile suppliers, Carvico, to create the fabric employed in the manufacture of the new suit.

“We are very excited to launch our partnership with arena on World Oceans Day, while encouraging everyone to take action to protect our blue planet,” said Veronika Mikos, Healthy Seas director. “With the support of arena, Healthy Seas will be able to carry out more ghost net clean-ups and education programmes throughout the world.”

ST NEXT builds on the success of its predecessor, Powerskin ST 2.0, raising the bar by being 20% lighter, which results in less water absorption and drag, and thus greater speed. The characteristics of the new fabric – 60% of which is comprised of ECONYL® yarn – also provide longer-lasting compression, and consequently greater durability. Finally, it’s greener, so in effect arena is helping to transform harmful fishing nets into a performance racing suit, thus contributing to the reduction of waste with every stroke.

“Like me, arena has chosen the sea,” said Italian Olympic and World Champion, Gregorio Paltrinieri. “By swimming together we understand that we have to protect it. As with Dominate the Water, the collaboration between arena and Healthy Seas is born from a desire to safeguard the environment and raise awareness about protection of the oceans, it’s a strategic bond that has led to the production of a new racing suit, the ST NEXT”.

Starting on June 8th, the Powerskin ST NEXT will be available on e-commerce, direct markets in Italy, France, Germany and North America, and also through distributors.

Retail selling prices for the suit are as follows:

POWERSKIN ST NEXT KNEESKIN: €130

POWERSKIN ST NEXT JAMMER: €85

POWERSKIN ST NEXT KNEESKIN JR: €100

POWERSKIN ST NEXT JAMMER JR: €70€

Photo Credit: Courtesy by arena