With a heritage in lace that spans over a century, Noyon Calais, of France established a groundbreaking partnership with MAS Holdings to bring cutting edge lace manufacturing to Sri Lanka in 2004. Having acquired the IP and brand rights of its French parent company recently, today, Noyon Lanka (Noyon) is an international organization with design libraries in France and Sri Lanka, sales presence across the US, UK and Europe as well as Manufacturing presence & partnerships in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and China.
Specialising in the creation of finely crafted lace that seamlessly blends contemporary aesthetics with timeless sophistication, Noyon employs state-of-the-art technology and machinery to develop more than 450 distinctive lace designs each year.
In this interview with Husni Salieh, Chief Executive Officer of Noyon, we explore the company’s unwavering dedication to excellence, innovation & sustainability. These core values have not only solidified its position as the premier knitted lace manufacturer in South Asia but also facilitated collaborations with global brands, producing versatile and superior-quality lace fabrics for a wide range of applications.
Could you provide us with an overview of Noyon?
The origins of Noyon date back to over a 100 years ago to the rich levers lace-making heritage of Calais, France. With this legacy in lace, Noyon joined forces with MAS Holdings 20 years ago to bring modern day lace manufacturing to Sri Lanka. By knitting together traditional French design and craftsmanship with modern day manufacturing techniques today the organization has evolved into one of the leading knitted lace manufacturers in south Asia.
Today, Noyon stands as a leader in innovative warp-knit solutions, With design libraries in France and Sri Lanka, sales and marketing presence in the US, UK, and EU, as well as manufacturing facilities and partnerships across Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and China. Diversifying beyond traditional lace, Noyon’s product platforms include Inntrix for performance apparel, Planetones for natural dye solutions, and an absorbency platform for feminine hygiene products.
Could you briefly outline some of the key sustainability initiatives Noyon has implemented to enhance its products and processes?
Sustainability is often considered a buzzword, but for companies like ours operating within the apparel industry, it holds significant weight. Studies suggest that the apparel industry ranks as one of the largest polluters globally, trailing only behind the oil and gas sector. With this sobering reality in mind, Noyon takes its responsibility to enact positive change very seriously.
At Noyon, we firmly believe that sustainability shouldn’t merely be a workstream that runs in parallel to our business operations; rather, it should be intricately woven into the fabric of our business model. From our core purpose emerges a commitment to creating innovative solutions that benefit both people and the planet. This ethos serves as the cornerstone of our existence.
Furthermore, as global awareness of environmental issues grows, so too does the imperative for sustainable business practices. Consumers increasingly gravitate towards eco-friendly products, while governments enact regulations aimed at curbing environmental degradation. Moreover, climate-related events are disrupting operations across various industries. In light of these developments, prioritising sustainability isn’t just a matter of conscience; it’s sound business sense as well.
For us, embracing sustainability responsibly means integrating it into every aspect of our operations. From product development to manufacturing processes, innovation lies at the heart of our approach. We leverage recyclable and biodegradable materials, such as cellulose-based yarns, to minimise our environmental impact. Our commitment to innovation extends to dyeing processes, where we’ve pioneered ‘Planetones’, the world’s first control union certified natural dye solution. Notably, Planetones not only uses natural dye sources but also significantly cuts down on water usage by over 40%, both energy consumption, and carbon emissions by over 60%, compared to traditional dyeing methods.
In addition to product innovation, we continuously strive to improve our energy and water footprint across our facilities. Our adoption of renewable energy sources, including a one-megawatt solar panel installation, implementation of sustainable biomass for boilers, retrofitting VFD technology, online energy and efficiency monitoring systems, and the company’s adoption of the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals movement further outlines our dedication to sustainable practices
How does Noyon differentiate itself from its competitors?
Firstly, we take a strong partnership-oriented approach to business. By prioritising long-term strategic partnerships over short-term transactional relationships or gains, we have forged meaningful relationships with stakeholders across the globe.
We have a strong focus in design, innovation and increasingly aim to weave sustainability into the way we do business. Planetones which we discussed earlier is a great example of how design, innovation and sustainability have come together to offer elevated sustainable product to the customer.
All the above together with our international presence and exceptional people and culture enables us to set ourselves apart in the industry.
What factors have contributed to Noyon’s evolution from a traditional lace manufacturer to a leader in innovative textile solutions?
Over time, our focus has shifted from levers lace towards manufacturing intricate knitted lace suitable for lingerie and other applications, utilizing advanced machinery and techniques.
This evolution has positioned us at the forefront of lace production, particularly in the realm of intimate wear.
Building on this strong core business platform. we are now diversifying into new adjacencies such as our Inntrix platform. This innovative platform combines the aesthetic beauty of lace with the functional properties of performance fabrics, offering a unique blend that has already garnered interest from leading performance wear brands.
In addition to the Inntrix platform, we have also developed high-absorbency fabric platforms catering to needs such as urinary incontinence and feminine hygiene solutions
And of course, we have already introduced the Planetones natural dye solution that we spoke about earlier which has the broader potential of being applied across other industries, beyond apparel.
These innovations underscore our commitment to expanding beyond traditional lace production and exploring new product platforms and solutions.
Can you share your plans for the future, and why sustainability is crucial for the future of the global fashion industry?
The why is pretty simple. We can all feel the accelerated effects of climate change and global warming (heatwaves, rising sea levels, loss of biodiversity, irregular weather patterns etc). Given the negative impact that the fashion industry can have on the environment, a sustainable way forward is a must.
At Noyon our vision is to be the leader in innovative warp-knit solutions, globally and as we continue to grow towards this end by growing our global footprint and introducing new innovative products and services we plan to incorporate sustainability into our business strategy and model as discussed earlier. This will play a crucial role in determining our success both as a business and responsible stakeholder of our planet.
We are strongly considering the energy impact of new investments prior to approving them, increasing our renewable energy footprint, including solar panels and working towards circularity with like-minded partners and collaborators.
Noyon’s future vision is deeply intertwined with our commitment to sustainability, recognizing the pivotal role that fabric and textile manufacturers play in shaping the global fashion industry, setting a new standard for sustainable fashion, and fostering a greener, more responsible future for the industry, people and the planet!