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We will deliver the news of Atko Planning quickly.
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| 142020.02.14 |
![[Interview] Ji-eon Kim, CEO of Atko Planning](http://atkoleather.com/wp-content/uploads/kboard_thumbnails/1/202002/5e46573adc5a46310887-320x220.png)
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![[Interview] Ji-eon Kim, CEO of Atko Planning](http://atkoleather.com/wp-content/uploads/kboard_thumbnails/1/202002/5e46573adc5a46310887-96x70.png)
From September 17 to 19, Premiere Vision, the world's largest fashion goods fair, was held in Paris. South Korean textile, leather, and accessories companies began participating in this fair since 2007. However, they did not receive much attention compared to Japanese and European companies. This is because they has been overshadowed by high-quality natural materials from Europe and Japan. However, a venture company that participated for the first time this year won the grand prize at PV for the first time as Korean company.
Atko Planning, which regenerates leather waste and exports regenerated leather to global fashion brands, received the Grand Jury Price among 2008 companies from 51 countries. GJP was given to most sustainable product that matches with the environmental issue. Ji-eon Kim(47), CEO of Atko Planning, founded this company in late 2012 after working 16 years as a handbag designer at fashion brands like Geumgang, Esquire, Indief and E-Land. Working as a designer for a long time, she realized the need for eco-friendly materials.
"I studied clothing and joined Kumkang as a handbag designer in 1996. As I've worked as an intern in wedding shop, I got interested in fashion accessories such as hats, gloves, and bags rather than clothes. I moved to fashion brand Esquire with my career and launched a brand, Sonobi, which is famous for its front-printed bag. At that time, it was considered original since front-printing design was not that popular yet. I have also worked at E-land in 2011 to explore various range of products."
"It was long before preparing my own business in 2012 to contrive regenerated leather. I watched a video of killing cows in 2008 when a mad cow disease broke out. Dug a pit and threw the cows away, and they were all screaming at each other. Then, at some point, they become quiet." Kim felt self-doubt for herself for being a designer for the first time. While in shock, she thought, "If it is impossible not to use the hide, wouldn’t it be the only way for repaying the debt to the cows to reuse it?"
For Kim, who used to be a designer, starting a business was not an easy task. At first, she planned 'Regenerative Leather Bag brand,' which makes bags out of recycled leather. However, she turned to ‘manufacturing recycled leather’ when she received investment.
However, she had to deal with the big barriers of developing leather-recycling technology and waste-using permits. Since 2014, Atko Planning has been developing technology to regenerate leather. At that time, the common technique of manufacturing recycled leather was ‘wet method.’ The problem was that a considerable amount of water is used because wet methods make leather in warm water. In general, about 8 tons of water was used to make leather, and it took a lot of energy to activate the factory. She thought it would be no use if she wastes water and energy to make recycled leather. Therefore, she decided to develop the "dry-processed method" to regenerate leather without using water. She went to research institutes and factories to develop the dry-processed method and asked for advice, but at first they replied skeptically. Further, she started out as a one-man startup, so she didn't have a proper place to develop technology. She experimented in leather factories that ended their work with asking excuse. After three years of dedication, she succeeded in developing dry-processed method in 2016 and even got patent.
Although the development of dry process was successful, the use of waste leather, which is an industrial waste, required permission. She also needed a factory permit to manufacture it. Fortunately, Paju permitted to establish a factory to produce recycled leather.
This is how Atko planning turn leather waste into regenerated leather: first, domestic leather factories imports cowhide from South America or other countries to make leather, and then delivers cutting waste to Atko planning. Atko Planning fiberizes leather waste into yarns of various thickness and then turns it back into regenerated leather which is close to natural leather. This method is characterized by water-free process during regeneration. It also does not apply any chemical process that changes the nature of the leather. Therefore, bags or sneakers made of the regenerated leather of Atko Planning can be recycled again after used out. That is, the regenerated leather of Atko planning circulate in itself continuously.
As the company began making recycled leather, global brands proposed a deal. Compared to Korea, Europe cares about the environment more, which is why they have great interest in regenerated leather. Moreover, as environmental regulations on bag and sneakers have intensified in Europe, many eco-friendly and renewable materials have emerged as alternatives that can protect the environment.
The first customer was the Italian luxury brand 'Armani'. Armani made a proposal to use Atco Planning's recycled leather for his handbag. Fashion brands such as Adidas, Asics, Timberland, New Balance, North Face, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein have also been offered. “By the time we started to produce massive amount of recycled leather, eco-friendly materials were already a very important topic for global companies. It's timely right. Global companies continue to research and review partner companies, and Atko planning, which has the dry-processed method that does not use water while manufacturing recycled leather, has been highly evaluated. ”
Above all, Atko Planning could receive attention by winning the Grand Jury Prize for PV in September. Even if it was the first time to attend to PV, Atko planning made it to get the best prize.The judges of PV unanimously selected Atko planning as the most iconic material of the time in terms of the sustainability required by the global market and the technology to commercialize it as a product. "When I arrived in France, I saw a phone full of messages that we've been nominated for the PV. After the fair began, I was looking at products from companies around the world, and I hoped to take only second place." Before the announcement of grand prize, Atko planning was not called. "I'm frustrated, and all of a sudden, there's a cheer coming from the local media and companies. Atko planning won the grand prize. It was more valuable because it was the first prize given to domestic company."
Kim said it was definitely not easy to change herself from designer to CEO. But she could keep her way because she thought she in the right way. "Green and sustainability is the hottest issue in the global fashion industry right now. More and more people will feel the need to use recycled leather rather than killing animals and getting new leather. If Atko Plening can change people's perception of the resource cycle and become a representative company of eco-friendly trends, there's nothing more to be desired."
[Resource: Naver Post JOB&, Hansol Park, 2019.11.25, https://m.post.naver.com/viewer/postView.nhn?volumeNo=26941353&memberNo=44833462&vType=VERTICAL]
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| 132020.02.11 |
![[Interview] Ji-eon Kim of Atko Planning](http://atkoleather.com/wp-content/uploads/kboard_thumbnails/1/202002/5e41f12872d806473545-320x220.jpg)
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![[Interview] Ji-eon Kim of Atko Planning](http://atkoleather.com/wp-content/uploads/kboard_thumbnails/1/202002/5e41f12872d806473545-96x70.jpg)
[Interview] Ji-eon Kim of Atko Planning
Draw out the yarn from the leather waste. Through regenerating process, 100% new fabric is created. After long years of research, Ji-eon Kim, CEO of Atko planning, is who finally made the achievement. She started as a one-man company and now has raised a respectable small corporation with 34 people.
"It takes thorough knowledge of the material and fabric as well as constant effort to regenerate the waste. So we can continue to develop. Our goal is to turn leather waste into recycled materials and utilize it in the global market in the future," Kim said.
Atko planning will also move to a larger facility in Paju to produce products in short time. Currently, international fashion brands such as Gucci, Emporio Armani, Adidas, Zara and Longsham has signed contracts and made love calls to Atko planning.
She was honored with the Grand Jury Prize at the 11th Premiere Vision Awards 2019 in Paris this fall. The remarkable event, which the fashion industry pays attention to every year, selects the most original and innovative product from the companies participating in. Atko planning's award-winning item is the world's first recycled leather, which is highly evaluated for its sustainability.
"There is still a lack of awareness and domestic policy regarding regeneration in Korea," Kim said. "But surely this market will become more important and determine the value of the future. Within it, we will put our efforts to come up with new products and fabric."
[Resource: Fashionbiz November 2019, Jeongmin Lee, http://www.fashionbiz.co.kr/PE/? cate=2&recom=2&idx=175035]
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| 122020.02.10 |
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Atco planning, an eco-friendly fashion material company, has attracted investment in a total of $13 so far, and is recognized its potentiality in the fashion industry. Since 2016, it has attracted funds from several investors such as Yellow Dog Investment and Idea Bridge, and recently drew $2m from K2 Investment.
Atko planning, led by Ji-eon Kim, has the technology to produce renewable leather from the discarded leather. Atko planning is developing various materials that can be regenerated once and again.
At the end of last year, Atko planning has emerged as a global eco-friendly fashion material company, winning the Grand Jury Leather Prize at the 11th PREMIERE VISION Awards 2019. It has clinched orders with international companies such as "Zara" and "Longsham," and has recently got a deal with "Balli." Armani and Calvin Klein have released products made of Atko materials and Atko planning is currently in talks with about 80 companies.
CEO Ji-eon Kim said, "Many companies highly evaluated the 'social impact' and invested to Atko planning. "The obvious mission of Atco planning is the development of materials that can be circulated continuously," she explained.
[Resource: Fashionbiz, Jisu Kang, http://www.fashionbiz.co.kr/TN/?cate=2&recom=2&idx=176438]
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| 112020.01.30 |
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Armani's clothes and Adidas' sneakers, which are made of recycled leather from Korean startup corporation Atco planning, are released to the market soon.
Recently, recognized as the promising green company, Atko planning has received an investment of $6m and is expected to get the additional investment in amount of $6m.
The material directors of luxury brands such as Valentino, Gucci, and Christian Dior have desired Atko's products first and global sports companies such as Adidas, Puma, and New Balance are already making shoes from the company's recycled leather.
Ji-eon Kim, CEO of Atko planning, has developed the world's only technology to create recycled leather without consuming water. Since no water is used, no water waste is generated, and no dyeing process is needed.
Currently, Atko's products are mainly used for making sneakers yet they are expanding their target market with various fields such as car and clothing. Well-known car companies like Volve and Toyota is already using the recycled leather to make their car trunks.
Kim said, "The contact with global luxury and sports brands mainly started at trade shows." Atko planning has participated in overseas exhibitions about six times a year, including Premiere Vision (PV), Nike, Adidas vendor show, NW, and Hong Kong Fashion Access.
Recently, Atko Planning could grow rapidly as global fashion companies including Adidas and Armani are using eco-friendly materials more. In particular, progressive designers have a high preference on Atko leather.
Kim said, “We are planning to move into the second Industrial complex in Paju next year and complete building the production infrastructure. As mass production becoming possible, we are expecting triple-digit growth with the larger amount of products. We want to be the first in the field of recycled leather in the future.”
[Resource: Apparel News, Haeyeong Park, 2019]
http://apparelnews.co.kr/news/news_view/?idx=175620
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| 102020.01.22 |
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KB Investment invested in Atko planning in amount of 2m dollars as they highly evaluated Atko's patented technology to recycle leather.
Ji-ae Lee, the director of KB Investment, has invested in Atko Planning four times since she worked in Magellan Technology Investment. The investment is nearly 10m dollars cumulatively.
She "betted" on the great potential of Atko Planning as the prospective partner of leather-using corporation in this era of ethical consumption. Atko Planning is already dealing with the overseas brands such as Adidas, Zara, Longchamp and Volvo etc.
[Resource: KB Investment decided to invest in Atko Planning, Minji Kim, Paxnet news, https://paxnetnews.com/articles/55865]
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| 92020.01.14 |
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Atko planning attended to the investment signing ceremony held by KEITI(Korea Environmental Industry & technology Institute).
Atko Planning has achieved additional investment of $1m from Idea Bridge Partners after investment signing in 2016 and was selected as the new vendor company of Adidas. The sneakers made of recycled leather yarn from Atko Planning will be released to the markets from the beginning of 2020.
[Resource: Newsway, 2019-10-24]
http://www.newsway.co.kr/news/view?tp=1&ud=2019102411123108097
#recycledleather #atko #atkoleather #atkoplanning #PremiereVision #leather #recycle #eco #textile #material #grs #yarn
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| 82019.09.23 |
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PREMIÈRE VISION PARIS, the world's largest fashion textile fair, opened in Paris on the 17th. On the opening day, the 11th PV Awards 2019 awards ceremony was held for textile materials and leather.
The annual fashion industry draws attention to the selection of the most original and innovative products from exhibitors participating in the Première Viennese Fabric and Première Viennese Leather.
PV AWARDS selects the best fabric and leather companies in four categories: Grand Jury Prize, the highest judge, and Handle, Imagination and Fashion Smart Creation.
Duksung Inco, Vision International, Tera Optima, Seojintex, Sinjintex, and Atko planning were nominated for the 11th awards ceremony. Got it. The Grand Jury Prize, awarded to Atko planning, is awarded to the companies developing products that contribute to this season's most outstanding, iconic and global topics of sustainability and environmental issues. It is very encouraging to be considered the best in the global competition.
The awarded item of Atko planning is the recycled leather product refabricated from blended fiber extracted from the waste leather and is highly evaluated for its technological renovation and sustainability for the environment.
Atko planning is a promising venture corporation attracting overseas luxury brands within five years.
[Source: JoongAng Ilbo] Grand Prize of 'Rebirth of Waste Leather' 'PV AWARDS 2019'
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| 72019.09.23 |
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Winners of the 2019 PV Awards surrounded by the jury of this edition - MG / FNW
As for the "Handles Prize", dedicated to know-how, the jury wanted to salute the work of the Turkish leather specialist Marmara Deri, as well as that of the Italian weaver Lyria. Regarding the "Immagination Prize", dedicated to creativity, it is the Spanish FC Creacio i Innovacio that wins in the category Leather and the Swiss Jakob Schlaepfer in the category Fabrics.
Finally, with regard to the "Smart Creation" awards for sustainable innovations, the jury chose to reward the Korean company Kotai Tannery, which specializes in recycled leather, fish leather, organic tanning and vegetable dyeing, as well as as the Italian company Bonotto, which has chosen to apply a logic of "slow fashion" to its sustainable textile production.
[Source: Fashion Network]
#recycled leather #atko #atkoleather #atkoplanning #PremiereVision #leather #recycle #eco #textile #material #grs #yarn
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| 62019.09.01 |
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- Contract with EMPORIO ARMANI and ADDIDAS….Exclusive contract with TOPTEC and NORTH FACE.
While the textile industry is on the downhill due to sluggish domestic demand and exports, there are mid-sized and small-sized companies that win and win with global luxury companies' love calls for innovative materials development. ATKO planning, which developed recycled leather for both design and environment, and TOPTEC which introduced egg shell-like Nano membranes to outdoor materials, are representative.
EMPORIO ARMANI has been selling women's shopper bags with ATKO planning’s recycled leather in worldwide since February this year. The new product is a shopping bag embossed with EMPORIO ARMANI’s logo and is similar to the original artificial leather shopping bag design. The regenerated leather of ATKO planning is hardly different from the natural leather because it utilized the dry regenerating method that is made of existing leather products in the form of fibers and applied temperature, moisture, and pressure for a certain time. It is hard to recognize the difference between them.
Also, ADDIDAS’ upcoming sneakers, made of the world’s first recycled leather yarn, is ATKO planning’s product. ATKO planning developed a fabric woven from the recycled leather yarn last year and will supply it to ADIDAS later this year. Regenerated leather thread fabric has the advantages of leather, such as heat retention, flame retardancy, and shock absorption, while being 30% lighter than existing leather seats.
As luxury companies applied ATKO planning’s recycled leather to their products, famous brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Kevin Klein decided to use recycled leather on bags and shoes.
In Korea, Global Outdoor Brand named ‘NORTH FACE’ found first about the Nano membrane (thin film made of nanofibers) applied to the Air Queen's sanitary pad, known as “Hani’s Sanitary pad.” NORTH FACE unveiled nano-fabric 'Future Light' at CES 2019, the world's largest electronics exhibition in January this year.
Future Light has been building a global atheletic team of world-class climbers and skiers for the past two years, including Himalayan Everest and Cho Oyu, etc. NORTH FACE explains that it has proved perfect waterproof and breathable through extensive field tests in various environments.
The innovative material used in this future light is Nano Membrane, exclusively supplied by TOPTEC.
NORTH FACE has signed an exclusive supply contract with Toptec for three years until 2021 and is seeking further contracts.
Kim Ji-on, CEO of ATKO planning, said,
"I was glad to see that the hard-grown recycled leather was reborn as a luxury bag and displayed in a real store. We look forward to a quick social consensus in Korea that favors innovative and environmentally friendly materials and products."
[Source: Money Today] Worldwide Luxury Products are attracted by ‘K-Material’ armed with ‘Innovation’
#recycledleather #atko #atkoleather #atkoplanning #leather #recycle #eco #textile #material #grs #yarn
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| 52019.09.01 |
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ATKO planning succeeded in commercializing Eco-friendly Recycled Leather Yarn (ERLY).
ATKO planning, which started as a private company in winter 2012 and became a corporation in the spring of 2014, has invested R&D expenses of about $3 billion and developed eco-friendly recycled leather seats in the past three years. In 2018, they succeeded in developing the regenerated leather yarn for the first time in the world.
This achievement is in 6 years after the continuous development of recycled leather material from the leather waste.
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