From K-Pop Artists' Running Shirts to Official Race Kits: Hyosung TNC's Recycled Yarns Take Center Stage

Official Save Race 2026 kits feature recycled nylon and polyester yarns across shirts, windbreakers, bags and running belts, building on the use of Hyosung TNC's regen™ in SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26 race shirts.

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SM Entertainment artists and runners wore the same race shirts at SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26, a running event organized by SM Entertainment, one of South Korea's leading entertainment companies and a major force in the K-pop industry. Now, Hyosung TNC, the global textile materials company behind the yarns used in those shirts, has supplied the official running kits for another race in Seoul. Save Race 2026, a 10km charity run co-organized by KakaoBank and the Korean Committee for UNICEF on November 7, featured official running kits made with Hyosung TNC's recycled yarn brand, regen™. The shirts, windbreakers and bags were made with regen™ Nylon, a recycled nylon yarn, while the running belts featured regen™ Polyester, a recycled polyester yarn.

Earlier in October, Hyosung TNC sponsored SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26, organized by SM Entertainment, supplying regen™ ASKIN recycled polyester yarn for the official race shirts worn by both SM Entertainment artists and participating runners. regen™ ASKIN is a recycled polyester yarn offering contact cooling, moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties, as well as UV protection. At Save Race 2026, a charity run combining environmental awareness and charitable giving, all participation fees were dedicated to supporting children affected by the climate crisis, with Hyosung TNC serving as an official partner. Under the theme "Even Discarded Materials Can Run Again," the company's on-site booth showcased how raw materials are processed into recycled yarns and finished products.

A participant in Save Race 2026 who has taken part in several running events said, "Knowing that the race shirt was made from recycled yarn made me feel that simply wearing it while running was another way of supporting the event's purpose."

Recycled yarns are produced by reprocessing discarded PET bottles, fishing nets and manufacturing byproducts into new fibers. Hyosung TNC's regen™ is a recycled yarn brand encompassing recycled polyester, nylon and spandex, supplied to global sportswear and fashion brands. Both regen™ Nylon and regen™ Polyester are certified to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), which verifies recycled content and supply chain requirements. Hyosung TNC supports brands from yarn development through product development to help them create finished products using regen™. Building on its experience at running events, the company plans to expand regen™ applications in collaboration with sportswear and fashion brands and event organizers across Asia. Hyosung TNC also plans to incorporate feedback from runners' firsthand experiences into future material and product development.

"Runners were able to see for themselves, simply by wearing the apparel, that even discarded materials can run again," said Chang Hwang Lee, CEO of Hyosung TNC. "Since great running apparel starts with the yarn, we aim to be the closest partner to brands throughout the journey from yarn development to finished products, helping them move forward with recycled materials."

About Hyosung TNC

Hyosung TNC is a sustainable textile solutions provider delivering continuous innovation to the global textile industry. As one of the world's leading spandex manufacturers, the company offers a broad range of stretch textile solutions through its CREORA® and regen™ brands, backed by differentiated technology and quality.

Hyosung TNC is also expanding the transition toward more sustainable materials through bio-based spandex using sugarcane-derived feedstock and an integrated bio-based value chain. In addition, the company supplies high-performance nylon and polyester solutions designed to combine functionality with sustainability.

Working with global customers and partners, Hyosung TNC continues to develop innovative material solutions for the evolving needs of the textile and fashion industries.

SOURCE Hyosung TNC