The International Spa Association (ISPA) named Noel Asmar Group the overall winner of the ISPA Innovation of the Year award. The group won the award for its line of athleisure uniforms that use recycled fabric made from repurposed plastic bottles.
Noel Asmar, founder and creative director of Noel Asmar Group, has been at the forefront of spa uniform fashion since she launched her first company SpaUniforms.com in 2002. Over the past 17 years, Asmar has strived to continuously reinvent and advance the design of her company’s uniforms. Most recently, she paired equal parts fashion with sustainability by making their trademark garments from recycled plastic. Instead of ending up in landfills, recycled bottles are given a new life where they are crushed, pelleted, and spun into fabric. Biodegradable ChitoSanté treatment was chosen for the fabric, which offers a naturally anti-bacterial element that is odor resistant, moisture wicking, and provides powerful UPF 50 sun protection.
“It is truly an honor to receive the 2019 International SPA Association Innovate of the Year Award at a time when sustainability and planet health is at the forefront of every global news outlet,” said Asmar. “Thank you to ISPA for recognizing innovation.”
Despite her win, Asmar understands that there is more work to do and plans to launch a major sustainability initiative in the fall. She said, “The Noel Asmar sustainable uniform collection is simply the beginning. Once this journey began, we quickly discovered just how much more must be done.”
ISPA was excited to present Noel Asmar Group with the award “for their forward-thinking approach to design and sustainability,” says Lynne McNees, ISPA president. “Each of the innovative ideas that were submitted are a testament to the commitment and passion our spa leaders bring to the industry and we are excited to see what ideas these inspire others to achieve.”
The group’s uniform line received the most votes from ISPA members and was recognized on stage at Friday’s General Session during the 2019 ISPA Conference & Expo. A full list of ISPA Innovate Award Winners can be found here.
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