US-based unspun appoints Arne Arens as chief executive officer

In a move to scale its automated and localised manufacturing infrastructure, US-founded apparel technology company unspun has announced the appointment of Arne Arens as its new chief executive officer. Arens, a B Corp-certified company veteran, joins the business to guide its next phase of growth as it seeks to transform traditional supply chain models.

Arens brings extensive experience in leading global consumer apparel brands. He previously spent over a decade at US-based brand The North Face, where he served as global brand president. During his tenure, he oversaw a period of significant international expansion for the outdoor apparel specialist. Following this, he held the position of CEO at US-based action sports group Boardriders, the parent company of Quiksilver, Billabong, and Roxy. He led the group through its acquisition by US-based brand management firm Authentic Brands Group (ABG) for approximately 1.25 billion dollars.

Addressing supply chain inefficiencies

The appointment comes as the fashion industry faces increasing pressure to mitigate the economic and environmental costs of long lead times and chronic overproduction. According to unspun, its proprietary 3D weaving technology, Vega, can weave semi-finished products directly from yarn in minutes. This system is designed to replace traditional offshore production cycles with software-driven hardware that enables garments to be produced closer to actual demand.

“I have spent a good part of my career working with some of the world's leading apparel and footwear brands and have seen firsthand the economic and environmental costs of excessively long lead times and chronic overproduction in the traditional supply chain,” Arens stated. He noted that the manufacturing model aims to unlock financial benefits while significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the industry.

Financial and operational impact

The current industry standard involves producing apparel 6 to 12 months before it reaches retail shelves. This often results in heavy markdowns and excess waste. The localised approach championed by unspun functions as responsive infrastructure, allowing for production to align more closely with real-time demand.

The company claims this speed-based model can improve gross margins by 400 to 500 percentage points through a reduction in write-offs and markdowns. The technology is currently being piloted with major global retailers, including US-based Walmart and French sporting goods retailer Decathlon.

“Arne is a proven industry leader who understands both brand building and the structural challenges of apparel supply chains,” said unspun co-founder and chief technology officer (CTO), Kevin Martin. Martin added that the leadership of Arens will accelerate the deployment of the technology for brands looking for more efficient production methods.

As the sector navigates volatility and shifting trade tariffs, the company is positioning its automated systems as a modern solution to reduce inventory risk.