In the last blog post, we delve into an alternative to fast fashion – thrifting. Today, we will be exploring another alternative, the use of recycled materials in new clothing! As there are more people going against fast fashion practices due to their growing interest in fashion sustainability and the need to diminish the environmental pollution of textile waste, clothing producers are innovating sustainable ways to produce clothes (Lu, 2023).

Lu (2023) indicates that one such way is through reusing or utilising recycled textile materials.  Textile reusing refers to the differing ways of extending the practical service or lifespan of textile products by relaying it to new owners, in the presence or absence of modification (Sandin & Peters, 2018). On the other hand, textile recycling is often deemed as the reprocessing of pre- or post-consumer textile waste for use in a brand-new textile or non-textile commodity (Sandin & Peters, 2018).

Sandin & Peters (2018) posit that these recycled materials first go through the process of disintegrating the materials into molecular levels before respinning into new fibres to make new clothing. In other instances, clothes can also be recycled through a simpler process through patchwork (Messinger, 2016). In this process, manufacturers focus on amending used clothes or clothes damaged during the manufacturing process such as faulty zippers or torn apparel (Messinger, 2016). Moreover, when clothes are recycled, they can also be modified into new shapes and sizes, hence creating new innovative apparel!

Several benefits of reusing and recycling clothing have also been outlined. Sawrey (2022) recognises that this method helps to reduce environmental pollution such as air pollution. Since lesser clothes are produced, lesser burning of fossil fuels like coal is required to power the textile production plant (Sawrey, 2022). Moreover, as lesser fabrics need to be created, it also reduces the need to dye clothes hence lesser residual chemical contaminants remain in the air (Sawrey, 2022). Sawrey (2022) also identifies the reduction in water wastage when the lifespan of clothes is prolonged.

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Figure 1 shows the sustainable collared shirt made of 31% NuCycl Lyocell in the Zara x Evrnu collaboration. (Source: Just style)

Efforts of recycling and reusing clothes are also increasingly evident in the fast fashion industry. For instance, Zara, a well-known Spanish fast fashion company, partnered up with Evrnu, a textile company to create new clothing using recycled material known as NuCycl Lyocell clothing as seen in figure 1 (Safaya, 2022). This form of material is manufactured from 100% recycled textile waste and 69% FSC-certified wood pulp, reusing existing solvents (Pavarini, 2022). It is intended to substitute and surpass conventional materials such as cotton, nylon and polyester (Safaya, 2022).

Therefore, with a replacement of new innovative materials such as NuCycl Lyocell, fast fashion companies can employ such sustainable means to produce clothes. In the long run, it can minimise the potential environmental pollution generated by regular clothes production processes. Moreover, if society decides to put in a collective effort of seeking alternative clothing options, we can live on a much healthier earth!

References

Lu, S. (2023). Explore u. S. Retailers’ sourcing strategies for clothing made from recycled textile materials. Sustainability, 15(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010038

Messinger, L. (2016, August 7). Would you buy patched up clothes to tackle textile waste? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/aug/07/clothes-recycling-second-hand-waste-landfill-textile

Pavarini, M. C. (2022). The Materials: Discover Evrnu’s NuCycl cellulosic fiber made with recycled textile waste. The-Spin-off.Com. https://www.the-spin-off.com/news/stories/The-Materials-How-Evernus-NuCycl-can-make-a-difference-in-circular-textiles-16748

Safaya, S. (2022, December 2). Zara, Evrnu’s feature capsule collection made from recycled waste. Just Style. https://www.just-style.com/news/zara-evrnus-feature-capsule-collection-made-from-recycled-waste/

Sandin, G., & Peters, G. M. (2018). Environmental impact of textile reuse and recycling – A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 184, 353–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.266

Sawrey, G. (2022). 8 benefits of recycling clothes(And textiles!). ECAVO. https://ecavo.com/benefits-recycling-clothes/