This article describes all you need to know about the popular Modal fabric.

What is Modal fabric?

Modal fabric is a type of rayon invented in Japan in the 1950s. It was engineered to enhance the traditional rayon production process and develop a softer and more resistant version. 

Therefore, Modal has structural properties that make it more resistant to shrinking and stretching when wet than traditional rayon; because of that, it’s also known as “high wet modulus rayon.”

Modal fabric is made from beech tree pulp. Given the chemicals used in its production, it’s often considered a semi-synthetic fabric. Depending on how it’s produced, Modal fabric can be more sustainable than its traditional counterparts. 

As we will see later in this article, some Modal types are biodegradable and compostable.

Its properties make Modal suitable and superior to other fabrics for underwear, activewear, and home pieces like bedsheets.

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How is Modal made?

The steps involved in producing Modal fabric are similar to those followed to make rayon or other types of viscose fabrics. Here’s a summary of what it involves. 

1. Harvest beech trees, chip them, and extract the cellulose from their pulp.
2. Make sheets from the cellulose and soak them in sodium hydroxide. 
3. Break the sheets into smaller pieces and soak them in carbon disulfate.
4. Soak the cellulose xanthate produced in the previous step in sodium hydroxide again.
5. Put the subsequent liquid solution through a spinneret to create the fibers.
6. Soak the fibers in sulfuric acid to form yarn.
7. Wash, bleach, dry, and load the yarn onto spools.
8. Woven or knit the yarn to create the fabric.

Is Modal sustainable?

The production of Modal fabric is not inherently sustainable. Still, it can become sustainable depending on how the manufacturers handle the production process and what specific steps are optimized to be environmentally responsible. 

There are a few areas to consider when analyzing the sustainability of Modal:

Raw materials

As mentioned earlier, the raw material for Modal is wood from beech trees. It’s easy to conclude that the more fabric we make, the more deforestation we potentially cause to the planet. However, some companies use certified trees planted explicitly for this purpose in places where no other agriculture is possible. Unfortunately, this is not always the case; in some countries where regulation is laxer, the trees harvested might come from rainforests.

On the other hand, trees are a more sustainable raw material than, for example, cotton, which requires enormous amounts of water to grow, making Modal in itself a more sustainable fabric than traditional cotton fabric.

Chemicals and waste

You can see in the previous section how Modal is made and the number of harmful chemicals required to produce it. The process, of course, ends up contaminating the water and environment and harming the people who work to make the fabric a reality.

Bleaching and dyeing processes

The underlying problem with these two processes is highly related to the above because, to dye fabric, many toxic materials are used and released into the environment.

A sustainable Modal fabric option

The company Lenzing produces one of the most sustainable Modal fibers under the branded name TENCEL Modal. According to their website, “the fibers are extracted from naturally grown beech wood by an environmentally responsible integrated pulp-to-fiber process, which is self-sufficient in energy and recovers co-products from parts of the wood.” 

It’s worth mentioning that TENCEL Modal is sourced from sustainable forests in Austria and neighboring countries. The fully integrated pulp and fiber production at the Lenzing site in Austria makes it possible to produce fibers in an eco-responsible way. TENCEL Modal fibers have earned the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred® designation.

Given Lenzing’s state-of-the-art process, TENCEL Modal fibers are biodegradable and compostable under industrial, home, soil, and marine conditions.

Lenzing also innovates the bleaching and dyeing processes by integrating them into their pulp-to-fiber production: Their Eco Clean technology is more environmentally responsible than conventional bleaching and completely chlorine-free.
Similarly, Eco Color technology offers an alternative to the Modal dyeing process. Textiles using this technology have been certified with the EU Ecolabel for textile products, a label of environmental excellence awarded to products meeting high ecological standards.

Modal properties

Modal fabric is an exquisite, soft fabric used as a substitute for silk or cotton. It’s very flexible, lightweight, and breathable. It has moisture-regulating properties and can keep your skin dry and cool.

Because of the above properties, it’s perfect for its usage in underwear and activewear garments.

Modal is deemed luxurious considering its remarkable properties, and it’s often more expensive than viscose or cotton.

• Long-lasting softness. The most notorious property of the modal fabric is its softness and gentleness to the skin. It also retains its softness even after several washes. 
• Breathability. Modal is highly lightweight and breathable, making it perfect for activewear and wearing during sporty activities.
• Moisture regulating. Modal has better moisture-wicking properties than cotton, keeping your skin feeling pleasantly cool and not clinging to it. 
• Shrink resistant. Modal fabric is enhanced to avoid shrinking, unlike other forms of rayon.

Biodegradable and compostable. If sourced from a certified brand such as TENCEL, the Modal is biodegradable and compostable; therefore, it can fully revert to nature.

Modal compared to other fabrics

Modal compared to cotton and polyester

In this table, I describe the main differences between Modal and other mainstream fabrics, such as cotton and polyester, so you get an idea of how these fabrics compare to each other.

How to care for Modal

​​Modal is generally easy to care for, given that it can be machine-washed and it’s not very sensitive to temperature. As always, we recommend looking at the specific instructions in your garment label because it’s typical for Modal to be mixed with other fabrics that might require extra care.

• Modal can be washed at any temperature, even though cold water is ideal. 
• It’s better to use oxygen-based bleach since chlorine bleach can weaken the fabric.
• Select low or medium heat for drying and promptly remove your items from the dryer to about wrinkles.

Modal fabric FAQs

Is modal a natural fiber?

Modal comes from a natural raw material, wood pulp. However, some chemicals are used to convert the pulp to fiber, and that fiber is considered semi-synthetic. 

In the case of TENCEL Modal, the fibers are biodegradable and compostable.

Is modal made from bamboo?

Some particular types of Modal fabric are made from bamboo, but it’s more common for it to be made from beech tree wood pulp.

Is modal compostable?

Yes, if we talk about TENCEL Modal, the fabric is certified biodegradable and compostable under industrial, home, soil, and marine conditions.

Is modal good for summer?

Yes, Modal is one of the best fabrics for summer, given its fantastic properties. It’s lightweight, breathable, and optimized for moisture absorption keeping your skin dry and cool during the summer.

Is modal warm?

Unfortunately, Modal is not one of the best fabrics to keep you warm, so it’s not ideal to use it in winter climates. 

Is modal fabric quick-drying?

Modal does not dry as quickly as other fabrics like polyester or nylon. It has similar features to cotton in that sense; therefore, it is not an ideal option for travelers who need to wash on the go and dry their clothes fast.

Is modal waterproof?

Modal has excellent moisture-wicking properties, and it won’t retain as much water as cotton; however, it cannot be considered waterproof.

Is modal odor resistant?

Yes, given that modal cellulosic fibers have excellent moisture-wicking properties, they can help regulate your body temperature, handling sweat and odor better than other fabrics. That’s one of the reasons it’s widely used for sportswear.

Is modal good for practicing sports like hiking?

Yes, Modal is one of the best fabrics to wear to practice sports. It’s stretchy, lightweight, breathable, and optimized for moisture absorption keeping your skin dry and cool meanwhile you practice hiking.

Is modal good for tie-dye?

Yes, you can tie-dye Modal as long as you’re using fiber-reactive dye. As the fabric is enhanced to be more resistant when wet, it’s even better than traditional rayon for this purpose.

Is modal good for sublimation?

The only suitable fabrics for dye sublimation are polyester, nylon, and lycra. As a general rule, it’s suitable only for synthetic materials. Since modal is a natural (regenerated) fiber, it’s not a good option for sublimation printing. 

Final thoughts

Modal fabric is an excellent alternative to traditional rayon, given its enhanced properties and potential for becoming a sustainable material. Also, the fabric is currently one of the best for underwear and athletic clothing because of its properties.

Companies like Lenzing constantly innovate to produce more environmentally responsible yarns, making it possible for brands and consumers to make better choices.

Thanks to recycled materials, the amount of energy, water, and dye is reduced by using a product that has already been processed. The savings are achieved by offsetting the production of new materials.

Companies such as Columbia, The North Face, Patagonia, and many others encourage consumers to bring in old clothing to be repurposed.

This blog post will detail what each type of recycled fabric entails and the advantages and challenges they pose regarding sustainability so you can make an informed decision about your purchases.

Recycled polyester

Recycled polyester, or rPET, is usually recycled from plastic bottles, such as ones that contain water or soda. Recycled polyester fabric is soft to the touch but durable and robust, making this a popular option for clothing or other products.

To produce rPET fabric, the polymer is mechanically shredded into confetti-like pieces that are then converted to pellets, melted, and spun into new yarn.

Advantages of recycled polyester

• rPET requires 59% less energy to produce and reduces CO2 emissions by 32%.
• The process helps combat plastic being thrown away in landfills and polluting oceans. It’s possible to make one extra-large T-shirt from 5 recycled bottles.
• It adds transparency to the supply chain. For example, some manufacturers like REPREVE identify rPET from collection to manufacturing using tags.

Challenges of recycled polyester

• The recycling process of PET bottles into fabric can only be done once; recycled polyester fabric cannot be recycled into another fabric again. And even if it’s possible under certain circumstances, like with chemical recycling, the quality of the material is inferior, making the garments lower quality than virgin polyester ones. In that sense, recycling only delays the eventual destiny of the plastic in landfills.
• Fabric-to-fabric recycling is difficult because many garments contain polyester and blend with other materials, making recycling nearly impossible.
• Recycled polyester does not address the microplastics problem. Both virgin and recycled polyester fabric pollute the environment with microplastics released into the atmosphere every time we wash our clothes.

Even though rPET takes significantly less energy to produce than virgin polyester, more sustainable options like hemp, wool, and organic cotton are still available.

As consumers, we can help by acquiring rPET products that do not require frequent washing, such as bags or shoes – to avoid microplastic pollution – and look for durable goods that can be resold and refurbished to make the most out of them.

While recycled polyester is better than virgin one, it’s still not the most sustainable material, as it does not help with circularity. Therefore we should use and consume it carefully.

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Recycled nylon

Recycled nylon is sourced from pre and post-consumer waste, such as finishing nets, which means that recycled nylon can be good for cleansing the ocean of unwanted material and preventing adding more. Recycling also saves energy spent on manufacturing new virgin nylon.

Recycling nylon usually involves a process called hydrolysis. Hydrolysis is when water and chemicals like sodium hydroxide and sulphuric acid break down the cell structure of the fabric on a molecular level to then rebuild it into recycled nylons.

Advantages of recycled nylon

• The main advantage of recycled nylon is that it can be recycled indefinitely. Compared to recycled polyester, this is a more circular option.
• Using recycled nylon fabrics can significantly reduce CO2 emissions compared to virgin nylon. For example, Patagonia used recycled nylon in 90% of the clothing they designed for the Spring 2021 season, which reduced emissions by 20%. That amounts to more than 3.5 million pounds of CO2.

Challenges of recycled nylon

• Nylon cannot tolerate high temperatures, so the source materials have to be thoroughly cleaned before recycling to avoid organic contaminants remaining alive.
• Creating recycled nylon yarn is very similar to creating its virgin counterpart. Even if it has less impact on the environment, it still releases toxic substances and carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
• We must also remember that nylon is made from fossil fuels and, therefore, it is not biodegradable. And so, even if the fabric was recycled, it could end up as waste or in landfills polluting, just like traditional nylon.

We have learned that recycled yarn is made from existing products that would otherwise pollute our oceans and landfills. Therefore, recycling nylon is the best way to achieve circularity and minimize the environmental impacts of new production.

ECONYL is the name brand for one of the most advanced recycled nylon. If you want to learn more about it, you can check out our article, which explains the ECONYL process in detail.

To address nylon’s inherent challenges, initiatives such as project EFFECTIVE try to find alternatives for plastics. Nylon is a great candidate to be substituted by bio-materials. For example, AMNI Soul Eco – the first biodegradable nylon yarn – is part of a new generation of sustainable yarns that are changing the fashion world.

Combined, these innovations – recycling and biomaterials – offer viable solutions to the nylon industry’s challenges and provide opportunities for more environmentally friendly materials.

Recycled cotton

The recycled cotton process starts with natural textiles such as shirts or jeans being broken down into raw materials in a textile recycling factory. This recycled cotton is spun into yarn and fibers, often used to make new garments or other textiles.

Advantages of recycled cotton

• Recycling cotton means no new cotton plants need to be harvested, vastly reducing water and contaminants released into the environment. 
• Even though quality may not be par with traditional cotton, recycled cotton can find a new life in countless applications, including those typically relegated to lower-quality materials like insulation, mop heads, and stuffing.

Challenges of recycled cotton

• Cotton is most commonly mixed with polyester fibers during the recycling process. The mixing of materials may introduce difficulties in recycling the material again.
• One drawback of recycled fibers is that they are never as good quality as the original fiber. Specifically, this will mean a lower ratio of long fibers and less uniformity in length, which can limit the end-use application.
• Recycled cotton is often blended with virgin cotton to improve yarn strengths. Generally, no more than 30% recycled content is used in the finished fabric or product.
• Recycled yarn can cost more than standard cotton and may be too expensive or unrealistic for some uses.

When you combine recycled cotton and recycled polyester, the opportunity for a substantial reduction in environmental impact is enormous. For example, Patagonia’s Responsibili-tee T-shirt uses 63 gallons of water less when compared to those manufactured using traditional yarns, partly because no new cotton had to be harvested.

Regarding innovation in recycled cellulose textiles, the company Renewcell created a natural material called Circulose, made 100% from discarded fabrics – mainly cotton.

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Recycled wool

Natural, renewable, and biodegradable, wool is the most reused and recyclable fiber around the planet. Slow fashion designers choose to work with wool, one of the world’s oldest natural fibers, to create many fashionable pieces.

The first fabric recycled was wool. In the mid-19th century, its popularity grew in North America and Europe, where rationing occurred during WWII.

Wool is a natural fiber with considerable long-term sustainability. Wool products are made of three primary materials: natural wool, wool dye, and wax or resin to make the fabric waterproof. As these materials are often reused for several applications before they need to be replaced, wool garments can stay in circulation for some time, making them an environmentally-friendly choice.

Producing wool, however, requires a vast amount of resources like land, water, and dyes to color the finished product. We use recycled wool to extend the lifespan of fiber that has already been produced.

Advantages of recycled wool

• With the aid of modern-day quality controls, the wool is meticulously sorted into color groups before being shredded. The sorting process allows selecting and blending colors of raw wool fabrics to the desired hue, which prevents the need for a dyeing process. The method also uses significantly less energy than necessary to produce new textiles.

Challenges of recycled wool

• The information currently available about the challenges of recycling wool are minimal. Still, it is possible to assume that labor-intensive work and knowledge of how to do so are necessary.

Final thoughts

We hope you enjoyed this article! As you can see, recycled materials are a more sustainable alternative than traditional ones. However, they cannot completely solve the environmental issues we face related to fashion over-consumption. Therefore, they are not a green light to mindlessly buy more clothes because they are labeled as recycled.

If you would like to learn about plant-based fabric options, read our article on how these new materials may help address some of our sustainability challenges in the future.

But it is important to note that fabrics associated with an eco-friendly message do not always tick all the boxes necessary to accomplish that mission. 

Along with the sustainable movement came the concept of greenwashing, meaning the outward appearance of greener attitudes and behaviors by brands, for example, came first to the actual adoption of such measures. 

Aspects of production like resources and materials aren’t immune to this: fabrics that were once considered sustainable for having one or a few objectively “eco-friendly” features turn out not to be quite what they seem when we get down to it.

Having gained a name for itself as “vegan silk,” cupro fabric has been commonly used as a great animal-free alternative for silk, great for dresses and other lightweight pieces. While the material is, in fact, vegan and features a lot of the same aesthetic qualities as silk, that’s not the end of the story.

Let’s take a closer look at cupro, what it is, and how we can intentionally place it on the scale of eco-friendly fabrics we should invest in today. 

What is cupro fabric?

Cupro is a semi-synthetic material that falls under the wing of Rayon fabric. Featuring the silk-like look and texture discussed above, cupro fabric has gained fame as a silk alternative. 

Eliminating the need for silkworms and boasting practical features such as machine-washability (something silk lacks!), there seem to be quite a few built-in sustainable characteristics to the cupro fabric when we first start digging. 

Cupro’s primary element is linter, a commonly disposed part of the cotton plant. Linter, the tiny fibers surrounding the cotton plant, is recycled and used for the production of the fabric rather than being eliminated as waste during cottonseed oil production. 

Also known as cuprammonium rayon, cupro material is made mainly by the Japanese company AhasiKASEI, under their brand, Bemberg.

How is the cupro fabric made?

After the linter has been sourced, chemicals like copper, ammonium, and sulfuric acid, amongst others, are used to create the silky fabric known as cupro. More specifically, chemical processing includes steps like spinneret machines to be processed into thin fibers.

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Is cupro sustainable?

Undeniably eco-friendly features make cupro’s often premature designation as a sustainable fabric an understandable assumption. Beyond being a vegan material, cupro is bio-degradable and made from an otherwise discarded byproduct of a popular, massively-produced commodity. 

Compared to traditional fabrics like polyester and cotton, which are extremely popular in the fashion industry but notoriously harmful to the planet, cupro’s green features do call attention in a good way. Despite these features, it is also imperative to note how this fabric lacks when it comes to being truly sustainable.

The truth is, the high levels of chemical solutions used in cupro production must be disposed of once the process is through; while this can seem simple enough, it’s not that straightforward. Properly disposing of harsh chemicals like copper and ammonia is a costly and challenging process to master, which means it often isn’t done correctly. 

In addition to having adverse long-term effects on the workers that deal with them regularly, these chemicals cause incredible damage to the environment once they leave factories and production centers in less than ideal ways. 

While the cupro itself may be biodegradable, the chemicals used to produce it will remain as harmful agents on our planet. Ultimately, this isn’t a viable solution that can save us in the long term. 

At the end of the day, while we can celebrate some of the progress made by the textile industry when it comes to cupro, it can’t be said that the benefits of this fabric outweigh its adverse effects on the earth. 

The benefits of using cupro fabric

When it comes to its usability and benefits beyond the production process, cupro has a lot going for it.

Comfort and aesthetic 

This beautiful material is known to be incredibly soft and lightweight, as well as breathable and perfect for hot weather. 

Featuring a gorgeous and sophisticated look, cupro is also incredibly visually appealing, able to be used in high-end clothing that would otherwise depend entirely on the usage of silk. 

Affordable and practical 

Far more affordable than traditional silk and entirely cruelty-free, cupro fabric has various practical features contributing to its benefits.

Hypoallergenic and easy to maintain, this fabric caters to a broad audience through its practicality.

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Brands using cupro fabric today

Curious to see how cupro is used by brands and present on the market today? 

Here is a list of some brands that are using cupro! Browse these shops to learn more about their missions and look at their cupro pieces.

• Girlfriend Collective 

• Altar 

• Whimsy and Row

• Amour Vert

A step in the right direction 

While it’s clear that cupro fabric is not the end all be all of the sustainable materials in the fashion industry (or anywhere else, for that matter!), it’s also valuable to note how it has contributed positively to the green movement.

Its popularity is another way of bringing attention to how new and old textile alternatives can be successfully implemented into the fashion scene without sacrificing quality and style. 

While there is undoubtedly a long way to go in finding more feasible, long-term alternatives as we move forward, cupro certainly stands as an example of the right direction, featuring admirable characteristics we hope to continue seeing in the sustainable fabric movement.

The fashion industry’s journey towards sustainability continues!

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Introduced in 2011, the Econyl fabric has made an incredible impact in the fashion industry through its innovative manufacturing approach and potential to create change. 

Also known as Econyl regenerated nylon, this Aquafil trademarked fabric allows the notoriously waste-heavy fashion industry to change how it looks at textile manufacturing and the consequent health of our oceans. 

Developed for years by their Energy & Recycling business for sustainable fabric technologies, Aquafil perfected the Econyl polymer manufacturing process. The 50-year-old yarn manufacturer revolutionized the concept of waste, using ocean and landfill waste to create Econyl products that can be regenerated indefinitely.

What is ECONYL, and how is it made?

Econyl is recyclable nylon regenerated from waste products. It’s easy to understand the positive impact this recycled fabric has on the ocean’s health when we compare the traditional nylon-manufacturing method to the innovative way of producing Econyl.

To make nylon fiber, textile companies need an organic compound called caprolactam – derived from refined oil – which means that every nylon product, from clothing to carpets, is manufactured after the extraction and transformation of oil. Unsurprisingly, oil extraction and transformation take a heavy toll on the environment.

Econyl, on the other hand, sidesteps the entire oil drilling and extraction process because the only raw materials it needs already exist: old fishing nets, fabric scraps, used plastic, and other types of ocean waste.

After the waste is collected and sorted, Aquafil removes the impurities from the raw materials (depolymerization) and then polymerizes them once again to create the needed caprolactam. After that, the material is ready to be transformed into yarn and used for various applications!

About Aquafil, the company behind ECONYL

The company was founded in 1965 and established its first production facility in Arco, Italy, in 1969. They specialized in the polymerization and manufacturing of nylon 6 fibers.

After years of perfecting nylon yarn production, in 2017, a new business unit was established in the company — Energy & Recycling — to focus on sustainability issues.

They began producing ECONYL polymer from pre and post-consumer waste in 2011 in their Julon plant in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

In 2017 Aquafil shares went public on the Italian stock exchange; this was, in part, thanks to concrete achievements like ECONYL 100% recycled and 100% performance nylon yarn. In addition, Aquafil revolutionized the concept of waste, transforming it into a raw material that can be regenerated indefinitely.

Moving even further with their sustainability aims, in 2018, the company took part in the European project EFFECTIVE to develop nylon and other textile fiber from biomaterials.

Is ECONYL really sustainable?

While ECONYL is good for the environment, in principle, it doesn’t address all of the problems related to the production, usage, and disposal of nylon on the planet. So let’s then divide this topic into two parts: what ECONYL solves and what’s still missing.

As we read before, the recycled yarn is produced from already existing nylon products, which, if not recycled, would remain polluting the oceans and landfills for many years (it’s estimated that nylon takes 30 to 40 years to degrade). 

Therefore, making that waste useful again is a great way to achieve circularity and not contaminate the environment even more with the production of brand new nylon.

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If the Aquafil process were 100% perfect, they would recycle all the existing nylon an indefinite number of times, and the world would not need to produce any virgin one. Of course, that’s a massive challenge for just one company, but Aquafil aims to improve on circularity. 

In recent years, Aquafil has increased the production of secondary raw materials (in particular ECONYL regenerated caprolactam) to promote a circular economy. In 2018, the overall quantity of secondary raw materials used was around 168,000 tons.

On the other hand, the are inherent problems associated with nylon production that ECONYL currently doesn’t address. The recycled fabric is produced very similar to virgin nylon, which means there’s probably water contamination, toxic substances, and carbon emissions.

Let’s remember as well that nylon is a fossil fuel-derived fabric, and hence it’s not a biodegradable product. So even ECONYL yarn will stay on the planet for a long time, possibly ending up as waste and polluting in the same way as traditional nylon.

To tackle the inherent challenges that the fabric has, initiatives like project EFFECTIVE try to substitute plastics with bio-materials. Nylon is an excellent candidate to be replaced by organic materials. 

The innovative process introduced by the EFFECTIVE project begins with creating and manufacturing bio-based polyamides and polyesters and continues with a demonstration of their usability in large consumer products. Finally, the loop is closed by demonstrating circular end-of-life treatment of products.

All of these innovations, when combined, might offer a realistic way to achieve sustainability and address the current challenges that nylon products pose to the environment.

ECONYL fabric certifications

ECONYL has received several certifications, including Standard 100 certification from OEKO-TEX. You can find all other certifications here.

ECONYL properties

Econyl fabric is highly similar to nylon, meaning that most of this fabric’s characteristics will remain the same as its predecessor. 

As a synthetic fabric, it is very resistant to decomposition and will take approximately 30 to 40 years to degrade. Some of its consumer-friendly features are:

• Strength and elasticity: Econyl is very often used for form-fitting clothing like stockings, leggings, tights, activewear, and swimwear for this reason.
• Water resistance: The fabric doesn’t absorb water, making it perfect for outerwear garments such as trench coats, ponchos, and umbrellas.
• Wrinkle resistance: There’s no need to worry about ironing!
• Fast-drying: This makes the fabric ideal for travelers. 
• Easy to wash: To wash your Econyl pieces, avoid chlorine bleach, using only regular laundry detergent and preferably cold water. As for drying, I always prefer air drying to extend the lifespan of delicate items like tights or lingerie.

On top of its many benefits, Econyl is also an extremely versatile fabric. Its relative strength and resistance to abrasion make its possible applications endless: it can be used to create functional items such as tents, sleeping bags, and ropes, as well as to produce day-to-day accessories like luggage, gloves, and athletic shoes.

The material has gained a lot of popularity among fashionable apparel brands that are more and more investing in using ECONYL in their designs to cater to clients that care about sustainability.

As an example of the above, Prada has replaced some of its most iconic nylon products with Econyl — dubbed as Re-Nylon — and plans to substitute all its nylon with recycled material by late 2021. The material is also now famously being used for outerwear by Gucci and Burberry.

Here you can find a list of other brands that use ECONYL fabric in their clothing lines.

ECONYL cost

The cost of ECONYL fabric is slightly higher than virgin nylon. According to Vogue Business, Prada spends about 15 to 20 percent more per linear meter of the material. The cost increase is due to recovering waste nylon from the environment and the state-of-the-art process of depolymerizing and then polymerizing it back to produce the yarn.

ECONYL compared to cotton and polyester

How to care for ECONYL garments

ECONYL fabric has the same physical and chemical properties as regular nylon; therefore, the same care instructions apply. Nylon is usually very easy to wash and take care of, but it might be damaged if the proper techniques are not followed.

Remember always to check your clothing tags for specific directions, but you can use the following general advice:

• Washing. Wash ECONYL separately in a cold or low-temperature setting for best results. You can use regular laundry detergent but avoid chlorine bleach.

• Drying. If you’re using the drier machine, select the lowest temperature possible to prevent potential damage or melt the garments. Air drying might be the best option to extend the life of delicate items like tights or lingerie.

Closing thoughts

Many people believe that Econyl has the potential to make the concept of “recycling” mainstream in the fashion industry. 

It’s not just a great material that makes quality products and fashion pieces but also a great way to make the importance of cleaning our oceans more apparent and tangible for everyday people. 

Luxury fashion brand Prada has already announced plans to substitute all its nylon with recycled material by late 2021 with its brand of recycled nylon. Various other brands seem to be following suit!

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Of course, for our oceans to be even better, an industry-wide effort is necessary to spread awareness of this technology and encourage its use by new consumers. Hopefully, it’s only a matter of time. 

Econyl seems to be getting steady traction in the industry, inserting itself as a soon-to-be staple when it comes to sustainable fabrics. As more and more brands and consumers adopt this fabric over time, our oceans will get increasingly cleaner!

If you would like to expand your knowledge about modern sustainable fabrics, make sure to check out the article I wrote about the fascinating EcoVero viscose fabric.

ECONYL fabric FAQs

Luckily, some of today’s technologies allow for new, more sustainable, and durable options than the majority of fashion merchandise, all while preserving their quality and value – lyocell is one of those options.

If you are looking for more sustainable ideas for fashion and clothing without sacrificing style and comfort, look no further than Lyocell, an amazing new fabric that is quickly winning over the hearts and minds of fashion consumers around the globe.

What is Lyocell Fabric?

Lyocell is classified as a type of rayon, a semi-synthetic fiber made from a natural source like wood. Its sought-after look and feel hold many similarities to other popular natural fabrics such as silk. 

Before lyocell, other types of rayon were manufactured mostly through what is called a “viscose process,” which generates large amounts of contaminated water and yields carbon sulfide, a dangerous neurotoxin.

In the search for a better way, scientists developed a new method that uses considerably less water through a closed-loop system, meaning that less than 1% of the chemicals used actually count as process waste. This has tremendous benefits to the environment and produces a fabric that, in many ways, is actually superior in quality to other options.

One of the most sustainable brand names for lyocell fibers is TENCEL Lyocell, commercialized by Lenzing.

Benefits of Lyocell Clothing

Lyocell technology creates a rare win-win-win situation: it benefits the environment, the industry, and consumers. Here’s how:

• Sustainability: Lyocell is one of the most sustainable fabrics today, and it is because it has eco-friendly benefits at every step of the supply chain:
  • Procurement: The raw materials needed for production are renewable cellulose soft-wood crops and wood pulp, which is considered carbon neutral.  
  • Processing: The manufacturing process is reasonably low in water and energy intensity, and does not require chemical bleaching. This means that it produces far less chemical and water waste than other processes, all while using far less energy!
  • Waste Management: Because there is far less waste being produced as a side-effect of the processing stage, there is less need for infrastructure solely focused on the isolation, transportation, and discard of high volumes of contaminated water. Also, at the end of the product’s lifecycle, lyocell is 100% biodegradable. 

• Versatility: Lyocell can be used for many different applications, which further increases its positive impact on the environment as less sustainable options can slowly be replaced everywhere in consumers’ lives.  When it comes to clothing, lyocell can be used for intimates, day-to-day garments, and active sportswear. It can also be used to make high-quality bed sheets and towels. Companies that jump on this trend to create high-quality lyocell products will positively disrupt the industry.

• Quality: The fashion industry likes to throw around the term “quality,” but what exactly does this mean? For lyocell, the answer is easy: its quality can be attributed to its highly durable, wrinkle-resistant features, as well as additional benefits that make it extremely comfortable and convenient to wear:
  • Smooth texture: Lyocell clothing has that “peachfuzz” feel; it is incredibly smooth and gentle on the skin. It is also somewhat flexible, meaning it doesn’t easily crease or wrinkle with use.
  • Breathability: Incredibly light and breathable, lyocell clothing has great applications for normal day-to-day use as well as for sports. It has great moisture-wicking properties that allow you to stay cool and dry even on a hot summer day, without the clothing sticking to your skin.
  • Durability: Take good care of your garments and they will take care of you. Lyocell makes this easy because it is resistant to wrinkles, and requires less washing than fabrics like cotton.
  • Visual and Aesthetic Appeal: With lyocell clothing, you can enjoy all the benefits above, while still looking and feeling great. These garments look rich, and luxurious, and can also be customizable to your preference: since it comes from a natural source, they can very easily be dyed with your favorite colors!

RELATED ARTICLE: 9 plant-based sustainable fabrics you and your skin will love

How to Maintain Your Lyocell Garments

While it’s certainly durable, lyocell is also a delicate fabric – it’s important to know how to care for your lyocell garments in order to maximize their lifespan and usability. Treat it as you would pieces made of silk!

Washing: When you can, opt for hand washing your lyocell garments for greater care, or simply use the washing machine on the gentle cycle. For stain removal, favor using oxygen bleach to remove stains and other unwanted dirt. 

Drying: sun-drying your clothes is always preferable, as it avoids using fresheners and other chemicals such as dryer sheets and softeners. If that option is not available, you can still air dry it or machine dries it in low heat.

Pressing: steamers are preferable, but you can both iron your garment and use a pressing cloth.

Closing Thoughts

Lyocell combines great looks, comfort, and environmental friendliness, ready to continue winning over many consumers over the coming years.

Despite its higher price tag, fashion enthusiasts and consumers should consider investing in lyocell pieces for their personal collections. 

Besides comfort, luxury, style, and value for money, lyocell allows us all to feel good about contributing to a cleaner environment for us all. Taking good care of our clothes and being mindful of how our day-to-day habits impact the world is a trend we can all get behind, and lyocell is a great new option to do it with!

RELATED ARTICLE: Circulose: The Innovative Circular Cellulose Fabric That You Will Love

Lyocell fabric FAQs

It’s not looking good, but there is one company that is changing that: Re:newcell, who developed a recycled fabric that goes by the name Circulose.   

What is Circulose and how is it made?

Circulose is a natural material made 100% from discarded textiles and it is an innovative solution to textile waste. In fact, Circulose closes the loop of fashion, which is known to be the second most polluting industry in the whole world, without compromising on style or quality. 

The first step of the manufacturing process is the recollection of textile waste and worn-out clothes, which in this case are the raw material for this fabric. The company behind Circulose explains that these garments can’t be resold to people because they are either worn out or “hopelessly out of style”. So, they make sure they don’t end up in landfills, as it usually occurs.

Moreover, they clarify that they prefer cotton clothes because they contain a lot of cellulose. Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer in the world and its purest form can be found indeed in cotton. 

These recycled garments are used to recover the cotton that is then manipulated to extract the (recycled) cellulose. Before that, clothes need to be shredded, de-buttoned, de-zipped, de-colored and turned into a slurry. Afterward, dyes and contaminants like plastic polyester are taken out and finally, cotton is put through a water-based chemical process to extract the cellulose. 

Once the pure cellulose is taken out, it is then dried and pressed into sheets of Circulose. As you can see, the name of this fiber comes from the fact that it is indeed circular cellulose. 

The sheets of Circulose are packaged into bales and then shipped to be finally transformed into natural textile fibers, once again. The fashion loop is now closed. 

RELATED ARTICLE: Hemp Clothing Benefits: Why You Should Be Wearing This Ethical Fiber

About Re:newcell 

Re:newcell was founded in 2012 and it is the company responsible for Circulose. Only two years after its creation, the Kristinehamn-based manufacturer (Sweden) developed the first prototype of this new material. 

What sets Re:newcell apart from other textile manufacturers is that they focus on developing sustainable production processes that preserve natural resources, and reduce both carbon emissions and the use of polluting chemicals.

Moreover, traditional regenerated fibers, like Lyocell and viscose, are made by using cellulose sourced from wood. Re:newcell’s patented technology, on the contrary, sources the cellulose from recycled textile fibers. 

Is Circulose sustainable?

Yes, it is. Circulose is not only sustainable because it is an alternative cellulose pulp that is made from recycled textile waste. It is also eco-friendly because its innovative production process is powered by 100% renewable energy. 

In addition, this new material doesn’t involve the need for cotton fields, oils, or trees, as the company uses what is already out there to manufacture it. That is old clothes and discarded textiles. 

In comparison to clothes made in a conventional way, garments made of Circulose cut their environmental impact to almost zero. That is because circulose reduces the use of water, the creation of microplastics and waste, and the deforestation fashion footprint.  

If we compared viscose fibers made from wood pulp to the ones made of textile waste, we could clearly see that these last have a much lower carbon emission impact. And therefore a more positive impact on the planet. 

What are Circulose applications?

So far, we have mentioned that Circulose is an incredibly sustainable material that can change the textile and fashion industry. But there is a lot more. Circulose can also be applied to other industries and products.

For example, it could be used as an alternative to plastic and therefore it could work in the manufacturing of hangers. In fact, a study made by the University of Northumbrian claimed that an estimated 954 million plastic hangers are made annually only in the UK. And most of them end up in landfills after one single use. 

Re:newcell already came up with a successful prototype of a hanger made with Circulose, so it shouldn’t be a surprise if we came across an entirely new production in the near future. 

RELATED ARTICLE: Hemp Or Wool Clothing: Which One Is Better And Why?

Which brands are using Circulose?

Circulose is a cutting-edge material and it is not news that brands and businesses from all around the world want to be part of this revolution. Re:newcell has collaborated with several world-leading brands, promoting a circular economy and a sustainable approach to fashion. 

In 2019, the Sweden company partnered with Chinese viscose manufacturer Tangshan Sanyou, who now produces viscose fibers made 50% of Re:newcell’s Circulose pulp and 50% of FSC certified wood pulp. (FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council).

The following year, H&M became the first brand to use Circulose on a market scale, when they launched the Conscious Exclusive collection for the Spring-Summer 2020 season. The garment in question was a navy blue dress made partially with Circulose, which was made using worn jeans.  

Another label that collaborated with Re:newcell is Levi’s, long known for its sustainability efforts. In July 2020, the brand launched the Levi’s® 502 Taper jeans, which became the most sustainable model in the history of the label until that moment. 

As well, a limited edition collection by the firm Vero Moda, called “The Beauty of Second Life”, also included a ruffled mini dress made 50% of Circulose. The other half was sourced from wool cellulose.

Of course that the essential goal in the textile and fashion industry would be that there wasn’t any waste at all. But until that is solved, Circulose fiber presents itself as a temporary and viable alternative to waste cotton. 

For more on sustainable materials, take a look at AMNI Soul Eco: All You Need To Know About The Sustainable Nylon Fabric and REPREVE: All You Need To Know About The Recycled Fabric. 

Among these innovations, we have been over new eco-friendly alternatives to conventional textiles. We have already talked about REPREVE Recycled Fabric and now it’s time to discover AMNI Soul Eco. 

What is AMNI Soul Eco?

AMNI Soul Eco is part of a new generation of textiles that are environmentally-friendly. It is a recyclable and reusable nylon that is as resistant and high-performance as traditional polyamides, and it is the world’s first biodegradable yarn in the world.

Nowadays, when speaking of sustainable synthetic fibers, it is most common to find that they are eco-friendly because they are produced to reduce waste on the front-end by using recycled materials. Yet AMNI Soul Eco goes beyond that.

In fact, this fabric is the only recyclable and biodegradable polyamide thread in the world at the moment. It takes into consideration the manufacturing process, but also the end of the yarn’s lifecycle. 

How is AMNI Soul Eco made?

AMNI Soul Eco is a yarn developed and produced by Solvay, and distributed by FULGAR. This yarn has similar look and purpose to conventional synthetic fibers, yet its chemical structure and composition is slightly different.

While conventional synthetic fibers do not allow bacterial penetration and have a slower degradation process, AMNI fabric is made using an enhanced polyamide and manufactured in a way that it is easier and faster for bacteria to digest. 

RELATED ARTICLE: Circulose: The Innovative Circular Cellulose Fabric That You Will Love

Is AMNI Soul Eco sustainable?

Yes, it is. AMNI Soul Eco is part of a new generation of sustainable yarns that are changing the fashion world. 

On a first note, water is reused during its manufacturing process, which reduces the need of employing virgin, clean water for its making. On the other hand, the manufacturing process also helps preserve the ozone layer as it reduces the greenhouse gas emissions. The small amount of gasses that are created are taken care of before they are released to the air. 

Moreover, the Amni Soul Eco production doesn’t involve the use of harmful substances. It has been certified by Oeko-Tex 一an independent control and certification system that focuses on the safety of textile products for human use一 as Standard 100 Class 1 yarn, which means it is toxic free and suitable for everyone to wear, from adults to babies.   

These approaches allow brands and companies to respect and take care of the planet’s limited resources. 

How long does it take for AMNI Soul Eco yarn to biodegrade?

Thanks to its enhanced polyamide 6.6 formula, AMNI Soul Eco is a biodegradable fiber that takes between 3-5 years to decompose. That is a huge difference if compared with conventional polyamides that take more than 50 years to biodegrade. 

In other words, the AMNI Soul Eco solution decomposes ten times faster than the other synthetic fabrics we can find in the market today. 

This technical yarn provides high quality clothing and, therefore, more durable garments. But, just like any other product, their lifecycle must end in the Earth’s soil. What is in fact innovative about AMNI Soul Eco is that it can disappear from the planet in a very short period of time, which reduces the environmental impact of the textile and fashion industry. 

When disposed of in landfills, this technical yarn gets in contact with microorganisms that can only be found in the anaerobic environment, responsible for breaking down the fabric into biomass (that is organic matter) and biogas, and accelerating the biodegradation process.

That is, AMNI recycled nylon can exclusively biodegrade under landfill conditions, where there is no oxygen and where we can find this particular bacteria. Therefore, it will not deteriorate or smell during standard usage. 

After said biodegradation process, the remains can become new environmental resources or they can also be used for producing combined heat and power (that is cogenerating electricity). 

As a consequence, this whole process enhances landfill productivity waste and helps preserve and protect remaining green areas. 

RELATED ARTICLE: REPREVE: All You Need To Know About The Recycled Fabric

What are AMNI Soul Eco’s main benefits?

Aside from being sustainable, AMNI Soul Eco fabric is also very comfortable, breathable and it feels like a soft touch on the skin. It is a high-quality fabric with moisture absorption properties that can be recycled once its lifecycle is over. 

This light textile can be easily dyed and washed, as well as quickly dried. Clothes made with Amni Soul Eco don’t suffer any changes during their usage and they last as long as the ones made with conventional polyamides. 

How is AMNI Soul Eco used?

AMNI Soul Eco yarn can be used for all fashion industry purposes. For example, thanks to its breathability and softness, it is particularly suitable for lingerie, hosiery and underwear. 

It also works great for jeanswear, sportswear and beachwear because it is comfortable and it can dry fast. AMNI Soul Eco is a major breakthrough for the textile and fashion industry, but it is also a big step forward for future generations and the care of our only planet. 

Another application for this textile are accessories, including hats, caps, bags, backpacks and similar sports accessories. 

Which brands are using AMNI Soul Eco?

AMNI Soul Eco is an innovative fabric, and although its discovery and production is quite recent, we can already find brands from all around the world that are implementing it in their collections. 

To name a few, Italian conscious brand Save The Duck, Hawaii-based activewear brand Lilikoi and American designer Mara Hoffman with her homonymous label. 

As we said earlier, one of AMNI’s main applications is beachwear and swimwear. For example, Frankies Bikinis from Los Angeles has launched a sustainable collection with this fabric. As well as AURAI Swimwear, founded by italo-brazilian designer Natalia Bertolo, Brazilian label Baianá Eco and Mallorca-based brand Nakawe. 

To learn more about eco-friendly fashion and discover similar materials, visit our sustainability section. 

The first place to begin this sustainable journey is looking for eco-friendly alternatives to conventional (and polluting) materials and fabrics. Among today’s innovative solutions we can find REPREVE fabric.

What is REPREVE?

Is not news that billions of plastic bottles go into landfills every year and that they take at least 1000 years to decompose. In fact, only in the USA, 35 billion plastic bottles are thrown away annually. Shocking figures, we know. 

But what is more shocking than that, is that these same bottles can be turned into actual, wearable fabric. And that’s what REPREVE is. 

REPREVE is a state-of-the-art, performance fiber made from all types of recycled materials, including plastic bottles. So far, the company has managed to recycle more than 31 billion plastic bottles and the counter keeps going up every second!

REPREVE recycled fiber provides high quality and trusted sustainability, and that is why so many brands have decided to include this source in their production processes. 

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How is REPREVE fabric made?

Before diving into the “how”, let’s about the “who”. REPREVE fabric is made by Unifi, a leading global textile producer that offers technology-driven solutions to labels from all around the world. 

The first step in the making of REPREVE fiber is sourcing and purchasing recycled plastic bottles and post-industrial waste (including the company’s own waste) from Materials Recycling Facilities in different countries, which are recovered from landfills and ocean trash.

Afterward, the bottles are loaded onto a conveyor belt, where they are sorted and cleaned thoroughly. During this process, bottle labels are also removed by using steam. 

Once the bottles are fully washed, they are chopped into flakes, which are then melted and extruded into chips. These chips are extruded a second time, melted into a liquid polymer, and finally extruded through tiny openings in a spinneret. This process creates continuous filaments that form REPREVE fiber. But that’s not all. 

The fiber is now wound into spools and transformed into yarns through spinning. The last step is an air-jet texturing process, which changes the physical form of the fiber.

REPREVE is now ready to be shipped to customers and transformed into quality, durable apparel, home goods, footwear, and even used by the automotive industry. This is how everyday products are becoming more sustainable thanks to these groundbreaking solutions. 

Is REPREVE eco-friendly?

Absolutely, it is. REPREVE is an eco-smart solution for brands and businesses who want to replace the use of conventional fabrics for sustainable alternatives. 

But it is not only sustainable for recycling and giving a second life to single-use plastics. It is also eco-friendly because it is not a “virgin fiber”. This means that the making of REPREVE costs less to the planet: 

• It offsets using new petroleum;
• It releases fewer greenhouse gases to the air, saving 646 million kgs. of CO₂ emissions;
• And it saves both water and energy in the process.

In fact, so far the company has saved enough water to supply 2.2 million people with drinking water for a year.

Moreover, REPREVE performance fiber is the only fiber that has been verified with U TRUST®, which is a program created by Unifi itself that certifies recycled content claims through traceable Fiber Print technology.

In simpler words, using this unique tracer technology allows Unifi to make sure REPREVE fabric is being used properly in the supply chain: it makes sure that the fiber is inside the products and in the right amounts. In this way, Unifi protects both brands and REPREVE technology for what they stand for. 

Transparency is a key element when it comes to sustainability, and that is why verifications and certifications like such are so crucial for customers. 

RELATED ARTICLE: AMNI Soul Eco: All You Need To Know About The Sustainable Nylon Fabric

What are REPREVE fabric properties?

Thanks to Unifi’s high-quality standards, REPREVE fiber is a strong, durable, and reliable material. The fabric provides moisture-wicking and thermal regulation properties, such as warming and cooling.

It is also water repellent and wrinkle resistant. On top of that, REPREVE fabric mimics the look and feel of natural fibers, while being flexible and offering optimal performance thanks to the combined filaments. 

After advanced air-jet texturing and innovative texturing methods, REPREVE yarns are more durable, flexible, and dyeable, providing a longer lifespan and superior performance.

Another great aspect about REPREVE yarns is that it comes in many forms. REPREVE can be made into recycled polyester, nylon yarns, staple fiber, fiberfill, and resin too. And all the alternatives are 100% green. The yarns are so soft and dependable that they are even fit for warp knitting and weaving. 

In addition, Unifi also offers performance technologies and value-added services, which allows them to use fewer natural resources, like water and energy. 

The company’s dyeing process is an avant-garde solution, thanks to Unifi’s leading color-matching applications and ethical environmental practices. The technologically-advanced dyeing process offers vibrant, embedded color without using water. 

Which brands are using REPREVE?

REPREVE recycled and performance fabric turned out to be such an innovative, high-quality material that brands from all kinds of industries have joined the sustainable movement. It is also a certified and traceable fiber, which makes it even more coveted for labels. 

REPREVE technology is now used by the world’s leading brands, from apparel and footwear to home goods and automakers, such as Ford, which uses it to make car interiors. 

Other companies that are using REPREVE are outerwear brand Patagonia; surfwear labels Quiksilver and Roxy; as well as fashion apparel brands Guess, Aeropostale, Volcom, and Planks Clothing, among others. 

REPREVE frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The good news is that new technologies have emerged to turn this problem into an opportunity for a circular fashion economy. Several companies are working on these solutions, but one company stands out from the rest – Evrnu, based in Seattle, Washington. 

They have developed NuCycl, a set of technologies that allow the recycling of post-consumer clothing waste, making it usable again by textile manufacturers and brands alike with no impact on quality!

Keep reading to find out more about the fiber that we will hopefully see in our clothes soon.

About Evrnu

Evrnu is a textile innovation firm that is working to create a circular environment. Evrnu technologies are utilized to manufacture fibers from discarded garments that have exceptional performance and environmental benefits.

Evrnu’s CEO and founding partner are Stacy Flynn. She is a seasoned worldwide textile product specialist and sustainable systems professional. She is responsible for Evrnu’s purpose, market positioning, and branding. 

Evrnu’s CTO and founding partner is Christopher Stanev. He is a renowned textile engineer with various innovations and patents to his name. He is in charge of the development and implementation of Evrnu technology.

After much study and testing, they realized that not only is it conceivable, but it’s possible to produce items of superior quality than the clothes were in their previous existence.

What is NuCycl?

NuCycl is a set of regenerative fiber technologies, which allow the creation of wholly new items from waste garments not once, but several times. With NuCycl, even the most challenging textile waste – 100 percent consumer waste – can be converted into new materials.

Evrnu’s NuCycl technology package is intended to assist the global textile industry is expanding by maximizing the potential of the world’s current natural resources. By reducing waste, decreasing carbon footprints, and generating significant water savings, a future in which textile manufacturers, garment companies, retailers, and consumers experience a long-term shift in environmental effect is becoming a reality.

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Evrnu’s NuCycl-based products can be dismantled to the molecular level and regenerated several times into new apparel, household, and industrial fabrics with exceptional performance and environmental benefits.

Depolymerization is used in the technique to transform the original fiber molecules into new high-performance renewable fibers. For example, Evrnu employs the chemical-based NuCycl approach to break down cotton to its basic polymer to prevent weakening the original materials. 

Once the polymers have been removed and turned into a liquid pulp, they are placed in 3D-printer-like equipment that creates new yarn, which will be utilized to manufacture a sustainable range of clothes.

Although it’s not clear what type of textiles and garments can be recycled using the NuCycl technology, it seems it may not be limited to cotton. NuCycl technologies include:

• Regenerative Cellulosics
• Next-generation regenerative Cellulosic solvent systems
• Regenerative Polyester
• Recoverable Stretch
• Bio-Engineered Fibers

How is NuCycl different from other textile recycling technologies?

Evrnu’s work stands out in the market for sustainable textiles because of its capacity to recycle post-consumer garments — a difficulty given today’s endless mix of diverse fiber kinds and grades, each with individual demands for efficient recycling.

Today, most of what the industry refers to as textile recycling are fabric manufactured from plastic waste or, at the end-of-life stage, converted into insulation or mattresses (also known as downcycling) because of the decline in quality and value.

Cotton recycling isn’t a new concept, but making old fabric into new yarn strong enough to be fashioned into garments is a considerably more complex issue. Mechanical recycling, which involves cutting up cloth into tiny pieces, weakens it. Evrnu’s method is based on a chemical reaction.

Evrnu also claims that its own recovered fiber can be recycled five times without hurting quality, and co-founder and chief technology officer Christopher Stanev believes the actual number is higher. However, they haven’t tested it yet.

Challenges of implementing post-consumer clothing recycling

Clothes in use today were not designed for recycling: many are made with difficult-to-recycle mixed materials, such as cotton-polyester blends. While mono-materials lend themselves better to recycling, they also frequently contain chemicals that can complicate the recycling process and contaminate factory wastewater and future garments. They can be difficult to disassemble.

Sourcing

An additional problem is a need for precisely sorted and graded textiles based on the makeup of the fibers, which should preferably be automated since doing it by hand would be time-consuming, costly, and perhaps erroneous. 

The process necessitates investment, but it also needs a significant enough demand from future recyclers who are prepared to pay, ideally, for the sorted feedstock.

Overall, more significant investment and innovation are required in the textile waste supply chain, backed by the so-called Extended Producer Responsibility to encourage growth and long-term economic sustainability.

Cost

When it comes to these new and growing recycling technologies, one of the most significant impediments is the capital cost of the plants, which rises in later phases of development as the recycling facilities get more extensive and more complicated. 

Typically, the process begins with a pilot plant and progresses to a demonstration plant before a full-scale plant may be developed.

As a result, there are enormous expenses associated with developing the technologies to the point where they can compete economically in the first place. In terms of the recycling process itself, the process chemicals involved may be expensive. 

Therefore many need to collect and recycle them in sophisticated systems with numerous phases, which costs money. It is often required to operate with significant input and output for the business model to be profitable.

Companies must also meet or beat the cost of producing the virgin equivalent of the material they are making while also demonstrating to brands that they can deliver on performance and quality and convincing suppliers to adopt it.

Energy

fiber-to-fiber recycling procedures may frequently demand a lot of energy usage and the related carbon footprint. According to the waste hierarchy, recycling should be considered only after all other possibilities have been explored, namely reuse and repair.

When all other choices are explored and recycling is compared to landfills and new material creation, recycling is typically the most energy-efficient and ecologically benign option.

Product using NuCycl

Because Evrnu does not manufacture the materials directly but instead creates unique fabrics with brands and then licenses its technology to garment manufacturers, it is still in the prototype stage.

Early collaborations with Levi’s, Adidas, Target, and Stella McCartney were intended to demonstrate the technology’s applicability across denim, athletic and luxury markets. It also motivated suppliers by showing that there would be a demand for material made from Evrnu’s fabric, NuCycl if they began manufacturing with it.

Adidas by Stella McCartney

The Adidas by Stella McCartney Infinite Hoodie is the first garment to be rebuilt, constructed using NuCycl fibers and personalized performance attributes. It was created in a minimal run and is intended to be dismantled and returned to the NuCycl system.

The performance garment signals a move towards a reality where products can be completely recycled and repurposed. 

The Infinite Hoodie is made from 60% NuCycl and 40% organic cotton that has been diverted from landfills and can be reused again and again to be remade into a high-performance product.

Levi Strauss & Co.

Levi Strauss & Co. has collaborated with Evrnu to develop the world’s first jeans by recycling five discarded cotton T-shirts. According to Evrnu statistics, the cutting-edge process turns consumer trash into a sustainable fiber and consumes 98 percent less water than virgin cotton goods. 

Despite the usage of some virgin cotton, this marks a significant advancement in recycling technology.

Future

We expect to see prototypes like the above becoming actual products widely available for end-users in the coming years. “The true effect is when consumers begin giving their items, and we keep them in circulation,” explained Flynn to Vogue Business. The company has a strategy that goes all the way to 2050. 

Evrnu keeps growing, and it recently announced the raising of $15 million in Series B financing to scale and meet the increasing demand for its fiber-regeneration platform.

Final thoughts

Using recycled materials is a method for textile firms to prepare for anticipated supply-chain problems in the future and react to customers who wish to purchase more responsibly-made items.

Recycling is one step in creating a circular economy, but it’s not the only one. We should also take into account reusing and refurbishing what we have at home. The next time you’re looking for new clothes, take a second look at what you already own and see if there’s anything worth saving! 

The way we can all contribute to circularity is by doing the following:

• Don’t get rid of outdated clothes.
• Donate it or sell it so that someone else may enjoy it.
• To increase the life of your clothes, mend or repair them.
• Contribute to the growth of demand for garment-to-garment recycling!

What do you think? Leave us a comment!

This blog post will give you an overview of hemp fiber’s properties and its differences from other fabrics like cotton. You will learn what makes this plant so unique, why it should be used more often in the sustainable fashion industry, and how its usage could benefit both your wardrobe and the planet we live on.

If you want to find out all the benefits of hemp clothing, then keep on reading! We have prepared some interesting facts about hemp products that will surprise you.

What is Hemp?

Hemp is a type of Cannabis Sativa plant. It has incredible industrial applications, as it is used to make a wide range of products such as textiles, oils, food, building materials, and so much more.

Until the last century, hemp was one of the most important crops for humans. The longest continuous hemp farming appears to be in China (over 6000 years). France, Spain, and Chile have all grown hemp for at least 700 years. Hemp was probably the earliest plant cultivated for textile fiber.

The plant’s stalk is fibrous and contains almost no THC (it should not contain more than 0.3%).

Hemp is not marijuana.

First, the hemp plant is not psychoactive. And, unlike marijuana, hemp is lawful. The 2018 Farm Bill made industrial hemp farming and products legal in all 50 states.

Hemp’s association with marijuana has given it a bad reputation despite being a legal crop and fabric. And because hemp is naturally eco-friendly, it is intimately connected with hippie culture. This subculture is nearly synonymous with getting high.

What is hemp fabric, and how is it made?

Hemp fabric is created from the long strands that comprise the plant’s stem. These fibers are removed from the bark by a process known as retting and then spun together to create a continuous thread that may be woven into a textile.

The plants are left to rett in the field for 4-6 weeks, enabling the environment to remove pectin naturally.

The hemp stalks are then baled like hay, and the fibrous outer part is separated from the woody core. The bast fibers are next washed and carded into strands. Manufacturers can then utilize steam explosion to turn raw hemp into a woven thread. Hemp is ready to be spun into yarn and woven into textiles after the steam explosion.

The texture of pure hemp fiber is comparable to that of linen. It may also be combined with other natural fibers to produce garments that have the strength of hemp but the softness of cotton or bamboo.

Since hemp fabric is constructed entirely of natural fibers, it’s comfortable, durable, and environmentally beneficial. In addition, the material is hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and anti-static. So, let’s get into the complete list of benefits of hemp clothing.

Benefits of hemp clothing

Hemp fabric is sustainable.

Hemp is a very environmentally friendly crop. It does not require pesticides or much water, yet it renews the soil with each growth cycle. Its extensive roots serve to minimize erosion. 

Hemp proliferates in most temperate climates. When compared to other crops, the water consumption need is far lower. As a result, switching to hemp clothes and supporting the cultivation is an excellent method to save water.

Hemp may be grown in practically any type of soil. It does not deplete the soil’s nutrients or other qualities. It aids in the restoration of some of the critical nutrients that may have been lost before. You may cultivate numerous cycles of hemp on the same area as a farmer, and you can even plant it as part of crop rotation. 

Hemp is naturally pest-resistant. It also does not require fertilizers since the shedding of the leaves gives ample nourishment to the soil.

Hemp is also very quick when it comes to growth. It is ready for harvest about 120 days after seeding. hemp, like bamboo, can grow practically anywhere. The hemp plant enjoys tropical or somewhat chilly temperate conditions, making the United States an ideal growth zone for hemp.

As a crop, hemp absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, assisting in reducing CO2 emissions. Every ton of hemp can sequester 1.62 tons of CO2.

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Lastly, hemp is a biodegradable material. While every product has an expiration date, not every product disappears forever, as seen by the various landfills that we leave behind. Because hemp clothing is biodegradable, what comes from the earth returns to the soil.

Hemp clothing has excellent properties.

Hemp as a fabric is strong and durable. It’s very gentle on the skin. Hemp tees are exceptionally breathable. The cloth wicks away perspiration efficiently and is very simple to dye. Even after numerous washes, it does not simply wear out or lose its shape. What’s more, with each wash, it becomes softer and smoother.

Now, let’s look into the hemp clothing properties in detail.

Antimicrobial

Hemp has excellent antibacterial qualities, allowing it to outlast any other textile fiber such as cotton, polyester, and so on. Hemp is resistant to bacterial development and breathes well, avoiding smells.

Breathable

Hemp fabric is made from natural fibers, so it breathes well. It also absorbs moisture quickly, making it ideal for summer clothing. Hemp clothing also helps keep you cool when you exercise because it allows air to circulate through the fabric.

Durable and Strong

The clothing made of hemp fiber has three to four times the strength of cotton. It is one of the unique characteristics of hemp textiles, and it distinguishes itself from other clothing. The actual value of the clothing is tied to its strength and longevity.

UV protective

Hemp protects your skin by naturally filtering UV light. The material surface of the clothes is tightly woven so that they don’t let in the sun’s rays.

Water-absorbent

Because of its water-absorbent nature, hemp will retain dye better than cotton and keep your colors from fading. In the summer, the porous personality of hemp helps keep you cool. In cooler weather, it can keep you warm like bamboo and wool.

Biodegradable

Hemp clothing can take months to biodegrade compared to the hundreds of years it will take for the polyester clothes to break down. No one should throw away their clothes, yet it happens. In this case, it is preferable to have naturally biodegradable garments. Otherwise, they might end up sitting in a landfill for a very long time.

Also, hemp clothing, unlike synthetic fiber clothing, does not contribute to plastic pollution. Petrochemicals are used to create synthetic textiles such as nylon and polyester. As a result, these textiles contain plastic, and washing them is a significant source of microplastic contamination.

Hemp clothing FAQs

Final thoughts

Hemp is an excellent choice for your ethical wardrobe because it is sustainable and has several qualities and benefits. You may also feel good about choosing hemp apparel since you will be helping the environment by selecting this natural fabric over cotton or other synthetics. Give hemp a try if you want to transform the way you buy clothes!