Recyclable Materials That Can Be Made into Clothing
The fashion industry, like many others, is making strides in becoming a more sustainable industry by decreasing waste in the manufacturing process. Items that typically aren’t biodegradable or accepted by recycling centers have found a new purpose in clothing creation, leading to a new eco-friendly fashion trend. Plastic bottles, scuba diving fabric, tires, and old coffee grounds are all recyclable materials that can be made into clothing.
Plastic Bottles
Plastic bottles are some of the most reused and recycled items in textile manufacturing. The plastic in water bottles is a form of polyester, which is known to be non-biodegradable. This type of polyester, known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), can be melted down and transformed into new polyester fabrics. As a common material used in clothing, the polyester can continue to be upcycled over and over.
Scuba Diving Fabric
Scuba diving fabric is commonly reused for fashion items. Form-fitting formal wear such as skirts and dresses as well as activewear can be created with recycled scuba materials. Scuba diving fabric provides many benefits to fashionable clothing items, as it doesn’t fray or wrinkle, has lots of elasticity for many shapes and sizes, and provides extra support.
Tires
Rubber is another non-biodegradable substance that can be difficult to get rid of. Disposing of items such as tires can be especially difficult considering their initial use, size, and the damaging effects they have on the environment. In new efforts to make tires reusable products, old, worn-down tires are being repurposed into shoes. Old tires can be used as the soles of various types of footwear, from athletic shoes to stylish sandals.
Coffee Grounds
Instead of ending up in a landfill, old coffee grounds can be processed into yarn and woven into fabric. This process uses low-temperature processing, which is more sustainable than traditional high-temperature fabric processing. The coffee ground fabric is a great alternative to athletic apparel, as it’s odor-eliminating and fast-drying; however, it’s also great for jeans and shoes.
Sustainable fashion is on the rise. Recyclable materials that can be made into clothing, such as tires and plastic bottles, are growing in demand to keep the fashion industry more sustainable.