Polyester news and archive

What the fashion industry has to do with microplastics pollution (and everything you need to know about EU initiatives to tackle microplastics)

The European Commission has microplastics on its agenda. But what initiatives are there to tackle the release of microplastics and what measures are being put in place to reduce the impact of microplastics on the environment? FashionUnited lists them. As always, we start at the beginning: with what microplastics are, why there are concerns about...

From fibre to garment: the technical 'make-up' of your clothing

In this background piece, we tell you all about the 'technical construction' of your garment. From fibre to garment. We start with the final product, your garment, and go back one step at a time. To the fabrics, the yarns and the fibres/raw materials. We also cover finishing processes. Content • Fabrics (+ finishing processes) • Yarns • Fibres...

Business

Repreve LCA shows climate impact of recycled polyester vs. virgin polyester

Repreve-maker Unifi announced the results today of a peer-reviewed Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) about the impacts of recycled polyester on climate change versus virgin polyester. “Repreve significantly lowers the impact of climate change and will have an immediate impact on the sustainability goals and environmental footprint of our esteemed...

Fashion Featured

Russian oil linked to western fashion, says report

A new report has linked Russian oil to the clothes made by the world's leading retailers and brands, with hidden supply chains and tier 3 manufacturing contracts, despite the global sanctions in effect. Of the many brands having exited or paused sales within the Russian market, there is ample proof some are producing collections using Russian...

Fashion Featured

Recycling polycotton, which accounts for half of textile waste, may soon become the norm

Recycling fibers and implementing circular processes is a medium term goal set by many apparel companies, but little headway has been made to recycle mixed fabrics, like polycotton. Polyester cotton is one of the most unsustainable fabric blends yet loved by fast fashion companies because of their low cost cheap and durability. Circ, a...

FairsFeatured

Why synthetics must be part of the sustainability movement

Céleste Lilore, Director of Industry Engagement for Textile Exchange, a non-profit organization focused on accelerating sustainability in the Textile Value Chain, made the case for synthetics at the recent Texworld event. To companies looking to make improvements in this volatile and quickly evolving environment, Lilore recommends what she calls...

Video

Video: Fashion's toxic threads

Learn about the problems with using polyester and the invisible threat of microplastic fibers with The Economist. Source: Youtube, The Economist

Fashion Featured

How sustainable is recycled polyester?

Nearly half of the world’s clothing is made of polyester and Greenpeace forecasts this amount to nearly double by 2030. Why? The athleisure trend if one of the main reasons behind it: an increasing number of consumers are look for stretchier, more resistant garments. The problem is, polyester is not a sustainable textile option, as it is made...

Business

Epson launches direct-to-garment printer for polyester

Polyester is one of the most challenging fabrics to print on, but Japanese electronics company Epson is launching a direct-to-garment printer for companies working with 100 percent polyester apparel, such as activewear and faux leather. “To date, the direct-to-garment industry has been limited to printing on 100 percent cotton or...

Business

H&M Foundation and HKRITA to open textile recycling facilities in Hong Kong

The H&M Foundation and The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) have announced the opening of two textile recycling facilities which will put HKRITA’s hydrothermal method for recycling cotton and polyester blends to use. Blends are the most used type of textile in the world -- yet, they are still unrecyclable. “This is a...

BusinessFeatured

Greenpeace expedition finds microplastics in remote Antarctic waters

Water and snow samples collected in a recent Greenpeace expedition to the Antarctic have revealed the presence of microplastics and persistent chemicals. Their findings confirm that plastic can be found even in the most remote areas of the planet. The extensive use of polyester in the fashion industry is partially to blame for the problem:...

Fashion Featured

G-Star Raw x Plastic Soup Foundation: 'Stop the microfiber!'

London - The fashion industry remains one of the most polluting industries on earth. However most of the damage done to the environment is linked to the manufacturing and shipping of clothing, rather than what we consumers own. But what many consumers are not aware of is the continual damage the machine washing of synthetic clothing has on our...