It is common knowledge that clothes made from recycled fabrics are much better for the environment. Of course, the recycling process also costs energy and water, putting some strain on the climate, but this is much less than the process of using new materials. In this blog we will explain to you which recycled materials you can find in the Sophie Stone webshop, among others, and what exactly they mean. Because if you know what you are buying, you can more easily make sustainable choices.
Clothing made of recycled nylon
Recycled nylon is one of the recycled fabrics you've been able to see by in the Sophie Stone webshop. One item made from this material, for example, is the SilverTech Workout bra (89% recycled nylon) from Organic Basics. According to Organic Basics, the recycled version of this fabric lasts even longer than the highest standard nylon. But what exactly does recycled nylon mean and what makes it so durable?
The recycled nylon that Organic Basics uses is GRS certified. GRS stands for Global Recycling Standard, which means that fabrics certified with this label have been checked for social, environmental and chemical impact and meet the requirements. So what makes it sustainable? According to Organic Basics, the production of recycled nylon requires 80% less water and even emits 90% less CO2. In addition, recycled nylon is made from pre-consumer textile waste, which would otherwise end up in the trash. By recycling it, these fabrics can still be used and the environmentally damaging production that was required for them has not been in vain.
Clothing made of recycled polyester
The fabric polyester is far from durable, as polyester is actually just plastic. But the fact that many clothing items are made from this fabric makes a lot of sense. In fact, using polyester as a fabric for clothing has many advantages: for example, it is quick-drying, it can be waterproof and it does not wrinkle. Another option with the same advantages but more sustainable is therefore recycled polyester, from which, among other things, the outer fabric of the fantastic winter coats from Embassy of Bricks and Logs are made entirely from. Ecoalf' s sneakers and jackets are also made from recycled polyester.
The inside of this jacket is also made of recycled material, namely recycled PET from plastic waste from the sea (rPET). rPet is a form of recycled polyester, made from remelted plastic from plastic bottles, among other things. This is obviously an incredibly good solution: this way, the plastic packaging can no longer cause further damage to the environment. Instead, they can be used more usefully by turning them into textiles in a way that is also less environmentally polluting. Because again, the production of the recycled version produces about 90% less CO2 emissions than that of traditional polyester.
The latest Sophie Stone addition Girlfriend Collective designs sportswear made from recycled PET. The leggings and sports bras are made of 79% recycled polyester and 21% spandex, certified with the Oeko-tex certificate. The leggings consist of about 25 recycled plastic water bottles and the bras of about 11 recycled plastic water bottles.
The AAVA x Averie brand 's swimsuits and bikinis are made of Econyl: this is recycled ocean plastic such as plastic bottles that ended up in the sea and fishing nets.
Guppyfriend washing bag
Yet even when washing the recycled version of polyester and nylon, the problem of the release of microplastics remains. This is because these microfibers are incredibly small and therefore cannot be filtered, ending up back in the ocean with ease. But the fact remains that recycling is always better than producing new. And with a special laundry bag (such as the widely known Guppyfriend) it is even possible to capture the microplastics released in your washing machine. The Guppyfriend laundry bag can be purchased here from Sophie Stone.
