I was sure those new recycled polyester blends were just greenwashing

I mean, I saw a jacket made from 70% ocean plastic at a show in Portland last fall and thought it was a gimmick. But I got a sample swatch and worked with it for a project, and the hand feel and durability are actually legit, way better than the old stuff. Has anyone else tried designing with these newer recycled tech fabrics and found them surprisingly good?

3 comments

3 Comments

xenar142mo ago

My hiking pants are 65% recycled PET from plastic bottles. Wore them on a three day trip last month and they didn't fade or snag once. The tech has totally changed since the thin, shiny fabrics from like five years ago. I was ready for them to feel stiff but they're actually softer than my old standard poly pants. The dye holds better now too, no weird color loss after a few washes.

sagesingh2mo ago

Had the same doubts about recycled poly being just for show. I used to avoid it, thinking it would feel cheap and pill right away. Then I made a travel bag from a 50% recycled blend last year, and it's held up better than my old nylon one. The fabric has a nice weight to it now, not that scratchy feel I remember. They've clearly figured something out in the last few years.

bettymurphy2mo ago

Honestly, the new recycled stuff is way better than the old scratchy fabrics. I made some aprons for a cafe last year and they've been washed a ton with no pilling. The tech has definitely caught up.