Older models are all the rage. But some items of clothing wear easily.
Now, a Swedish company founded by scientists is recycling used clothing and production waste from cotton or viscose.
Having been de-zipped and de-buttoned, the textiles are ground and dissolved into non-toxic chemicals.
The resulting pulp of cellulose fibres is freed from unwanted residues, dried and made into sheets. These can then be used to manufacture premium yarn.
With no new cellulose required, the process saves thousands of litres of water per recycled kilogram, and trees.
Mass production will begin this summer. The construction of a new plant should increase annual production capacity to 360,000 tonnes from 2030.
Already fashionable: sustainable alternatives for stretch jeans.
