Circular fashion: textile recycling
Circular fashion is the order of the day. And it's not just the latest trend, it's an essential model to put an end to mass-produced, unsustainable and polluting textiles. At Blankets of the World we produce all our blankets, cushions and boho rugs through a textile recycling process that allows us to give a second life to unused garments and materials. Do you want to know how we do it? Here's how we turn textile waste into new sustainable decor accessories.
What is circular fashion?
Circular fashion follows the same principles as any sector that is part of the circular economy: reduce, reuse and recycle. The famous three R's are the key to stop the textile industry being the second most polluting industry on the planet. While as users it is important that we apply this precept in our daily lives, the time has come for textile companies to also take action to put an end to the current model of mass and linear production.
The aim of circular fashion is that clothing and other textiles, such as those used in home decoration, are designed and produced to last as long as possible, with the possibility of being recycled or reused and with materials that have the least impact on the biosphere.
Benefits of circular fashion
- It reduces the volume of textile waste that is either incinerated (a harmful practice for the ecosystem) or ends up in landfills, rivers or oceans.
- It reduces the consumption of water, kilowatts of energy and tons of chemicals and dyes.
- It generates new jobs in the textile recycling industry.
How does Blankets of the World recycle textiles?
At Blankets of the World we work with ASTRI (Associazione tessile riciclato italiana) to give a second life to unused textile raw materials. That is, through a process of textile recovery and manufacturing of new products from recycled fibres, we transform second-hand clothes and rags into unique boho chic decor items.
This process consists of three main phases:
1. Textile recovery
The first step is to collect pre-consumer textiles (fibrous matter from drying and fraying processes, offcuts and textile waste in general) and post-consumer textiles (second-hand clothes, rags...).
2. Selection and manufacture:
Once we have a sufficient volume of fabrics, we select and classify them by colour, finish and quality. The selected pieces will go through a manufacturing process that will turn them into regenerated raw material.
3. Products as good as new!
From the regenerated raw material that has been obtained, a process of design and production of new garments and accessories begins. This is where the magic between warp and weft emerges and the fabrics are ready for a new life.
Our Commitment
In addition to the use of recycled raw materials, Blankets of the World is committed to other sustainable measures, such as local manufacturing and production (90% of our products are made in Europe) and the elimination of plastic in our packaging. However, our commitment to circular fashion does not end here.
Our next challenges are to achieve 100% ecological packaging for all Blankets of the World products, eliminating plastic from adhesive tapes, glues or vacuum-packed products, as well as manufacturing 100% of our products in Europe. For more information about our commitment to the planet, please see our We Care programme.
