Recycled Clothing for Women

Founded in 1973 in California, Patagonia is an outerwear brand that has completely phased out virgin petroleum fabrics in favor of recycled materials in its collections.

New York brand Aday relies heavily on synthetics for its technical fabrics, but it is exemplary at sourcing preferred over conventional synthetics, such as recycled polyester and nylon.

72% of Californian brand Toad&Co’s synthetic fibers were recycled in 2024, and the brand aims for 100% by 2026. In addition to synthetics, the brand also uses recycled wool and cotton.

Californian brand Vitamin A is a leader in ethically produced swimwear and beachwear for women, and the brand’s collections heavily feature recycled materials such as recycled cotton and nylon.

Recycled polyester turns plastic waste, mainly PET bottles, into fiber, cutting fossil fuel demand and landfill plastic. However, problems with microfibers shed and inputs overly rely on bottles from the food industry.

Recycled nylon makes new yarn from industrial scrap and fishing nets, reducing waste and energy use, though microfiber shedding and limited scalable supply remain issues.

Recycled cotton cuts water and pesticide demand, but shorter fibers can weaken durability, and blending with virgin fiber is often required.

Recycled wool repurposes pre-loved knits and mill offcuts, preserving fibre strength and lowering land use, but animal welfare remains unstandardized. 

Recycled cashmere spins discarded textiles into soft yarn again, easing pressure on grazing lands and goats, but similarly to wool, animal welfare remains unstandardized.