How do we make recycled plastic into high-performance yoga leggings?

As the world's second-largest polluting industry, the textile industry really needs a change to develop a more sustainable production process and protect our planet.

Like cotton, polyester is one of the most produced fabrics in the world. Due to its moisture absorption properties, it is the main raw material for the sportswear industry. However, the traditional method of producing such man-made fibers, the polymerization process, has caused great damage to the environment. The production of this fabric uses chemicals to contaminate our water, produce toxic by-products, and may cause health problems.

So, the answer is...? If I said that the empty plastic bottles you usually throw away in the trash (preferably recycled) can be turned into a new generation of polyester, would you believe me? , It’s true... This new process is now sweeping the textile industry and has restored some beliefs that we can create sustainable clothing.

How do we make recycled plastic into high-performance yoga leggings

Unlike traditional polyester, recycled polyester uses plastic water bottles as raw materials, also known as PET, to prevent these used bottles from being landfilled. In addition, the process of converting PET bottles into recyclable polyester requires 30-50% less energy than traditional polyester.

By choosing a new wave of polyester manufacturing, the textile industry is striving to create more environmentally friendly and sustainable methods. Recycling polyester not only reduces the industry's dependence on petroleum as a raw material; it also reduces the amount of soil pollution, water and air pollution.

After so many years of loving yoga and its core beliefs, when I set out to create a brand and pay tribute to myself, I wanted to make sure that some ecological values embody the brand, in order to accept and help our natural world, not to it, so much modern life. Unlucky. When I discovered this alternative method of producing high-tech, high-performance polyester fibers, I firmly believed that this was what I would use for my yoga leggings.

recycled fabric high-performance yoga leggings workout women pants

So, how is this fabric produced...? This process initially includes cleaning and disinfecting the collected plastic bottles, as shown in the figure below.

How do we make recycled plastic into high-performance yoga leggings

The result is a beautiful, lightweight (though not see-through!) and breathable, technical fabric, which is perfect for yoga, Pilates, running, going to the gym, or simply doing your daily errands. Salute up the leggings, with a second skin, the feeling of moving with you and the freedom of elasticity, high waist, no cuts, or down dogs during the sliding down (my pet hates!) plus unique and one-of-a-kind With hand-painted patterns, you have truly personalized, sustainable, and environmentally friendly leggings, which you can't see in the studio or online classroom (in the days of lockdown).

More than 600,000 tons of clothing are sent to landfills every year, and recycling in the textile industry has become the norm. The beauty of recycled polyester fiber is that you not only start with recycled fabric, but it can be recycled again and again, thus breaking the chains of fast, disposable fashion.

Compared with cotton, recycled polyester still maintains its aura. Unless it is real organic cotton, pesticides and other chemicals will be used in the production process, and recycled polyester will not, and does not require a lot of water like cotton.

In short, the new wave of polyester manufacturing not only took this fabric to a new level, it lost the unpleasant man-made synthetic label; it shook an industry that desperately needed a more environmentally friendly and sustainable approach. , To promote its development with glory and respect for our planet.

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