Recycling mixed-fibre garments becomes a reality

The recycling of garments made from various fibers has long posed a significant challenge for the textile industry. Without an effective chemical or mechanical process to separate and recover individual materials, these garments have typically ended up as waste, destined for incineration or landfills.

Source: RadiciGroup

However, Radici InNova, the research and innovation division of RadiciGroup, has recently developed an innovative recycling process employing selective dissolution technology. This process is capable of treating mixed textile waste — including swimwear, tights, and leggings — to recover both nylon and LYCRA® fibers, making them available for the production of new garments.

Through collaboration with The LYCRA Company and Triumph, a globally recognized lingerie brand, this process has been validated by using the recovered fibers to create a 100% recycled lingerie set.

Thanks to this project, textile recycling enters a new dimension, demonstrating for the first time that it is possible to recover fibers from mixed fabrics and reuse them to produce new garments. This is an unprecedented innovation that opens up revolutionary development opportunities for the textile industry. As RadiciGroup, we are proud to have conceived and achieved this important milestone together with our partners, and we are ready to take the next steps

^{Stefano Alini, CEO, Radici InNova}

The internationally patented process utilizes non-toxic, non-flammable, and environmentally friendly solvents. It can be applied to primary nylon types (PA6 and PA66) and is economically viable, enabling the recovery of both nylon and LYCRA® fibers regardless of their proportions in the fabric, along with the solvent itself.

Initiated four years ago, the project began with Radici InNova’s study into a novel method for the dissolution and separation of mixed textile fibers. Following the initial development phase, subsequent tests successfully recovered samples of LYCRA® fiber from multi-material fabrics, which were then sent to The LYCRA Company for recyclability verification.

This innovative project highlights the role that elastane can have in helping to advance circularity in the apparel industry. Working closely with Radici InNova and Triumph, The LYCRA Company has demonstrated that LYCRA® fibres can retain their renowned stretch and recovery performance — providing comfort, fit and ease of movement — even when reintegrated into the spinning cycle

^{Nicholas Kurland, Product Development Director, Advanced Concepts The LYCRA Company.}

The next phase involved practical feasibility: Triumph provided its production surplus, a fabric containing 16% LYCRA® fiber. Radici InNova successfully recovered both LYCRA® fiber and nylon from this material. The LYCRA® fiber was then re-spun by The LYCRA Company, while RadiciGroup processed the recycled nylon to produce new Renycle® yarn.

Using these recycled yarns (LYCRA® fiber and Renycle®), a 60-meter black fabric was created, which Triumph utilized to produce a coordinated lingerie set — a bra and briefs — effectively demonstrating the potential to close the loop: transforming textile waste into new garments.

Although still in its early stages, Triumph is proud to contribute to this pioneering initiative and to explore the potential of this innovative recycling technology for future applications. Our next step will focus on developing a capsule collection, while also working on solutions to ensure product identification, traceability and circularity systems, so that garments can remain in use for as long as possible and, once they reach the end of their life, can be recycled in the most appropriate way. At Triumph, we are committed to promoting innovation and collaboration in the field of sustainability. Being part of this project strengthens our belief that circularity for garments made from mixed textile fibers is possible, and we are proud to help turn this vision into reality

_{^{Vera Galarza, Global Head of Sustainability – Triumph}}

The progress achieved thus far by Radici InNova, The LYCRA Company, and Triumph should be regarded as a prototype (concept garment) aimed at showcasing the technical feasibility of recycling mixed textiles and establishing a foundation for its future industrialization.