Unifi continues to drive recycled textile innovation with the launch of the REPREVE® Textile Takeback Program.

Unifi reports that “millions of pounds of textile manufacturing scraps end up in landfills every year,” which is why they’ve collaborated to create the REPREVE Textile Takeback Program. The program will give fabrics a second chance by recycling them back into REPREVE recycled fibers. Polartec will also partner with Unifi to launch this innovative new program.

REPREVE is no stranger to the sustainable style scene with brands like hand bag designer Julie Apple, lifestyle brand RESTORE CLOTHING as well as textile innovator Polartec® being forward thinkers that have incorporated the performance yarns. While many in the fashion industry keep leaning towards traditional eco fabrics made from bamboo and organic cotton, future predictions for a need to consume water, land and other precious natural resources begin with a more logical approach which comes with recycling.

“The industry continues to focus on ways to reduce textile fabric waste throughout the supply chain, however as a bi-product of manufacturing, waste is still created,” said Roger Berrier, president and COO for Unifi. “The Textile Takeback Program provides the industry with a responsible and sustainable outlet for this waste, while expanding the growth and reach of the REPREVE brand.”

Polartec (formerly Malden Mills Industries), already introduced Repreve 100 – a 100% PCR yarn, made from recycled plastic bottles. With this new recycled fabric waste fiber, Polartec’s commitment to eco-engineering, reducing waste and depending more on recycling for raw materials has made them an industry leader based in the U.S.

“This fabric has historically been down cycled into batting or simply sent to the landfill. We can now use this waste stream to create new, first-quality performance Polartec fabrics. Polartec has pioneered the recycled fabric category and we continue our commitment to reducing our overall footprint.”

Polartec says by end of 2011, over 40% of their total production will utilize REPREVE 100 recycled yarns and they expect that number to grow in 2012.

Image: KirkOls

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I’ve loved what NatureVsfuture® designer Nina Valenti has been doing for awhile now, but how to accurately explain her collection isn’t easy to do since it’s so different than a lot of other lines.

That’s why when I went to the NatureVsfuture® site and saw her describing it as an “Artistic expression of organic futurism via clothing,” I was happy she could do it for me.

The label’s name was inspired by the designer’s belief that there is a “constant struggle between nature and future, a pressure between organic forces and technological ones. The more we advance the more we need to consider nature before we deplete it. In this tension to find balance is the living energy of the collection and hence the name.” says Valenti.

Her visions of balance lie somewhere in blending sculptural design with natural and sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, organic wool, hemp, soy, bamboo, seacell® (seaweed), lyocell (wood pulp), Ingeoâ„¢ (created from corn), along with recycled and technological fabrics such as Polartec® (made from soda pop bottles or industry waste).

And by her incredible talent in persuading us that futuristic is also very wearable, our futuristic visions of earth fashion are saved (we won’t be wearing recycled tin foil suits and cotton booties while walking through our galactic space vessels).

Thanks for clarifying Nina, and for the record, I’ll wear your angled dresses and asymetrical shirts anytime.

Want to try your hand at participating in a futuristic, eco-fashion utopia sometime soon?

Then meet Nina and a full line-up of sustainable designers at EcoSalon Shops! in NYC on June 4th!

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