Corporate Field Study Post II: Examples of Material Reuse by Small- to Mid-Size Businesses

Last week, we talked about some of the challenges faced by small- to mid-size businesses working with textile secondary raw materials. This week, we will look at two examples. These examples are of interest in the field study as they relate to the new EU Circular Economy Action Plan for the textile sector adopted in March 2020, which has a focus on increasing the uptake of textile secondary raw materials.

One example of a small- to mid-size business working with textile secondary raw materials is Jouten. This studio in Finland produces experimental, unisex garments and accessories by repurposing high-quality, made-to-last fabrics, which in a prior life were used as hotel towels and bedlinen. The Finnish word “jouten” means “unoccupied” in English, but Jouten’s founders are certainly not idle. Jouten dyes and makes each product in Finland, taking great care with the design process, fit, and fabrication methods, not to mention the reclaimed material sourcing and selection. Through the studio’s creative work, decommissioned fabrics from the hotel industry find a new use, which reduces environmental impact and adds a unique quality to each piece created.

Another example is Sort Slips Hvidt Slips. This Danish studio produces garments for men, women, and children by using reclaimed fabrics sourced from discarded linens, waiter aprons, and hospital gowns. All pieces are made in Denmark. The focus of the brand is on the craft and tailoring. This attention to detail results in an attractive, long-lasting, durable garment.

There are several other inspiring small- to mid-size businesses out there working with textile secondary raw materials in brilliant ways. Unfortunately, their numbers are tiny in comparison to those businesses working with virgin or primary raw materials. That is a huge problem if we want to reduce the environmental impact of the textile and apparel sector through a reduction of the reliance on virgin textile fibres. So far, this corporate field study has supported the idea that it will take the EU’s strong regulatory interest in the recovery and reuse of secondary raw materials, such as discarded or decommissioned fabrics, so that they can easily move directly from a prior user to a garment and/or accessories producer. If this can be accomplished by the EU Commission, there is much potential to increase the number of small to mid-size businesses that work with secondary raw materials.