In the current market, most garments include elastane in their composition, which makes their recyclability difficult, and it is estimated that approximately only 1% of garments can be recycled. During the 20th century, the fashion industry became highly globalised, with garments often designed in one country, manufactured in another, and sold worldwide. This trend has been further accentuated by the emergence of the ‘fast fashion’ phenomenon.

The time has come to transition to a textile system that delivers better economic, societal, and environmental outcomes. In such a model, clothes, fabric, and fibres re-enter the economy after use and never end up as waste. Achieving a new textiles economy will demand unprecedented levels of alignment. Working together with that common purpose, yarn producer Nylstar and circular knitting machinery manufacturer Santoni, have given birth to a garment, which is 100% recyclable.

This is a fully circular recycling technology - from yarn to garment, and back to yarn

Nylstar has developed a yarn with natural elasticity to avoid having to use elastomers. The natural stretch technology is achieved thanks to the perfect alignment of the molecular structure and high hydrogen content in the yarn. Nylstar's advanced Hydrogen technology makes possible the creation of high-performance garments that avoid the release of microplastics, consumption of water and use of chemicals in the finishing processes.

Santoni´s seamless knitting technology is the best match for garments with natural stretch. The company’s TOP2V electronic single jersey circular knitting machine, has eight feeds, each with two needle by needle selection points per feed. Thanks to ‘bodymapping’ technology, the machine can knit breathable areas and compression zones, which perfectly highlight the qualities Nylstar’s Hydrogen yarns.

The result of the collaboration, is a garment which can be collected back, shredded, and converted again into new polymer chips which will be spun into new yarn. This is a fully circular recycling technology - from yarn to garment and back to yarn.

Santoni will be presenting the project ‘Closing the Loop’ at ISPO 2022, which is being held in Munich from 28 – 30 November 2022. Visitors should visit Hall B1 Booth 416, to see the project at first-hand.

For further information, please contact:

- Mr. Silva Patrick

[email protected]

+39 335 7697917

- Miss Elena Antelmi

[email protected]

+39 348 2355819

www.santoni.com