How do plastic bottles become clothes?

The sustainable Berlin fashion label RAFFAUF has designed a new summer collection made from recycled PET bottles. But how do plastic bottles actually become clothing?

The bottles are first collected and sorted. They are cleaned and crushed in the production facility. The tiny particles are then melted. They are used to produce wafer-thin polyester fibers that are spun into threads, dyed without heavy metals and finally woven into a new fabric. The end result is a fully recycled fabric that RAFFAUF uses to make transparent jackets and coats. The models are narrow parkas with hoods and wide trench coats with large shawl collars in light beige or dark navy blue. The finished garments are soft, wind and water repellent and vegan. They are also particularly light and can be rolled up and stowed in the bag.

But is recycled polyester really more sustainable? “The material we use uses 60% less energy and over 90% less water in production than conventional polyester. Co2 emissions are reduced by 30%, ”says designer Caroline Raffauf. “Since the material consists of 100% recycled PET bottles, it can be recycled again at the end of the product life cycle. For us, this is a particularly important aspect in the selection of materials. The fashion industry produces around 92 million tons of garbage annually. In order to reduce this number, we already consider the problem in the design process. "

The material creation is also certified according to the Global Recycle Standard and can be traced back to the company that collects the plastic bottles in northern Italy. In addition to compliance with ecological criteria, the certification also guarantees fair working conditions during the entire manufacturing process.
Photo: David Kavaler