When grain becomes clothing

When grain becomes clothing

The Berlin fashion label RAFFLE uses a new textile impregnation from waste materials that arise during the processing of grain. The company uses upcycling to turn garbage into water-repellent clothing. In the fashion industry, synthetic and natural materials have been recycled and reused as textiles for years. The offer ranges from plastic bottles to recycled wool. The idea of ​​recycling waste products from the food industry is new.

But how does grain become clothing?

After the grain is harvested, the grain is removed from the shell and processed into flour and other food products. Products such as bran and oils are extracted from the shell. This process leaves a waxy substance that is usually disposed of as a waste product. The wax can hardly be used as a raw material in the solid state. In order to make it into an impregnation, it is heated and melted for several hours. In the liquid state, it is mixed with pollutant-free additives that make the wax water-soluble. 

They ensure that a homogeneous liquid is created and that the impregnation can be applied evenly to fabrics without leaving stains. 

“In production, of course, we always try to avoid generating waste. We are all the more pleased to give the garbage that has been created a new life and to create something new through upcycling, ”explains designer Caroline Raffauf. Upcycling is a form of recycling in which waste products are reused and new products with higher value are created. The wax obtained from grain husks is unsuitable for the food industry. "Textile impregnation creates added value without competing with food," says Raffauf.

The finished impregnation consists of 90% recycled biological waste from grain processing. The natural properties of the wax ensure that the impregnated clothing is repellent to water and water-based liquids such as teas and fruit juices. 

In the current collection, RAFFAUF uses impregnation from grain waste on linen. In the future, the brand wants to carry out further tests on organic cotton and recycled natural fibers.
Photo: © David Kavaler / RAFFAUF