cashmere ricycled / eco cashmere
Recycled Cashmere
Origins, processes and creation of sustainable knitwear Made in Italy
What Recycled Cashmere Is
Recycled cashmere is a yarn obtained by recovering existing fibers from discarded cashmere garments. These materials, which would otherwise become textile waste, are transformed into a new high-quality raw material. Unlike virgin cashmere, it does not require new shearing, reducing environmental impact and promoting a circular economy model.
Origins of Recycled Cashmere
The concept of recycled cashmere arises from growing environmental awareness and the need to reduce waste in the textile industry. Between the 1980s and 1990s, with the expansion of fast fashion, textile waste production increased significantly. This led companies and supply chains to develop technologies capable of recovering existing materials and transforming them into new fibers.
Production Process
Collection of Used Garments
Cashmere garments are collected through second-hand stores, brand recovery programs, and industrial waste streams. It is essential to select only high-quality materials to ensure an excellent final product.
Sorting and Classification
Garments are analyzed and sorted according to fiber quality. Only 100% cashmere is selected for recycling. A key step is color separation, which allows the avoidance of new chemical dyeing and reduces the use of polluting substances.
Garment Deconstruction
Garments are manually disassembled to separate fibers, seams, buttons, and other components. This process allows pure cashmere to be isolated and ready for regeneration.
Fiber Opening (Teasing)
The selected fibers are opened and loosened until a soft and uniform material is obtained, ready for the next processing stages.
Washing and Cleaning
The fibers are washed with eco-friendly detergents at low temperatures to remove impurities and residues. This ensures softness and quality without harming the environment.
Spinning
The fibers are carded and transformed into new yarn. Since colors are separated upstream, no new dyeing is required, reducing water, energy consumption, and chemical usage.
Weaving and Knitwear Production
The yarn is transformed into knitwear through industrial or artisanal processes. The result is a soft, warm, and durable garment, typical of high-quality cashmere.
Benefits of Recycled Cashmere
Environmental Sustainability
It reduces the need for new raw materials and decreases the environmental impact of textile production. The process consumes less water and energy compared to traditional cashmere.
Circular Economy
Recycled cashmere contributes to a circular production system, where materials are recovered, regenerated, and reintroduced into the production cycle.
Quality and Comfort
Despite the recycling process, the material maintains softness, lightness, and thermal performance, typical characteristics of original cashmere.
Versatility
It can be used for knitwear, accessories, and textiles, adapting to different design needs.
Conclusion
Recycled cashmere represents a new vision of contemporary luxury, based on responsibility, innovation, and respect for the environment. Each stage of the process helps reduce waste and enhance existing materials, demonstrating that sustainability and quality can coexist.
The final result is a refined, soft, and warm yarn, which retains all the thermal properties of original cashmere, thanks to the air trapped between fibers that creates a natural barrier against the cold.
Access our ready-to-ship catalog of men's and women's knitwear and accessories, a complete wholesale collection for fashion retailers.
About usCashmere B2B catalog

