Fashion

“Green Plastics” Are All The Rage In Fashion

Posted: 12/8/2011

Plastics, when recycled, can play an important role in fashion on the catwalk and in your closet.

(NAPSI)—Many people may be surprised to realize it, but contemporary fashion wouldn’t exist without plastics. Plastic-based fabrics such as spandex, polyester and rayon give jeans stretch, fleece jackets strength and warmth, and evening gowns a flowing drape.

Plastics Then

Over the years, plastic fabrics were so influential in fashion they defined entire decades: nylon, made from plastic, was introduced in the late ‘30s as a replacement for silk, which was scarce and expensive during World War II. Nylon became so commonplace that stockings took on the name nylons. And what would the ‘70s have been without polyester or the ‘80s without spandex?

Plastics Now

Plastics continue to influence the direction of fashion in the 21st century. At a time when many people are seeking ways to lessen their impact on the environment, recycled plastic clothing has grown in popularity because it fits into a sustainable lifestyle.

As Steve Russell, vice president of the Plastics Division of The American Chemistry Council, explains, “Designers frequently use plastic-based materials such as nylon, faux leather and sequins in their collections because they allow for extreme versatility and creativity.”

Getting Even Greener

Quite a few plastic fabrics can be made from recycled plastic. How does this work? It starts with common plastic items, such as water and soda bottles or milk jugs and juice containers, which are cleaned, melted down and stretched into a very fine thread. This thread can then be woven into the same kind of versatile, durable and beautiful fabrics that consumers have come to love, and the garments and accessories made from these fabrics help to keep plastic bottles out of landfills.

When fabrics made with recycled plastics first hit the mainstream, they were reserved for outdoorsy clothing meant for a camping trip or for the gym. Now, however, designers and clothing makers know fabrics made from recycled plastic can work just as well for refined garments as they do for rugged ones. Recycled plastics can now be found in everything from mass-market T-shirts to couture handbags.

Clothing companies have produced entire lines made with recycled plastic, and some have programs that let customers return worn clothing for recycling later on. Some of the biggest celebrities have recently been spotted wearing recycled plastic clothing at red-carpet events, which has helped make sustainability chic.

In fact, so many designers—and consumers—have embraced clothes and accessories made with recycled materials, they might just become the defining clothing trend of the 2010s.

Learn More

For more information on sustainable fashion, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com.

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