From sneaky blends to chemical finishes, the journey to circular fashion starts with knowing what’s really in our clothes.

When we think about recycling, textiles often get lumped in with paper, plastic, and metal — easy to toss into the right bin and forget about. But the truth is far more complex. Not all textiles are created equal, and when it comes to recycling them, those differences matter… a lot.

Let’s break it down.

1. Fabric Blends: The Frustrating Puzzle

That cozy hoodie labeled “60% cotton, 40% polyester”? It’s a recycling nightmare. While pure cotton or pure polyester can be recycled in specialized systems, blends are notoriously hard to process. Why? Because separating the two materials is incredibly difficult, both mechanically and chemically. Most textile recycling facilities just don’t have the tech (or budget) to handle it.

Blends are everywhere — think cotton-poly, wool-nylon, spandex-everything. And the more diverse the materials, the more complicated the recycling becomes. In many cases, these fabrics end up downcycled (turned into insulation or rags) or landfilled.

2. Chemical Finishes: Invisible Barriers

Anti-wrinkle, stain-resistant, flame-retardant — sounds useful, right? These treatments are often loaded with synthetic chemicals that linger in the fabric. While they serve a purpose during the product’s life, they create major issues at the end of it.

Chemical coatings can disrupt recycling processes, introduce toxins, or require additional energy and processing steps. And guess what? They’re rarely disclosed on the label.

3. Buttons, Zippers & Embellishments: Small Details, Big Impact

Even when a textile is made of a recyclable fiber, the little extras — plastic zippers, metal snaps, sequins, foam pads — make disassembly a challenge. Some recycling systems require items to be fully deconstructed first, which is time-consuming and costly.

It’s like trying to recycle a juice box — one item, multiple layers and materials.

So, What Can We Do?

If you’re a consumer:

• Look for garments made from a single, recyclable fiber (like 100% cotton or 100% wool).

• Support brands that design with end-of-life in mind (modular designs, minimal hardware, no unnecessary finishes).

• Choose quality over quantity — longevity delays the need for recycling altogether.

If you’re in product or fashion development:

• Design for disassembly.

• Reduce or eliminate blends where possible.

• Be transparent about finishes and materials — both for consumers and recyclers.

Final Thoughts

Recycling textiles isn’t just about tossing clothes into a bin. It’s about designing, buying, and thinking differently from the start. Circular fashion begins not at the end of a garment’s life, but at its very first stitch.