What Is REPREVE®? Introducing REPREVE® Recycled Denim to Our Range

As part of our ongoing commitment to becoming a more sustainable brand, we’re introducing another fabric, REPREVE® recycled denim, into our range! Read on to learn more about REPREVE®, how we’re implementing it into our product mix, and why we chose them as a supplier for responsible denim fabric.

You might have already noticed that we’ve been making some changes here at Joanie to rise to the challenge of becoming a more environmentally conscious brand. One of the most effective ways that we can improve our sustainability credentials is by adding more responsible fabrics to our range.

Choosing the correct fabric is vital because we don’t want to compromise on quality but opting for a responsible alternative material often has a huge impact on overall brand sustainability. Our latest addition, REPREVE®, will sit alongside Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) cotton in our range of sustainable denim. 

What is REPREVE®?

REPREVE® is a sustainable fibre made completely from recycled materials, including post-consumer water bottles and pre-consumer waste. Since 2009, REPREVE® has transformed over 4 billion plastic bottles into recycled fibres that are spun into polyester yarn and nylon yarn alternatives.

The name ‘REPREVE®’ comes from the word reprieve, meaning to delay an impending punishment or sentence, in this case, referencing the imminent consequences of climate change. This is something REPREVE® and their North Carolina-based parent company Unifi are passionate about combatting: around 70% of plastic bottles end up in landfill in the USA every year, so to be able to transform a portion of those into recycled fabric makes a huge difference to the overall health of the planet!

What makes REPREVE® sustainable?

REPREVE®'s manufacturing process hinges on consumers recycling their PET plastic bottles, as the PET flakes can be transformed into REPREVE®. By making it from solely recycled materials, the manufacture of REPREVE® consumes less energy overall and conserves vital petroleum-based resources by offsetting the need to produce virgin synthetic fibres.

The recycled content used to make REPREVE® is certified by the Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) for recycled content claims, ensuring that the entire manufacturing process is traceable. SCS is a leading third-party certifier and standards developer of environmental and sustainability claims that performs a yearly examination of all REPREVE®'s recycled products, including auditing their recycling processes, production records, and manufacturing operations.

REPREVE® has also received the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, the world’s leading label for textiles screened for harmful substances. This certification means that all REPREVE® yarns have been tested for and are free of harmful levels of over 100 restricted chemicals!

The percentage of REPREVE® fibres in any fabric or product can be tested and analysed at any point in the supply chain using REPREVE®'s unique U Trust™ verification program and Fiberprint™  technology. This ensures that any items using their brand name are certified to contain a minimum of 30% REPREVE® fibres by weight of fabric construction.

Why did we choose REPREVE®?

It was really important to us when selecting a sustainable fabric for denim that the recycled fibres were certifiably sustainable. This is something that is equally important to REPREVE®, as their recycled content is audited by a third party, and their U Trust™ verification program ensures that all REPREVE® fabrics are traceable, transparent, and certifiably sustainable.

Quality was also something that we took into account when selecting a new sustainable denim fabric. REPREVE® adheres to Unifi’s first-quality standards, meaning that the make-up of the fabric is consistent, and wears and washes well!

We want to continue to increase the use of responsible fibres in our collections, and we’re excited to bring you, Joanie Gals, on this sustainability journey with us. Shop our Wear & Care Edit now!