Ralph Lauren commits to cashmere recycling
US fashion company Ralph Lauren has joined hands with Italian textile recycler Re-Verso to launch a new recycling programme for 100% cashmere garments.
Beginning in Europe and North America initially, the scheme is open to articles purchased from any one of its own labels or their competitors. Participants are invited to ship their cashmere to Re-Verso’s facility in Prato, Tuscany, where it will be sorted, shredded and processed into regenerated yarns, fabrics or cashmere accessories for use in future collections.
The programme was developed as part of the company’s work alongside Dutch circular economy non-profit the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute to obtain certification for a new gold cashmere crewneck sweater.
Ralph Lauren hopes four more cashmere styles will become Cradle to Cradle certified by 2025, according to the company’s chief global impact and communications officer, Kate Ioanilli. “We believe true luxury encompasses not only a product’s beauty and quality, but [also] how it was made and how it will endure,” she commented.
The carding process at Re-Verso. Credit: Re-Verso via Instagram.
