RadiciGroup mixedfibre recycling – RadiciGroup Leads Circular Fashion Breakthrough by Recycling Mixed-Fibre Garments, Proving Innovation, Sustainability and Industrial Vision Can Transform the Textile Industry Today 15-12-2025

Recycling Mixed-Fibre Garments Becomes Reality Thanks to RadiciGroup Leadership

RadiciGroup once again demonstrates its position at the forefront of textile innovation by turning one of the industry’s most complex challenges into a concrete opportunity.  RadiciGroup mixedfibre recycling

Recycling mixed-fibre garments, long considered technically and economically unfeasible, is now a reality thanks to Radici InNova, the Group’s research and innovation division, in collaboration with The LYCRA Company and Triumph.

For decades, garments made from blended fibres such as nylon and elastane have represented a dead end in the fashion value chain. Without effective separation technologies, these products typically ended their life cycle in landfills or incinerators.

Today, RadiciGroup changes this narrative by delivering a scalable solution that aligns innovation, sustainability, and industrial viability.

This breakthrough reinforces RadiciGroup’s long-standing commitment to circular fashion and confirms its ability to anticipate the future needs of the textile industry. RadiciGroup mixedfibre recycling

Why Mixed-Fibre Recycling Has Always Been a Major Industry Barrier

The modern apparel market relies heavily on blended fabrics to guarantee comfort, durability, stretch, and performance. However, these benefits come with a cost at the end of a garment’s life. RadiciGroup mixedfibre recycling

Traditional recycling methods struggle to separate fibres like nylon and LYCRA® fibre without damaging their properties. Mechanical recycling often downgrades materials, while chemical recycling solutions have historically been limited, inefficient, or environmentally questionable. RadiciGroup mixedfibre recycling

RadiciGroup identified this bottleneck early and invested in long-term research to overcome it. The result is a patented selective dissolution technology that addresses both environmental and economic sustainability, setting a new benchmark for the industry.

RadiciGroup at the Forefront With Selective Dissolution Technology

At the heart of this innovation lies Radici InNova’s selective dissolution process. This technology enables the treatment of mixed textile waste such as tights, swimwear, and leggings, recovering both nylon and LYCRA® fibre regardless of their proportion in the fabric.

The process uses non-toxic, non-flammable, and environmentally compatible solvents. Even more importantly, the solvent itself can be recovered and reused, ensuring a closed-loop approach that minimizes waste and resource consumption.

By designing a solution applicable to the main types of nylon, including PA6 and PA66, RadiciGroup ensures industrial relevance and scalability. This positions the Group not only as an innovator but also as a practical enabler of circular fashion.

Collaboration That Turns Innovation Into Reality

True innovation thrives through collaboration, and this project is a clear example. By working closely with The LYCRA Company and Triumph, RadiciGroup validated its technology in a real-world context. RadiciGroup mixedfibre recycling

The LYCRA Company played a key role in demonstrating that recycled LYCRA® fibre retains its essential performance characteristics, including elasticity, recovery, comfort, and fit. This confirms that sustainability does not require compromising on quality.

Triumph, an internationally recognized lingerie brand, contributed production surplus fabrics containing LYCRA® fibre. These materials became the test case that proved mixed-fibre recycling could work beyond the laboratory.

Together, the partners transformed recovered fibres into tangible products, showing the entire value chain what is possible when innovation meets collaboration. RadiciGroup mixedfibre recycling

From Textile Waste to New Garments in a Closed Loop

The practical demonstration of this project marks a milestone for circular fashion. From Triumph’s surplus fabric, Radici InNova successfully recovered both nylon and LYCRA® fibre.

The recycled LYCRA® fibre was re-spun by The LYCRA Company, while RadiciGroup processed the recovered nylon into Renycle® yarn, its established recycled polyamide solution. These two components were then combined to produce a new fabric made entirely from recycled materials. RadiciGroup mixedfibre recycling

A 60-meter black fabric was created and used by Triumph to manufacture a coordinated lingerie set, including a bra and briefs. This prototype clearly illustrates the feasibility of a closed-loop system, moving seamlessly from textile waste to new, high-quality garments.

RadiciGroup proves that circular fashion is no longer a theoretical concept but an achievable industrial reality.

Economic and Environmental Sustainability Go Hand in Hand

One of the most significant strengths of RadiciGroup’s innovation is its economic sustainability. Unlike previous approaches, this process recovers both nylon and LYCRA® fibre, maximizing material value and improving cost efficiency.

By enabling the recovery of multiple fibres from a single stream, RadiciGroup increases resource efficiency while reducing reliance on virgin raw materials. This approach aligns perfectly with global sustainability goals and evolving regulatory frameworks.

Environmental responsibility is embedded at every stage, from solvent selection to process recovery. This reinforces RadiciGroup’s reputation as a company that integrates sustainability into its core business strategy rather than treating it as an add-on.

A Prototype That Opens the Door to Industrialization

While the lingerie set developed through this project is currently a concept garment, its implications are far-reaching. It serves as proof of technical feasibility and lays the groundwork for future industrial-scale applications. RadiciGroup mixedfibre recycling

RadiciGroup is already looking ahead, focusing on scaling the process and supporting partners in developing systems for product identification, traceability, and end-of-life management. These elements are essential to ensure garments remain in use longer and can be efficiently recycled when their lifecycle ends. RadiciGroup mixedfibre recycling

By addressing both technology and systems, RadiciGroup continues to lead the transition toward a truly circular textile economy. RadiciGroup mixedfibre recycling

RadiciGroup’s Vision for the Future of Circular Fashion

This project reflects RadiciGroup’s broader vision: to drive meaningful change through innovation, collaboration, and responsibility. By solving one of the most persistent challenges in textile recycling, the Group sends a strong signal to the industry.

Circular fashion requires courage, investment, and long-term thinking. RadiciGroup embodies all three, positioning itself as a trusted partner for brands seeking sustainable solutions without compromising performance or design.

As mixed-fibre garments dominate the global apparel market, RadiciGroup’s breakthrough offers a scalable path forward. It proves that innovation can unlock value where others see waste and that sustainability and competitiveness can grow together.

Conclusion: RadiciGroup Sets a New Standard for the Industry

With this pioneering achievement, RadiciGroup confirms its role as a global leader in sustainable textile innovation. By enabling the recycling of mixed-fibre garments into new products, the Group redefines what is possible in circular fashion.

This milestone is not an endpoint but a foundation. As RadiciGroup continues to invest in research, partnerships, and industrialization, it strengthens its position at the forefront of the textile industry’s sustainable transformation. RadiciGroup mixedfibre recycling

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