To fight climate change, we need to change fashion. One way of doing this is circular solutions. If we use, for example, a recycled cotton shirt to make a new shirt there’s no need to grow more cotton. We can just use what’s already been produced. That’s circular fashion. And that’s what Looop is all about. Looop is the world’s first in-store recycling system turning old garments into new ones. In just eight steps, Looop shreds your old garment and knits a new one from the old fibres. No water, no dye. The only thing added is some sustainably sourced material to strengthen the yarn. This has to be done since the mechanical shredding shortens the fibres of your old garment. And of course, we want your new garment to be loved and reloved for as long as possible.
The technology behind Looop has been developed by The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) in collaboration with the non-profit H&M Foundation. As of now, Looop is the only in-store recycling machine, but HKRITA will license the technology widely to help the entire industry become more circular. This is important, because to create real change, all brands need access to technologies like Looop.
The launch of Looop isn’t just a glimpse of fashion’s future. It’s a reminder to treat all clothes as a resource. Nothing’s too tattered or torn to be recycled — and no clothes should ever end up in the trash. Recycling is also super-important for circular fashion to work. Unless people bring their old garments back into the system, there’d be no clothes to make new ones out of. At H&M, we’ve had a global garment collecting programme since 2013. You can recycle any clothes or textiles from any brand in any of our stores. With Looop, we’re taking the next step. It’s the start of a recycling revolution, and we hope you’ll join us. Looop is installed at Drottninggatan 56 in Stockholm, Sweden. Can’t come to the store? Just head to @looop on Twitter to learn more about the recycling revolution.
A run-through of the eight steps turning old garments into new:
1. Cleaning
First, your old garment is sprayed with ozone to remove any microorganisms.
2. Shredding
The garment is then shredded down into small chunks of fabric fibres.
3. Filtering
Shredded chunks are filtered to remove dirt, and extra virgin material is added for strength.
4. Carding
The clean fibre mix is straightened into a fibre web and then pulled into slivers.
5. Drawing
Multiple fibre slivers are combined to create even stronger, thicker slivers.
6. Spinning
The thick fibre slivers are spun to create a single yarn thread.
7. Twisting
Single yarn threads are doubled and twisted together to increase their strength.
8. Knitting
The yarn is then knitted into a new, ready-to-wear design.
Comments