Fabric Trends For 2023/24 SS

 

 

 

 

@wgsn

Now is the time to start replacing standard nylon with lower-impact innovations, which have a negative environmental impact, despite the fact that nylon represents a much smaller proportion of the synthetics market than polyamide.

 

 

Global polyamide production in 2020 represents 5% of the total fiber market, at 5.4 million tons. Among other things, Maia Research's Recycled Polyamide Fiber Market 2021 report states that only 1.9% of polyamide is currently recycled. 

 

 

Nylon is still widely used in sportswear, swimming, outdoor clothing, and a more comprehensive range of garments, because of its cost, lightness, strength, and durability, as well as its ease of care, wrinkle-free, quick-drying, and moisture absorption.

 

 

The use of recycled nylon as a fabric has established itself in the branded market and now recycled, bio-based and biodegradable fibers are gradually emerging.

 

 

Meanwhile, the use of third-party green certifications will become more important as environmental legislation tightens and consumers become standard-aware. 

 

 

 

Recycled and regenerated nylon

 

Recycled nylon fiber has a significantly lower carbon footprint when processed when 
compared to virgin fiber. 

 

 

 

It can be repeatedly recycled, conserves oil, and uses less water and more energy to make than virgin fiber. It can be made of pre-consumer factory scraps, carpet, post-consumer textiles, fishing nets, buoys, and ocean plastic, which lessens land and water pollution. 

 

 

Consideration: recycled yarn is more costly than standard nylon due to extra depolymerizing and polymerizing steps, and needs to follow a separate production route to avoid mixing virgin and recycled fibers. 

 

 

 

 

Bio-based alternatives are emerging in the market to offset the use of oil-based 
standard nylons. 

 

 

Bio-based polyamide yarns make up a tiny part of the polyamide market, estimated at 0.4%, according to Maia Research. 

 

 

 

 

Using castor beans, corn, cassava, wheat, or sugar feedstock instead, the oil creates a yarn with a lower CO2 footprint. 

 

 

Considerations: ensure the bio-made yarn is the greener option. Some industrial 
agricultural feedstock, such as corn, can have a higher C02 rating and use land that 
could be used for food production. 

 

 

 

 

Nylons with enhanced biodegradation can have a much shorter lifespan, which reduces landfill pollution associated with supply chain waste. 

 

 

 

 

This enables faster decomposition of garments in anaerobic landfills, from hundreds of years to just a few. 

 

 

Considerations: they will only decompose when disposed of correctly. 

 

 

 

 

 

Prada is replacing some of its iconic nylon accessories and apparel with ECONYL Re-Nylon, as part of its goal is to convert all Prada virgin nylon into regenerated nylon.

 

 

BOLD Swim uses Amni Soul Eco yarn and the brand produces small curated collections three times a year, using leftovers from prior collections for future capsules and limited pieces.

 

 

We follow this information to conclude that we can, as greener synthetic fibers continue to iterate in the market, and invest in relevant standards and certifications to instill confidence.