The fashion industry faces increasing scrutiny for its environmental impact, especially with the rise of fast fashion. Thankfully, clothing recycling companies are stepping up to address this issue by providing consumers with eco-friendly options to dispose of unwanted garments.
At first glance, some of you might think: “Why would I buy recycled items? I don’t want worn clothes.” Think of it this way: You’ll save a lot of money on quality garments, and you’ll save the planet from the environmental impact of textile waste.
It’s two birds with one stone. Who wouldn’t want that? Now that you’re interested, here comes the million-dollar question: Where can you find clothing recycling companies?
This post is to help you dress responsibly. We’ll cover the top nine clothing recycling companies in the country. Let’s get to it!

How Do Companies Recycle Clothes
Ethical companies that recycle clothes use various methods to recycle garments, so they can be repurposed or reused effectively. Here are some of the common techniques:
Sorting and Grading
The first step in the recycling process is sorting and grading the collected clothes. Items are classified based on their condition, material, and type. High-quality garments might be resold or donated, while lower-quality textiles are directed towards recycling.
Mechanical Recyling
In mechanical recycling, clothes are shredded into fibers which can then be spun into new yarn. This method is especially useful for cotton and wool garments. The new yarn can be used to make new fabrics, reducing the need for raw materials.
Chemical Recycling
Chemical recycling involves breaking down fabrics into their basic chemical components. This method is often used for synthetic fibers like polyester.
Upcycling
Upcycling transforms old clothes into new products without breaking them down. This can include creative projects like turning old jeans into bags or using fabric scraps to make quilts.
Top 9 Clothing Recycling Companies
Supporting clothing recycling companies is a powerful way to reduce waste and promote sustainability in the fashion industry. Here are some of the leading companies that are making a significant impact by offering innovative solutions for recycling and repurposing old garments:
American Textile Recycling
American Textile Recycling is all about two things: Transforming textiles and empowering communities. These are fancy words that anyone can put on their websites. What do they actually do to commit to that slogan?
Excellent question. Ultimately, the company makes donating old clothes as easy and accessible as it gets. How? Donation bins.
Yes, the name is confusing. You’ve heard of garbage bins before, but what are donation bins?
As the name suggests, these are bins in which you can donate your old clothes. The company then takes/sorts these items and resells them, ensuring a small carbon footprint.
Don’t worry. American Textile has placed numerous bins in strategic locations across the country. You can find them everywhere, whether in convenience stores, malls, or drug stores.
That makes it easier for people to participate in reducing textile waste and supporting textile recycling efforts. The best part? It’s not just about clothes. You can also donate toys or common house items.
Patagonia

The moment you open Patagonia’s website, you’ll understand that it’s one of the most environmentally responsible companies on this list.
You don’t believe us? Maybe becoming a certified B-corporation in 2012 will convince you. Forget about certificates. What influence does the company have in the recycling world?
Three words: Worn Wear Program. Patagonia’s Worn Wear program is a prime example of how clothing recycling companies can extend the life of their garments. This program not only promotes textile recycling but also encourages people to consider the longevity of their clothing.
How does it work? Simple! You buy new Patagonia items, wear them, and take care of them. Then, when you no longer need them, go to a nearby Patagonia store to trade them in.
The store will fix the issue then resell the items at a discounted price. As you can tell, this program aims to reduce the environmental impact of textile production and make quality clothing affordable.
Don’t worry. You’ll get more from this than moral satisfaction. Patagonia will give you credit to buy new items from its stores. So, it’s a win-win situation.
Are you curious about Patagonia’s sustainability efforts? Discover just how ethical Patagonia is here.
Wolven

Few clothing brands take their job of saving the Earth as seriously as Wolven. That’s because the company realizes the fight for the planet is a long one, and it aims to use all its resources to get the best results.
Wolven offers the best vegan fabric on the market. The company sources discarded plastic, breaks it down, and recycles it into breathable, durable textiles. If that doesn’t reduce textile waste, we don’t know what will.
Forget about the materials for a second. The good people of Wolven understand they can’t make real change on their own. So, they partnered with Climate-Neutral to measure the company’s greenhouse gas emissions and buy carbon credits to reduce their footprint.
Yes, that has nothing to do with clothing, but it shows how dedicated the company is to proper recycling. Ultimately, buying from Wolven supports its environmental initiatives and promotes endorsing recycled textiles.
Plus, the company offers some of the most fashionable items on the market. So, even if you’re not interested in supporting its clothing recycling program, you can still find a stunning lineup on the website.
Circ

What do you get when you combine science, fashion, and love for the planet? Circ. The company prides itself on using top-of-the-line technology to produce high-quality recycled textile fibers.
In fact, it even claims the recycled fiber it offers is as good as new. Yes, it’s a bold statement, but it shows you how confident the workers are in their technology.
Who can blame them? Have you looked at their regenerated polyester or lyocell? They look, feel, and perform like raw materials. We bet most people won’t even feel the difference.
Circ doesn’t just put effort into textile recycling but in distributing it as well. Collaborating with famous clothing brands, this company ensures more people understand the benefits of sustainability and support clothing recycling programs.
What famous brands are we talking about? Have you ever heard of Zara? Circ partnered with the Spanish brand to launch a line made with polycotton textile waste.
So, if you’re a Zara fanatic but want to dress responsibly, you know what to get.
Parade

Who would’ve thought an underwear brand would care about using recycled materials? Yes, Parade goes above and beyond to minimize its environmental impact and build a sustainable future. How?
Well, the company actually cares about using the best renewable materials for their clothing items. Sure, other companies might use super high-tech platinum-induced fabric, but do you actually know what that means?
It could be another fancy name for regular fabric. That’s not what Parade is about, though. The company values honesty and transparency.
That’s why it lists all the sustainable materials it uses on its website. These include Silky Mesh, Luxe Satin, Cozy Waffle, and more.
You’re probably wondering: “Why would I trust this brand? Any company can say it uses eco-friendly materials.” That’s fair, but are other companies WRAP-, SEDEX-, or BSCI-certified?
We didn’t think so. If you don’t know, these certificates prove that Parade conforms to ethical and sustainable manufacturing standards.
So, the next time you search for eco-friendly underwear, you know Parade has got you covered.
Evrnu

Evrnu isn’t your regular textile recycling company. Among ethical companies that recycle clothes, it’s an innovative entity that aims to revolutionize circular fashion.
Have you ever heard of Nucycl fiber? It’s what sets Evrnu apart from its competitors. Think of it as KFC’s secret recipe. It’s an exclusive component of Evrnu’s clothing lineup.
Derived from cotton textile waste, Nucycl combines unique aesthetics and full recyclability. Yes, you can return it to the store when it gets old, and the staff will turn it into a whole new garment.
What type of magic is this? It’s not magic. It’s just science. Here’s what Evnru’s staff does:
- Collect your garment and shred its textile.
- Purify the textile, turning it into liquid.
- Extrude the liquid to reshape it into fiber.
- Rework the fiber, weaving it into the fabric.
- Turn the fabric into garments that are as good as new.
Once you receive your new garment, you wear it down, return it to the store after a while, and the cycle starts over. So, Evrnu is pretty much a perfect company, right? Not really.
Despite all the effort it puts into manufacturing recycled clothes, Evrnu has a serious problem that puts it at a disadvantage. It only sells one type of garment: Hoodies.
If you’re looking for any other type of clothes, you might want to look somewhere else.
For Days

Despite being an influential fashion company, the people of For Days realize that fashion is one of the most pollutive industries out there. So, what are they doing about it?
You might have heard of the company’s Take Back Bag initiative. Cool name, right? That initiative encourages people to buy Take Back Bags and fill them with all of their unwanted clothing, accessories, linings, shoes, or old undies.
Whatever it is you want to throw away, For Days can take it. Even scraps? Even scraps! Yes, you can buy special Fabric Scrap Take Back Bags, fill them with cotton fabric scraps, and send them to the company.
Where do these unwanted items go? It depends. The staff takes items in good condition and reuses them. However, if your clothes don’t meet the company’s quality standards, they’ll go through the fiber recycling process to prolong their lifespan.
Refiberd

The name says it all. Refiberd’s ultimate goal is to enrich the circular economy by endorsing textile-to-textile recycling. You see, the company claims that the pollution the fashion industry is causing isn’t a recycling issue. It’s a waste-sorting issue.
That’s why everyone at Refibered has put in the effort to build an advanced sorting system that can turn most of that textile waste into recyclable materials.
How does it work? With a combination of hyperspectral imaging and artificial intelligence, the system can detect all the fiber in textile waste. So, you don’t need to worry about good fiber rotting in a landfill.
You’re probably thinking: “What if that technology isn’t able to detect harmful materials? I don’t want to wear toxic garments.”
Don’t worry. This monstrosity of a device can detect all toxic materials, like nylon, acrylic, and spandex, even if their trace is less than 2%.
Hybridworks

Hybridworks believes that every piece of old cotton and used textile deserves a second chance, a new life where it can bring other users joy.
That’s why the workers have spent years developing the perfect process for textile recycling, reducing the demand for virgin materials. What does this process include?
Well, the staff of Hybridworks focuses on recovering the terephthalic acid from blended textiles, which preserves its internal structure. That means they’ll last longer, giving manufacturers the chance to recycle and pass them to new owners.
So far, the company doesn’t seem to offer anything new. Why would you choose Hybridworks’s recycled clothing over the other recycling companies?
First, each step in Hybridworks’s clothing recycling program meets the highest environmental standards. So, you know the company doesn’t produce any waste.
Second, Hybridworks can customize its recycling program to meet different manufacturers’ needs. Ultimately, it offers more options than other companies on this list.
Final Thoughts
There you go! You’ve become a recycling expert, capable of identifying the top ten clothing recycling companies in the country.
Choosing to wear recycled clothes is a responsible decision, but you might have difficulty finding something you like. However, these companies can offer you everything you need.
So, take your time to find something that fits, and let’s give the planet a chance to heal. By supporting clothing recycling companies, we can all contribute to a more sustainable future for fashion and the environment.
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