The textile-to-textile denim collaboration between RE&UP Recycling Technologies, Madewell, and ISKO marks a major advancement in circular fashion. By recycling 20,000 pairs of post-consumer jeans into high-quality fibers, the partnership demonstrates how closed-loop systems can transform textile waste into premium, sustainable denim products.
RE&UP Recycling Technologies is accelerating the shift toward a closed-loop textile economy through a strategic collaboration with American denim brand Madewell and global fabric manufacturer ISKO. By transforming approximately 20,000 pairs of post-consumer jeans into high-quality recycled feedstock for a textile-to-textile recycled denim capsule, RE&UP is demonstrating the commercial readiness of circular systems for the denim sector.
RE&UP, Madewell & ISKO Collaboration
Launched in 2006, Madewell is known for its premium denim and commitment to responsibly sourced materials and sustainable practices. As the first brand to offer year-round denim recycling through Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green™ program, Madewell has operated its denim trade-in initiative for more than a decade, giving worn denim a new life and collecting and recycling over two million pairs of jeans.
This partnership marks a technical evolution: RE&UP’s advanced recycling technology allows these pre-loved garments to be deconstructed and re-engineered into Next-Gen Cotton and Polyester fibers that meet the durability and aesthetic requirements of the premium denim market.
How the Recycling Process Works
The challenge of post-consumer denim lies in its complexity and varied mechanical history. RE&UP’s proprietary process solves this by providing a feedstock-agnostic capacity, capable of handling diverse polycotton blends and turning them into a “raw canvas” for new production. The resulting fibers were provided to ISKO, where they were engineered into Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified fabrics that maintain the stretch, strength, and comfort required by modern consumers.
The collection launches on Wednesday, April 8 and will be available to shop on Madewell.com.
“Closing the loop on post-consumer denim requires industrial precision,” said Marco Lucietti, Head of Global Marketing & Communications of RE&UP. “Our collaboration with Madewell and ISKO demonstrates that we can deconstruct complex, worn garments and re-integrate them into the supply chain as high-quality Next-Gen Cotton and Polyester. This is a blueprint for how brands can utilize their own take-back streams to create a repeatable, closed-loop production cycle.”
FAQ
What is textile-to-textile denim recycling?
Textile-to-textile denim recycling converts old garments into new fibers that can be reused to create fresh denim products.
Which companies are involved in this collaboration?
The project involves RE&UP Recycling Technologies, Madewell, and ISKO.
How many jeans were recycled in this project?
Approximately 20,000 pairs of post-consumer jeans were transformed into new textile fibers.
What makes this denim sustainable?
It uses recycled fibers and supports a closed-loop system, reducing waste and reliance on virgin materials.
What is Next-Gen Cotton?
Next-Gen Cotton refers to recycled cotton fibers engineered to meet durability and quality standards for modern textiles.
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