Turning old into new: material and product designer Sarmite Polakova along with designer Mara Maizele have created a completely new textile concept with their biotextile Pre-Loved. Pre-Loved consists of used textile waste and natural binders. With this product, the designers want to question the traditional concept of fabrics and shift the perspective to recycled mixed fibres. Shoddy is the name for the material made from unsaleable and no longer wearable garments. Cotton, polyester and wool: Shoddy consists of a variety of fibers that are combined into a single mass in the recycling process.

Another special feature is Shoddy’s excellent insulating properties. The biotextile can be used for a wide variety of purposes: in a warming winter coat, in a cosy couch or in a well-insulated house wall. Through colour separation, controlled patterning and even natural dyeing, the fabric also stands out with a unique look. What’s more, the short fibers, which are otherwise unsuitable for spinning yarns, are combined with bioplastics that strengthen the fibers from the inside out and give the material a smooth, leather-like surface. With Shoddy, a whole new kind of man-made fiber is created – Pre-Loved celebrates this new textile identity, bringing a new aesthetic and highlighting the former life of each worn garment through nuances of colour and texture.

“When textile waste meets bio-plastics and together they form a new leather-like material for future fashion applications.”

Sarmite Polakova