It’s the fabric of the moment, championed by everyone from Prada to adidas by Stella McCartney - and The OTHER Bag, of course. So what makes it so special?

What is Econyl®?

It’s a yarn. Made from rescued waste like fishing nets, fabric scraps, carpet flooring and industrial plastic from landfill and oceans all over the world. Once recovered the nets and other waste are sent on to be washed, sorted and shredded into pieces small enough to be transformed via a chemical recycling process.  Via huge chemical reactors the waste is broken down  to a base unit called a polymer, then reassembled into Econyl® regenerated nylon. The amazing thing about that process is that it can be repeated infinitely - with no loss of quality in the yarn.

What happens to the yarn?

It’s then woven to look and feel like a traditional nylon fabric. When Econyl® launched in 2011 it was most often used for swimwear. Now, Prada, through their Re-Nylon initiative are using it for their iconic bags, and the new adidas by Stella McCartney collection is made from ocean plastics and Econyl® regenerated nylon. Burberry have used it for trench coats and Gucci for outerwear. And, then there’s us at The OTHER Bag - proudly using Econyl® for our tote and crossbody collections.

How does this benefit the environment?

Ghost fishing nets - potential lethal traps for marine life -  are being rescued from the ocean. And, waste is diverted from landfill. That waste is then repurposed, which is what we’re aiming for from a circular economy. But it’s more than that. For every 10,000 tonnes of  ECONYL® raw material, 70,000 barrels of crude oil are saved and 57,100 tonnes are C02 equivalent emissions are avoided. And when it comes to climate change? It reduces the global warming impact of nylon by up to 80% compared with nylon material made from oil. As one of the world’s major polluting industries this makes Econyl an attractive alternative to fashion as it tries to navigate its cleaner, more conscious future.

Who is behind Econyl®?

Aquafil, a business which began in Italy in 1965. With help from Healthy Seas, an initiative of non governmental organisations and businesses whose mission is to clean the seas of marine litter including fishing nets that are often responsible for the needless death of marine animals. 

At The OTHER Bag we support Healthy Seas, by donating 1% of each recycled foldable tote bag and recycled pouch to fund their work.

What else is it used for?

Carpets, for interiors and the automotive industry. Many a red-carpet event proudly features an Econyl® regenerated carpet.

Why use it for The OTHER Bag range?

We’re passionate about the process. We believe in circular design, avoiding needlessly using new resources, and the ability to recycle what we produce. And to have a positive impact on the environment. Yes, it’s a more expensive - because the regeneration of the waste into yarn is costly - but for us, it’s worth it.  As Bondi Beach, Australia, locals we’re fortunate enough to live with the beach and ocean on our doorstep. And, we’d love to preserve what we have and undo some of the damage done for future generations. Our goal is to continue to work with innovative fabrics derived from recycled waste so your purchase will continue to have a positive impact.

For more information about Econyl® visit: https://www.econyl.com

To shop The OTHER Bag range visit: www.theother-bag.com