There's no way around it: single-use plastic bottles will be on the planet for eternity. We can let them clog up landfills and oceans, or recycle them into something we'll actually use for a lifetime. (R)evolution™ Bags are made entirely from plastic bottles that have been collected, melted, turned into pellets, spun into yarn, and built into everything from backpacks to weekenders.
Let’s begin with regular polyester, one of the apparel and accessories industry's favorite materials. Polyester is popular because it resists stretch and wrinkles, provides flexibility and comfort, doesn’t shrink, and is easy to wash and wear. It’s easily blended with cotton and wool and can pack serious durability and weather resistance. However, these qualities come with a significant cost. Polyester is not biodegradable. It’s made from crude oil, which tops the charts as the most polluting industry in the world. Similarly, polyester dyes are far from environmentally friendly—in fact, they’re toxic to humans. Lastly, the process of creating polyester is energy-intensive and requires large quantities of water.
Like traditional polyester, recycled polyester is a man-made fabric produced from synthetic fibers. However, instead of utilizing new materials to craft the fabric, recycled polyester makes use of existing plastic. In many cases, those existing plastics are your old water bottles, which are then processed and transformed into products that carry the same characteristics of virgin polyester. Basically, recycled poly gives you the same end use but skips the polluting, energy and water-intensive process of starting from scratch. We are such big fans of recycled poly that we designed an entire bag line around it.
Recycled polyester is made by breaking down used plastic into small, thin chips, which are processed and eventually spun into yarn. A company named Repreve™, located in North Carolina, manufactures the recycled polyester that makes up our R(evolution) bags. Creating this ultra-durable fiber begins with truckloads of plastic bottles — but just the clear ones, which provide a neutral base for applying dyes. Let’s take a deeper look into what happens next.
A line of recycled polyester bags in colorful patterns, from day-trip size to vacation size. Our (R)evolution™ bags are water- and stain-resistant, sustainably made, and packed with thoughtful details to make your life easier.
With nearly 654,740 tons of clothing being sent to the landfill every year, it’s clear that recycling textiles is becoming increasingly necessary. And our recycling technology is getting better and better.
By making use of plastic waste instead of using virgin materials, recycled polyester dramatically lowers its environmental impact versus traditional polyester. Some benefits of recycled polyester:
Inspired by the four-legged friends we bring to work (like Billie, Gemma, and Mizzy), the (R)evolution™ pets collection is a set of durable, colorful pet accessories constructed in our signature 100% recycled polyester fabric.
