Swedish workwear manufacturer Fristads has introduced its first circular garment: the Close the Loop Sweater, created from both recycled polyester and cotton, with 15% of the fibres sourced from collected and recycled Fristads garments. As the first certified closed-loop product in the company’s portfolio, this development marks a significant advancement in textile recycling and sustainable workwear production.

A Certified Closed-Loop Recycling System

Unlike traditional open-loop recycling systems, where textile waste is downcycled into materials for different applications (such as insulation or construction boards), Fristads’ process recycles fibres from worn workwear directly into new clothing. This closed-loop approach ensures materials retain their original quality and purpose, a vital aspect of sustainable design.

The certified recycling process consists of five key stages. First, used Fristads garments are collected from customers and delivered to a specialised recycling facility. Here, the garments are shredded and broken down into fibres. These fibres are then blended with virgin or other recycled fibres to form new yarns, with a 15% closed-loop content. The yarn is woven or knitted into new fabrics, which are subsequently used to produce new garments, including the Close the Loop Sweater.

Quantifying the Environmental Impact

The circular workwear sweater is supported by an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), providing transparency about its environmental benefits. The EPD highlights reductions in environmental impact compared to conventionally manufactured sweaters, factoring in the use of closed-loop materials, more sustainable packaging, optimised transport, and lower water usage. This makes the sweater not just a circular innovation, but a measurable improvement in sustainable garment production.

Tackling Textile Waste in the EU

Textile waste remains a pressing environmental issue. On average, each EU citizen discards 12 kilograms of clothing and footwear annually, amounting to an estimated 5.2 million tonnes of waste per year. Only 22% of this is collected for reuse or recycling; the rest is typically incinerated or landfilled.

Fristads’ initiative addresses this issue by creating a scalable model for textile-to-textile recycling, aiming to reduce reliance on virgin materials while minimising the environmental impact of clothing across its lifecycle. By transforming worn garments into new ones, the company demonstrates a practical application of circular economy principles in the apparel sector.

Inspiration for Sustainable Material Design

The Close the Loop Sweater provides valuable insights for fashion designers, textile and product designers, and others exploring sustainable innovation. As more industries move toward circular practices, this example shows how technical workwear — traditionally reliant on resource-intensive processes — can be redesigned using post-consumer fibres without compromising quality or performance.

For designers working with functional garments, uniforms, or large-scale textile applications, Fristads’ approach offers a concrete blueprint for integrating circular systems into material development. The initiative aligns with growing demand for biobased, recycled, and circular materials across all sectors of design.

Source & Photos: Fristads