If you have been following sustainable fashion recently, chances are you have already heard of ECONYL – the innovation held up as fashion’s answer to Ocean Waste Plastic.
With over 1.9 million views on TikTok, and juggernaut designers like Prada and Gucci creating entire collections around #econyl, the fabric has made waves (literally) since Italian company, Aquafil, realised they can turn fishing nets back into yarn.
What is ECONYL?
Essentially, it’s recycled nylon, unable to be distinguished from virgin nylon through look or feel.
Impressive, considering that ECONYL is made entirely from recovered industrial plastic, fabric waste, and, most notably, fishing nets that have been abandoned at sea.
While there have been debates around ECONYL releasing microplastics in the wash, same as regular nylon, the fabric is generally accepted as the better option for cleaning up waterways and repurposing trash.
Following its popularity, ECONYL-based online stores for athleisure and swimwear have been popping up like daisies on Instagram and TikTok.
While local and small-batch brands are also a plus for sustainability, it can be difficult to tell who’s the real deal.
Canberra local Clarissa Zaffina spent a full year tracing supply chains before she decided to take the plunge and start 1Body, an ECONYL-based active line that also donates to ocean waste clean-up.
“I have always looked around and thought, is there more that we can do? During my day job, I see a lot of big decisions being made that I have no control over.
“We all want change to happen and it’s so frustrating when you can’t do anything about it.”
Clarissa knew 1Body had to walk the walk.
“I really wanted to focus on producing a line that wasn’t fast fashion. Right now, it’s been six months with the same pieces.
“It’s hard, but anything worth doing is worth doing right.”
Through her own savings, and testing samples on her family and friends, Clarissa built her brainchild from the ground up, incorporating little details along the way.
After chatting with local seamstresses, she added the option for customers to have their gear monogrammed as a personal touch.
Now, while pregnant with her first child, Clarissa hopes to find more like-minded Canberrans to join the team.
She hopes for 1Body to become an activewear line for all bodies, of all sizes and genders, as well as people with disabilities, coming full circle to realise its name.
“We all have different bodies, and they all look different, but we all have something in common – we only get one body for life, and we need to look after it.”
See the range at 1bodyactivewear.com
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