Czech company launches line of clothes made from recycled plastic bottles

Czech companies have been promoting eco-friendly and sustainable options in recent years, with major brands like Pilsner Urquell altering their classic packaging design in an effort to reduce waste and Kofola introducing a line of returnable glass bottles.

Ústí nad Labem-based fashion brand Malfini has continued the trend with a new line of t-shirts and hoodies made from recycled plastic bottles, the company's Marketing Director Martina Weberová told local media this weekend.

Malfini's re-VOLUTION line of t-shirts and hoodies are made from PET bottles that are crushed down and broken into polyester fibers, which are then woven together to create the garments. The company's Chance t-shirts are made entirely of recycled plastic, with about 12 PET bottles used to make one shirt.

The line also includes Shift zip-up microfleece hoodies made from 100% recycled plastic, and Break hoodies with a front pocket made from 80% cotton and 20% recycled plastic.

The products are granted a Global Recycling Standard seal from international quality assurance authority Intertek.

"Production is carefully monitored until the finished product, which is granted international certification," says Weberová.

"This comes at a certain cost, but on the other hand we [are doing it for] the environment and it can be said that the PET bottles go on living in this way."

According to Weberová, the demand for polyester products made from recycled plastic has been growing in Western Europe. The final products are indistinguishable from clothing made through traditional methods, though they come with a slightly higher cost.

The new line of products isn't Malfini's first to make use of sustainable materials. Other products offered by the company use organic cotton, bamboo, and rayon.

Malfini employs about 350 people in the Czech Republic, at its headquarters in Ústí nad Labem and logistics warehouse in Ostrava. The company reported revenue of 1.4 billion crowns in 2019, and 1.8 billion crowns in 2020. This year, it's aiming for 2.5 billion, according to Weberová.

"Endless tons of waste ravage nature, fill up oceans, forests, and mountains," reads Malfini's description of their re-VOLUTION line.

"That's why it's important to pick up every plastic bottle and give it a chance at new life. It can become valuable raw material in the manufacture of clothing. Recycled materials are the future of clothing industry. We only have one planet. If we support recycled products now, we will change the whole future together."

You can view Malfini's line of products made from recycled bottles at the company's official website.