Eco-Vest: Recycled jeans waistband’s vest
Student Name : NOELIA LOPEZ
Mentor Name : KARME MARTINEZ
Company : TEXFOR
Green Producer Diary
My Motivation
After visiting the Formació i Treball collecting and sorter centre, I saw the sheer volume of clothes they try to salvage, as well as the huge amount of items that simply can’t be reused. I was surprised to see that they were cutting up the jeans to remove the parts with metal fittings so they could recycle the rest. And to be honest, there were loads of waistbands to throw away. That got us thinking about making a base fabric by joining the waistbands together so we could make use of them.
My Vetrine Journey
The product development journey evolved from an initial idea inspired by textile waste observation to a refined, functional upcycled garment. The process began with identifying an opportunity to reuse denim waistbands, followed by material research and experimentation with different constructions and stitching techniques.
One of the main challenges was managing the weight and thickness of the fabric, which led to a redesign from a jacket to a lighter vest. Technical limitations, especially related to sewing machinery and handling bulky seams, required continuous adaptation in assembly methods. Prototyping revealed further issues such as poorly cut materials and difficult finishing, which were solved through pattern adjustments and alternative stitching approaches. Sustainability remained central throughout, guiding material choices and design simplifications. In the final stages, the project achieved a balance between aesthetics, comfort, and circularity. Overall, challenges were overcome through iterative testing, flexibility in design decisions, and hands-on problem-solving.
Sustainability Aspect | Your Actions / Explanation |
|---|---|
Environmental | Used wasitbands prepared for waste and upcycled them into a new piece of clothes. |
Social | Worked with local suppliers |
Financial | Low production cost |
A Message to Consumers
Our item is made with care and from recycled materials, in this case denim. I wanted to give a second life to clothes that were no longer being used, to reduce pollution. Behind our vest there is teamwork, creativity and a desire to help the environment.
A Message to Future Learners
Start slowly by reusing clothes you already have or buying second-hand. There’s no need to get it perfect from the outset – trial and error is a lot of fun too. The most important thing is to give it a go and be mindful of what we consume. It’s also a good idea to get creative and transform old clothes into something new.
Product Details
Product Name
Eco-Vest: Recycled jeans waistband’s vest
Reference / SKU
VETRINE-ECOV-BL-M-001
Color
Blue Denim: diverse types depending on the recycled clothes
Size
Medium (M)
Weight
600g
Quantity (if multi-pack)
One
Materials Information
Composition
Recycled Jeans Waistbands and Jens Leg (100% cotton)
Cotton Yarn (100% cotton)
% Recycled Materials
Traceable assets (materials origin IDs, fibers batches)
N/A
Manufacturing & Supply Chain
1
Location
Sabadell, Spain
2
Date
From the 15h of January to 12th of February
3
Type of processes
Cutting, sewing, manufacturing, finishing
Sabadell, Spain
supply chain map
Tier 4Raw material
Tier 3Material processing
Tier 2Component manufacturing
Tier 1Final assembly
Environmental & Social Impact
95% of materials is recycled
Raw material cost: 0,74€ (yarn)
Working hours: 19.91€ per
Care, Repair & Lifetime Extension
1
Care Instructions
Machine wash cold, tumble dry, ironing
2
Repair Information
Recycle: Roba Amiga/Solidança Conteiner
