The recycled clothing market in five EU countries has enjoyed fast growth over the past three years.

These are the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, and Spain.

However, recycled clothing remains a niche product. Ultimately, recycled clothing only accounts for 1.5 per cent of clothing launched in the five EU markets. EU retailers adopt distinct merchandising strategies for clothing made from recycled textile materials. For example, clothing made from recycled materials concentrates on specific product categories, including outwear, swimwear, and bottoms, but is less likely to be available for categories including tops and dresses.

Affected by recycling technologies and raw material supply, recycled clothing sold in the five EU countries mainly uses recycled polyester or a combination of two or more recycled fibers. In comparison, it is still rare to see clothing made from 100 per cent recycled cotton, given the technical difficulty of making recycled cotton strong and durable enough.The unbalanced supply of recycled textile raw materials by fiber types also contributes to the phenomenon that recycled clothing concentrates on specific categories.

Recycled clothing looks bland. As much as 80 per cent of recycled clothing available in the five EU countries adopts the plain pattern and does not contain any graphics, spots, florals, or other designs.