American Apparel has proudly partnered with numerous textile recycling companies that turn our excess cotton fibers and clippings into high-quality, cotton-blend yarn.
At our factory, we recycle 100,000 lbs. of fabric each week—making us nearly landfill-free as of 2012. We then purchase the yarn back from these companies and use it to knit beanies, sweaters and other garments.
This closed-circle recycling reduces landfill usage, cuts down on water waste by using fabric that is already dyed, conserves land by not having to grow new cotton, simplifies the manufacturing process—reducing energy and resource usage, and of course, makes it easy to know exactly where our materials are coming from.