Why We Use It ?
The world already has more cotton than it knows what to do with.
Every year, huge amounts of clothing are thrown away, while new cotton continues to demand land, water, and fresh harvests from the soil.
We looked at both problems and chose the simpler answer:
Use what already exists.
That is why every KOLEANA garment is made with at least 50% recycled cotton.
Organic cotton is about what becomes possible when farming depends less on synthetic chemicals and more on soil health, biodiversity, and long term resilience.
For KOLEANA, organic cotton plays a supporting role: it gives our recycled cotton blend the softness, strength, and lifespan a kept garment needs.
Better Cotton Starts With Better Farming
of water saved per kilogram of recycled cotton fiber, compared to conventional cotton. (Recover LCA, verified by EcoReview, using Textile Exchange water data)
2,100 L
Up To
How We Use It ?
Our recycled cotton is reclaimed from discarded textiles, then sorted, cleaned, broken back down to fiber, and spun into new yarn.
But recycled cotton has a limit.
Because the fibers have already been worn, washed, and lived in, they are shorter than virgin cotton fibers. On their own, they can create fabric that is weaker or more prone to pilling.
So we blend recycled cotton with organic cotton.
The recycled cotton reduces waste. The organic cotton adds softness, strength, and durability.
Together, they create a heavier, longer-wearing fabric with subtle flecks and tonal variation. We do not hide those marks.
They are proof that this cotton was rescued, not newly grown.
Our recycled cotton is GRS certified, verifying the recycled content and tracking it through the supply chain.
What Comes Next
Recycled cotton is still evolving.
Today, we use at least 50% because we will not increase the recycled content at the cost of durability.
As the technology improves, our goal is to use more recycled cotton in every garment while keeping the fabric strong enough to be worn for years.
The best cotton is not always new cotton.
Sometimes, it is the cotton already here.
Learn about the other half of our blend: Organic Cotton
