Jun 25, 2019

Prada launches the sustainable Re-Nylon collection

Reflecting changing times and a shifting world, Prada launches a new project, Re-Nylon, a sustainable line of iconic Prada bag silhouettes executed in a new regenerated nylon, ECONYL.

The product of a partnership between Prada and the textile yarn producer Aquafil, ECONYL nylon is obtained through the recycling and purification process of plastic waste collected from oceans, fishing nets, and textile fibre waste. ECONYL yarn, through a process of depolymerization and re-polymerisation, can be recycled indefinitely, with no loss of quality.

Re-Nylon is a move towards total sustainability – an ultimate goal of converting all Prada virgin nylon into regenerated nylon ECONYL by the end of 2021. It reflects the focus of the Prada Group on promoting a corporate culture that aspires to increasingly sustainable balances, incorporating into its daily work the idea of a return of value to society.

The Collection

The Prada Re-Nylon collection launches with six classic styles, both for men and women: the belt bag, the shoulder bag, a tote bag, a duffle and two Prada backpacks. The entire range is produced from environmentally-friendly materials, bearing a unique interpretation of the Prada triangular logo that emphasizes a bucking of the traditional, age-old linear supply chain into a cyclical one, focused on renewal.

A percentage of proceeds from the sale of the Prada Re-Nylon capsule will be donated to a project related to environmental sustainability. Prada in partnership with UNESCO is developing educational activities that involve students from several countries to implement dedicated lesson plans using plastic and circular economy topics to inspire learners. The approach of the educational program is built around learning and take action – and one of the outcomes will be an awareness raising campaign designed by the students.

“I’m very excited to announce the launch of the Prada Re-Nylon collection. Our ultimate goal will be to convert all Prada virgin nylon into Re-Nylon by the end of 2021,” said Lorenzo Bertelli, head of marketing and communication for Prada Group. “This project highlights our continued efforts towards promoting a responsible business. This collection will allow us to make our contribution and create products without using new resources.”

Committed to protecting the environment, in recent years, the Prada Group has invested in projects aimed at saving energy and promoting examples of good practice within the luxury sector: the Prada Re-Nylon initiative is the latest commitment to action of its sustainability focus.

What is ECONYL?

ECONYL is a regenerated-nylon yarn that can be recycled an indefinite number of times without affecting the quality of the material. ECONYL yarn is made of recycling discarded plastic that has been collected from landfill sites and oceans across the whole planet.

For every 10,000 tons of ECONYL created, 70,000 barrels of petroleum are saved. This reduces environmental emissions of CO2 by 57,100 tons. By choosing to use ECONYL, the impact of petroleum-fueled nylon-production on global warming will be reduced by 80 percent, according to Prada.