Prada Re-Nylon is a new initiative from the Italian house that sees the launch of a line of recycled nylon bags, and the announcement that the brand aims to phase out virgin nylon in its products by 2021
Prada’s use of nylon dates back to the 1930s, when its founder Mario Prada developed parachute nylon as a covering for trunks and luggage. Miuccia Prada, Mario’s granddaughter, took the helm of the house in 1978 and began using nylon in her ready-to-wear accessories – totes, backpacks and the like – soon after; today, the Italian house uses 700,000 metres of the material every year. This week Prada announces Re-Nylon, a project which launches a line of bags made from ECONYL, a type of recycled nylon made from ocean plastics, discarded fishing nets and textile waste, and aims to ensure that Prada will use only regenerated nylon by 2021.
Prada Re-Nylon’s first collection comprises six unisex styles – the belt bag, the shoulder bag, a tote bag, a duffle and two Prada backpacks – produced in partnership with Italian textile producer Aquafil, which makes ECONYL using plastic collected from oceans and landfill sites. What’s more, Prada has also partnered with UNESCO to ensure that a portion of the Prada Re-Nylon collection’s sales will go to a newly developed global programme dedicated to educating people on environmental sustainability.
“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,” Lorenzo Bertelli, head of marketing and communication at the Prada Group said in a statement from the house. “We want to do things not just for marketing reasons, but seriously, in big numbers,” he explained to BoF.
As the fashion industry makes moves towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices – brands like Stella McCartney, adidas and Arket have also started using ECONYL – the idea of buying less and buying better is becoming a central consideration for a consumer, and Prada’s Re-Nylon bags certainly fit the bill.