Recycled Nylon 2026: Chemical Recycling Deal Signals Scalable Supply for Swimwear Brands

A new recycled nylon supply deal could change how swimwear and lingerie brands source eco fabrics in 2027. Chemical recycler NylaNova has partnered with nylon producer Nylene, which will buy caprolactam recovered from post-consumer nylon waste. The process handles mixed apparel scrap without pre-sorting, recovering over 90 percent of material; a third-party assessment found 95 percent lower emissions than virgin production.

For brand buyers and cross-border sellers, the takeaway: recycled nylon is moving from pilot to commercial feedstock, at pricing the company says can compete with virgin material. Expect wider recycled-fabric options in 2027 collections.

Xihong Apparel already produces swimwear and lingerie with recycled nylons and eco-friendly fabrics, so brands can adopt the material without changing suppliers