Recycled and circular get mixed up all the time. They're not the same thing, and for a cycling jersey, the difference changes everything that happens after your last ride in it.
~3 min read · Jump to: Recycled: an open loop · Circular · RELOV in practice · What isn't circular yet · FAQ · Shop
Recycled: an open loop
Most "recycled" cycling jerseys (ours included) are made from plastic bottles or industrial waste. That's real progress: less virgin oil, waste put to use. But follow the path:
- A bottle is collected and turned into yarn.
- The yarn becomes a jersey, which you wear for a few seasons.
- The jersey ends up in the bin. The waste took one detour before disappearing.
Circular: textile becomes textile again
A circular jersey starts from a different idea: it's made from old garments, and it can become a garment again. The textile stays in the loop. It's much harder to do, because an old jersey is a mix of fibres, seams, inks and zips. But it's the only way to stop depending on new resources.
Our take: circularity isn't a campaign. It's a design problem to solve, piece by piece.
RELOV, in practice
RELOV is our first circular jersey. The path: an old jersey is collected, turned back into fibre, then yarn, then a new technical fabric.
- 85% recycled textile. The polyester comes from end-of-life jerseys; the other 15% is elastane, for stretch.
- 69% less CO₂ than a conventional jersey made in China (0.92 kg CO₂e per jersey).
- GRS certified, for traceability of the recycled material.
And on the bike, nothing changes: second-skin fit, breathable quick-dry fabric, three deep rear pockets and a zipped pocket, laser-cut sleeves. The women's jersey has its own pattern: a shorter front panel and a longer back, for a fit that stays put in a riding position.
This jersey was already a jersey.
See RELOVWhat isn't circular yet
We'd rather say it ourselves: today RELOV comes in two colours (Dunes and Forest). The rest of our range is recycled, not circular. Our polyester jerseys can be recycled at end of life, but our bib shorts can't yet: nylon and elastane can't be separated with current techniques. That's the next problem to solve. Everything about our bib shorts here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a circular jersey less performant?
No. We didn't make RELOV to build a more sustainable jersey, but a great cycling jersey made differently. Same fit, same pockets, same standard as the rest of the range.
Can you recycle an old cycling jersey?
A polyester jersey, yes, as long as it reaches a textile recycling stream and not the bin. Bib shorts are harder because of fibre blends.
Why does RELOV cost what it costs?
Because collecting, sorting and reprocessing old jerseys costs more than buying new polyester. The real price of a jersey includes costs that someone else usually pays.
Go Further
Shop RELOV
For men and women, in Dunes and Forest. See the full RELOV collection
