Cycling Apparel Facing Its Own Contradictions

Cycling is often associated with a sustainable, environmentally friendly lifestyle. Yet behind this positive image, the cycling apparel industry still largely relies on a linear production model: manufacturing from virgin materials, consuming, and ultimately discarding.

High-performance cycling jerseys, complex synthetic fibers, fast-renewing collections—this system creates a significant environmental footprint, especially at end of life, where only a very small percentage of garments are actually recycled.

At VELOR, this contradiction is not ignored. On the contrary, it has become a strategic starting point: how can cycling apparel truly become circular without compromising performance?

Circularity in Cycling Apparel: A Major Technical Challenge

Talking about circularity in sportswear is easy. Implementing it is far more complex.

Cycling garments are:

• made from multiple technical fibers

• exposed to intense mechanical stress

• designed for performance, compression, and long-term durability

For years, these constraints were used as justification for why recycling cycling clothing was considered impossible. VELOR chose to challenge this status quo.

VELOR Has Already Proven That Recycling Old Cycling Jerseys Is Possible

Unlike many brands that limit themselves to promises, VELOR has already demonstrated that recycling end-of-life cycling jerseys is achievable.

The brand led a pioneering project that involved:

• collecting used cycling jerseys

• transforming them into new raw material

• reintegrating that material into the production of new garments

This publicly documented work proves that textile circularity in cycling is not a utopian idea, but an industrial challenge that can be met through innovation and by rethinking existing processes.

VELOR does not merely talk about the circular economy—it is already putting it into practice.

Scaling Up Recycling: A Clear Goal for 2026

Following this first proof of concept, VELOR is now scaling up.

👉 By 2026, the brand plans to recycle the equivalent of 10,000 cycling jerseys.

This significant volume marks the transition:

• from an experimental initiative

• to a structured, industrial-scale approach

Reaching this goal requires:

• dedicated logistics systems

• specialized industrial partners

• greater control over the quality of recycled materials

Circularity thus becomes an operational pillar, not just a marketing message.

2028: Using Only Old Cycling Jerseys as Raw Material

VELOR’s ambition goes even further.

👉 Starting in 2028, the brand aims to use exclusively old cycling jerseys as its primary raw material.

This means:

• drastically reducing the use of virgin materials

• creating a true closed-loop system in cycling apparel

• turning today’s textile waste into tomorrow’s resources

Very few cycling brands currently present such a clear, structured, and committed vision for circularity.

Challenging the Status Quo of Cycling Apparel

While much of the industry continues to prioritize:

• an increasing number of collections

• speed to market

• dependence on virgin materials

VELOR makes a fundamentally different choice:

• producing less, but better

• investing in complex, long-term solutions

• embracing a slower but more coherent pace

Challenging the status quo means accepting that true circularity requires time, resources, and transparency.

Circularity as the New Standard for Responsible Cycling

VELOR does not claim to have a perfect solution. However, the brand clearly demonstrates—backed by tangible proof—that a different model is possible for cycling apparel.

A model where:

• technical performance remains a priority

• environmental impact is measured and reduced

• circularity becomes a concrete, time-bound objective

More than a commitment, circularity at VELOR is an industrial and strategic direction, designed for the long term.