What is polyamide?
Polyamide comes from petrochemicals, and there are several types: 6, 6-6, 6-10, 11, 12, aramids... It is valued for its strength and used in many industries.
In textiles, the most common polyamide is polyamide 6-6, also known as nylon. It is used to make tights, lingerie, sportswear, windbreakers...
Polyamide cannot be considered a material for responsible fashion. Its production process is energy-intensive, polluting and uses a lot of water. When polyamide clothes are washed, plastic microparticles come off and end up in our oceans.
Since the polyamide we talk about most often is actually nylon, we tell you all about nylon here.
Ethical fashion brands often offer a more responsible alternative to polyamide: recycled polyamide, or recycled nylon. Recycled clothes for women and recycled clothes for men save the emissions from making a virgin material, and also help clean up waste, such as fishing nets damaged at sea. We tell you all about recycled nylon here.
