The hidden impact of sustainable fashion trims in circular design
When we talk about sustainable fashion, the focus is usually on the big things: organic cotton, recycled fibres, plant-based leathers. However, the small things often slip under the radar.
Buttons, zips, threads, and labels might seem insignificant, but they can make or break a garment’s recyclability, compostability or reusability.
If your brand is serious about circular fashion, then trims need to be part of the conversation from the very beginning.
Small details, big consequences
You can design the most sustainable garment in the world, but if it’s held together with synthetic thread, tagged with a plastic label and finished with a polyester zip, it’s not circular.
Why? Most recycling systems require garments to be made from a single material or easily separated components. Trims made from mixed or incompatible materials can contaminate the recycling stream or make the item too complex or expensive to process.
Even biodegradability is affected. A T-shirt made from 100% organic cotton won’t break down naturally if it has a polyester care label, nylon stitching or a plastic button. Those small bits stay behind, becoming microplastics or landfill waste. The devil is in the details!
The trouble with traditional trims
Let’s break down a few of the common culprits:
Buttons
Traditional plastic buttons, especially those made from polyesters or resins, won’t biodegrade and often can’t be recycled. Alternatives like corozo (made from tagua nuts), wood, or metal can be more sustainable, but only if they match the garment’s recyclability pathway.
Zips
Zips are typically made from a mix of materials: plastic teeth, polyester tape, and metal pulls. This multi-material construction makes them notoriously hard to recycle. Detachable or mono-material zips are better options, but they require upfront design thinking.
Labels
Woven polyester labels are standard in fashion, but they compromise a garment’s end-of-life journey. Switching to organic cotton labels or paper-based alternatives helps maintain fibre purity and improve compostability.
Threads and fasteners
Sewing thread is often made from polyester, which again disrupts the biodegradation process. There are now options made from organic cotton or biodegradable PLA, which offer better alignment with circular goals.
Designing for disassembly and end-of-life
A key principle of circular fashion is designing for disassembly. That means making garments that are easy to take apart at the end of their life, allowing for fibres to be reused, trims recycled, or biodegradable elements composted.
This could mean:
- Using snaps or buttons instead of zips
- Avoiding glue or adhesives that prevent separation
- Clearly labelling materials for recyclers
- Making trims easy to remove or separate
Designing with end-of-life in mind means considering not just how a garment is made, but what happens to it after it’s worn out, making durability is another factor. A stronger trim might extend the life of a garment but reduce its recyclability.
It’s a delicate balance between performance and environmental impact, and the earlier in the design process you start thinking about it, the better the outcome will be.
What brands can do differently?
Creating circular garments doesn’t mean compromising on style or function, it just requires more innovative sourcing. Here are a few ways brands can build circular thinking into their trim choices:
- Match materials – use trims made from the same fibre as the main garment to simplify recycling
- Go biodegradable – corozo buttons, cotton threads and natural fibre labels support compostability
- Choose mono-material zips – or avoid them entirely by opting for alternative closures
- Work with the right partners – sourcing trims from suppliers who understand sustainability makes the process smoother
The key is to think about trims not as an afterthought, but as an integral part of the garment’s lifecycle.
How immago can help
At immago, we’ve been helping fashion brands design smarter for over 50 years, and we know from experience that small details make a big difference.
Whether you’re looking to develop trims that support full recyclability, reduce plastic use or align with your brand’s sustainability goals, we can help.
From biodegradable labels to low-impact zips and buttons, we work with global partners to deliver the kind of solutions circular fashion demands.
We can help you choose trims and components that support your sustainability goals, whether that means single-material solutions, biodegradable finishes or labels that inform circular disposal.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your sustainability journey, talk to our team today. We’re here to help you turn those small decisions into big results – for your business, your customers, and the planet.