Orange Fiber: fabrics made from orange peels

Two young Sicilian entrepreneurs have created a model company in the circular economy sector. One that even major brands appreciate.

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biodegradable orange dress vitamins

Fabrics made from orange peels: technology is making progress in the name of non-waste, and fibers obtained from citrus waste are entering the fashion industry with an interesting Made in Italy project, Orange Fiber , an innovative start-up led by two young Sicilians, Adriana Santanocito and Enrica Arena.

Through a particular process, patented in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Milan, the orange peels are recovered and transformed into a yarn that is then woven.

The project is based on the idea of ​​doing something for their homeland, Sicily, and promoting its products and agriculture. Hence the innovative process that recovers orange peels, a byproduct of pressing, and reuses them to produce a special yarn . This sustainable reuse of what is technically called "pastazzo" (a type of pulp).

Pulp is a bulky waste product, difficult to dispose of due to its particularly high costs, and poses a problem for the entire citrus fruit supply chain.

From problem to resource: cellulose is extracted from the peels and then from the pulp, which can be used for spinning. Furthermore, nanotechnology binds citrus essential oil to the fabrics , releasing vitamins A and C into the skin with significant benefits : it nourishes and hydrates the skin. This is guaranteed for about twenty washes, although a method for recharging with specific fabric softeners is currently being developed.

For some time now, this company has been developing a unique collaboration: the Ferragamo Orange Fiber Collection . The famous Italian designer Salvatore Ferragamo, in keeping with his motto, Responsible Passion , wanted to capture the essence and expressive potential of citrus fiber, giving life to a fresh Capsule Collection , a tribute to Mediterranean creativity.

Among the advantages of producing orange-fiberIn terms of combating waste, there's also been a significant reduction in agricultural waste. The peel of a citrus fruit, in fact, accounts for about 60 percent of its total weight and must be disposed of regularly, impacting the waste chain by approximately 700 tons per year. Thanks to the Sicilian company, it can instead be sold and recycled.
But how do you wash Orange Fiber fabrics? To hand wash, simply fill a basin with warm water and an eco-friendly detergent. After soaking the clothes for about fifteen minutes, rinse them with cold, running water. Then wring them out lightly and hang them to dry. To machine wash, choose a delicate cycle, use a small amount of liquid detergent, and add a teaspoon of baking soda. Start the cycle and avoid spinning until the end of the wash cycle.

( The cover image is taken from the Orange Fiber Facebook page )

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