Riverfashion Transforms Plastic Bottles from Rivers into Fashionable Attire
IJssel, Thursday, 22 May 2025.
Hanneke Siebelink’s Riverfashion launches a clothing line using recycled plastic bottles. The initiative helps reduce pollution and innovate within the fashion industry.
A Veteran’s Vision for Sustainable Fashion
Based in Zutphen, Netherlands, Hanneke Siebelink brings over 25 years of fashion entrepreneurship experience to this innovative venture. Eight years ago, she conceived Riverfashion, a groundbreaking concept that transforms plastic bottles collected from the IJssel River into sustainable clothing with a unique deposit-return system [1]. This circular approach simultaneously addresses plastic pollution and the environmental impact of the fashion industry [1].
Technical Innovation Through Collaboration
The journey from river waste to wearable fashion involves multiple technical challenges. The primary hurdle was the highly contaminated state of the collected bottles, which required professional cleaning processes to produce usable granulate - the base material for clothing production [1]. Through partnership with specialized manufacturers, these granules are transformed into fibers, which are then combined with additional recycled plastic to create yarn. The resulting textile, produced by a dedicated weaving mill, is characterized by its softness, breathability, and exceptional durability [1].
Government Support and Future Scaling
The project’s realization was made possible through the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda - Circular Economy (KIA CE) subsidy program. As of 2025, this initiative continues under the new name Energy and Climate Research and Development (EKOO) Circular Economy program [1]. Siebelink emphasizes that this financial support was crucial, as such innovative projects require substantial investment beyond private means. The company is now preparing for expansion, with plans to implement this concept globally, demonstrating its potential application for rivers worldwide [1].
Consumer-Centric Design Approach
Riverfashion’s commitment to circularity extends to its design philosophy. The company is implementing a feedback system to gather user experiences, which will inform future collection adjustments and improvements [1]. This consumer-centric approach ensures that sustainability meets practicality in the final products, creating a viable model for circular fashion [1].