Only 9% of the plastic produced worldwide is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills and oceans severely harming marine life and endangering our ecosystems. If nothing changes there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. This is why the main material of our collection is made of recycled fishing nets recovered from the oceans and other post consumer nylon waste.
As designers we are responsible for the products we put out...
Lost and dumped fishing nets are the biggest plastic polluter in our oceans, it takes over 600 years before it decomposes into micro plastics and they are responsible for the death and capture of turtles, whales, dolphins and too many other animals.
We collaborate with HEALTHY SEAS, a non profit organization and their volunteer divers who are cleaning up the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Northern Seas from this marine litter allowing... Discover more about Healthy Seas
The recovered fishing nets as well as other post consumer nylon waste (such as plastic components and old carpets) are cleaned, shredded, compacted and transported to the regeneration plant of AQUAFIL in Ljubljana, Slovenia. AQUAFIL is a pioneer Italian company providing 100% sustainable materials for the textile industry. Through a sophisticated purification process, the nylon waste is recycled right back into its original purity.
This ECONYL® Regeneration System is a unique process allowing brands like us to use recycled nylon waste material instead of depleting new resources from oil-based polluting nylon.
This fiber is exactly the same as virgin nylon and has the potential to be recycled infinitely without ever losing its quality which makes it a perfect circular material to re-make new products again and again.
The nylon yarns are processed into textile yarns and weaved into premium fabrics in the certified weaving factory in Italy who makes sure that neither toxic nor harmful substances are used in production. The factory has obtained the following certificates:
4sustainability Chemical Management Protocol Global Recycled Standard Certificate ZDHC – Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals REACH Compliant
Our bags are crafted by local skilled workers in Porto, a Portuguese city located only a 5 hours drive from where we live in Madrid. We keep a close contact and regularly visit the factory. Their employees are covered by the standard EU legislations & the International Labour Org. (ILO) concerning Fair Wages and Social Security Standards to ensure their safety and health, written working contracts and no discrimination.
Repurposing post-consumer goods is one efficient way to commit to the circular fashion model. Thanks to the regenerable nylon we use, every ACE bag comes with a promise of recycling through our "Give Back program". Customers can return their end-of-life bags to us and the material will be recycled and redesigned into new products again.
How to return your bagBy showcasing a product, collection, or your brand.
By showcasing a product, collection, or your brand.