Monomaterials: Designing Simpler Products for a Circular Fashion Future

Could designing with just one material unlock a more circular fashion system?

It’s hard to picture. Creating a garment usually involves many steps, many materials, many tools, many stitches. Fashion, at its core, has long been a composition of complexity.

But what’s also hard to accept is the environmental reality we’re facing today, where fashion remains one of the most polluting systems on the planet. And all those “manys”? They’re part of the problem.

So maybe it’s time to ask: what could it look like to do more with less? Could one material be enough? And could simplifying how we construct and source actually benefit not just the planet, but the business behind the product?

Designers who simplify material composition are also creating garments that are easier to recycle, easier to trace, and better aligned with circular business models and growing regulatory requirements. In other words, these aren’t just sustainable choices, they’re strategic ones.

Whether you're a designer, brand, supplier, or manufacturer, this is a conversation worth having. And you won’t be staying for solely a sustainability talk, but for a business one, too.

Still not sure how it all connects? We’ll break it down.

This article explores what mono-materials are in accessible terms, why they matter for recyclability and Digital Product Passports (DPP), and how material simplicity must go hand-in-hand with supply chain traceability.

Ultimately, it’s a call to rethink design and sourcing as one interconnected system. If you’re seeking change, this is a solid place to start.

The case we lay out below will show you why it’s not only possible (but valuable) to do things differently.

What Are Monomaterials in Fashion?

As the name suggests, monomaterial products are those composed of a single type of material or fiber, rather than a blend of multiple materials. For example, a jacket made entirely of polyester, from the shell and lining down to the insulation and even the zipper tape, would be considered a monomaterial garment.

However, the reality is different. Most clothing today is multi-material: a typical T-shirt might be labeled “100% cotton” for the main fabric, but use polyester thread and a nylon label, meaning it isn’t truly made of one material.

Monomaterial design strives to use one material throughout the product, including major components and often trims, so that the item can be treated as a single material at end-of-life.

But why simplify to just one material?

The main reason is to make recycling and reuse dramatically easier. When a product is made of only one fiber type, it can be recycled without the difficult step of separating different materials. By contrast, blended fabrics (like a cotton-polyester shirt or a poly-cotton-elastane activewear blend) require laborious separation or specialized processes to recycle.

WGSN, one of the leading authorities on consumer and design trends, stated in a recent report ( "Sustainability & Innovation: Circular Trims & Details” ) that mono-materials are a strong strategy for brands aiming to align with upcoming regulations and improve recyclability.

They emphasize that “legislation will demand greater transparency from brands and suppliers surrounding the products they make and sell.” And, of course, one standout strategy they suggest is:

Reduce garment complexity by adopting mono-material components, self-fabric and compatible trims with fabrics to support onward recycling and end-of-life circularity

As one sustainability resource puts it, mono-material fabrics are “designed to simplify recycling and enable circular economy systems.”

ISPO, a global platform and flagship event for the sports business industry, also explains that “when recycled into new materials, mono materials maintain a higher quality than mixed fibers, and for consumers, these singular material garments are resilient and easier to care for, delivering longer-lasting performance and protection”.

In essence, mono-materials embody a design philosophy where you plan for a product’s end-of-life from the very beginning, making disassembly and material recovery as straightforward as possible.

That said, it’s far from being a perfect sustainable solution, as it often involves the use of mono-synthetic materials, which come with their own sustainability concerns.

But before we dive into those complexities, it’s worth unpacking why this approach holds real business value, particularly when it comes to compliance, circularity, and recyclability.

For that, let’s see brands that have implemented it in the market already.

Examples of Monomaterials Garments in The Market

Helly Hansen’s Mono Material Puffy Parka is an example of a garment engineered for recyclability by using almost entirely one fiber (polyester) in its construction.

In this design, even the insulation and most trims are polyester, enabling the whole jacket to be recycled together without sorting different materials.

mage sourced from Ispo.com

The North Face has leaned into mono-material construction, particularly in its “Mono Material” collection, where entire garments, from outer shells to trims, are made using a single fiber type (e.g., 100% polyester).

Contemporary womenswear label Damson Madder takes a softer, design-led approach by using self-fabric details like mono-material ruffles and soft ties. These are made from the same base fabric as the main garment (typically organic cotton) eliminating the need for mixed fiber trims or embellishments.

This approach shows how mono-materials can be applied even in decorative elements without compromising on style or on authenticity.

Image sourced from damsonmadder

Why Monomaterials Matter for Recycling and Circularity: And what are the contrary arguments

As we’ve expressed before, monomaterials play a critical role in recyclability.

Garments made from a single material can go straight into recycling processes specific to that material, without needing to be pulled apart.

This is important because current recycling technology struggles with mixed-material products. In fact, “current technology is unable to separate fabric with more than two fiber types or recycle fabric with more than 5% elastane”, making blended textiles difficult and expensive to process.

In contrast, a garment made from multiple fiber types (say cotton and polyester with spandex) can be extremely hard to recycle because the fibers are tightly interwoven.

Separating them often results in degraded fiber quality or is not economically viable, as this resource explains.

In other words, material simplicity (when paired with the right recycling systems) can directly translate to less waste. Additionally, designing with monomaterials often encourages longer-lasting products.

Fashion brand Helly Hansen, in launching its Mono Material collection, noted that these singular-material garments are “resilient and easier to care for, delivering longer-lasting performance and protection” for consumers.

That means the item can be worn longer, passed on, or resold, extending its life before recycling even comes into play.

Image sourced from Hely Hansen’s site.

The Limitations of Monomaterials: Why Simpler Isn’t Always Better

It’s always important to acknowledge trade-offs. Historically, blends have been used to improve performance, like adding elastane for stretch or mixing fibers to get both strength and softness. So, some worry that focusing solely on mono-materials could limit functionality or aesthetic options. Others also worry that it’s not the sustainable solution fashion needs now.

For all its promise, mono-material design comes with limitations:

• Performance trade-offs: Eliminating blends can reduce elasticity, breathability, or moisture-wicking properties, making some products less suitable for performance wear.

  
  

• Overreliance on synthetics: Many mono-material garments today are made from 100% polyester or nylon, materials that, while recyclable in theory, are still fossil-fuel based. This raises concerns about microplastic pollution, wearer health, and the environmental cost of production.

  
  

• Limited recycling infrastructure: Even when a garment is designed for recyclability, most global regions lack the systems to actually recycle them. Without access to specialized recycling streams, these garments often end up as waste.

  
  

• Limited visual or tactile diversity: Mono-materials can restrict design creativity, especially in achieving mixed textures, drapes, or finishes.

The bottom line is that for many garments, especially basics, the mono-material approach is an important piece of the puzzle for circular design, even if it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution for every product.

Monomaterials and Digital Product Passports (DPP)

Monomaterials don’t just matter for recycling technology, they are also highly relevant for emerging regulations like the European Union’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) for textiles.

The DPP is a forthcoming requirement under the EU’s sustainability and circular economy initiatives that will mandate brands to track and share key product data, including material composition and recyclability information.

Essentially, every product will need a “passport” of digital data detailing what it’s made of, how it was produced, and how it can be disposed of or recycled. In this context, having a simpler material composition can be a big advantage.

Moreover, regulators are expected to scrutinize recyclability. The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (which underpins DPPs) specifically lists “material content and recyclability” as data points to be disclosed.

That way, if a company is asked to provide evidence of recyclability or recycled content percentage, it’s far simpler when there’s just one material to trace and test.

Indeed, having suppliers that provide verified, single-material data “reduces due diligence costs and compliance risks” for brands under new regulations like the DPP and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

However, material simplification is only effective when supply chain data is in place. If a brand switches to mono-material designs but lacks visibility into its supply chain, it may struggle to substantiate those DPP requirements.

For instance, claiming a garment is “100% organic cotton” in the passport is meaningless unless you have traceable data proving that organic cotton’s origin and certification. This is where supply chain traceability and data systems become crucial companions to mono-material design.

System Thinking: Monomaterials + Traceability

To truly unlock the benefits of mono-material products, fashion companies need to adopt a systems approach, connecting material choices with digital traceability. World Collective’s mission is heavily focused on enabling this connection.

In fact, World Collective (a women-led fashion Ecosystem) has partnered with Kinset, a modular traceability technology provider, on a pilot Digital Product Passport program that tackles exactly this challenge. Announced in July 2025, the pilot is demonstrating how supplier data can feed into scalable DPPs in practice by “connecting the data all the way through Tiers 2, 3, and 4” of the supply chain.

In other words, it’s ensuring that the raw material producer, the textile mill, and the manufacturer are all sharing the necessary data about materials and processes into one unified system. Complete traceability like this is what turns a mono-material garment into a verifiable, circular product.

The Recap: Monomaterial as Strategic and Compliance Benefits for Brands

We’ve seen how simplifying material inputs can reduce complexity, strengthen traceability, and help future-proof collections in an evolving regulatory landscape. Here’s a quick recap to make those benefits more tangible:

Streamlined Supply Chains

Fewer materials often mean fewer suppliers, simplified production, and lower logistics costs. Mono-material sourcing also supports easier quality control. Plus, on platforms like World Collective, brands can filter by fiber composition (e.g., 100% organic cotton) and connect directly with verified suppliers, streamlining sourcing from the start.

Reduced Compliance Risk

Upcoming regulations like the EU DPP and CSRD demand detailed material disclosure. Each additional component adds compliance burden. Mono-material garments make documentation simpler, reduce the chance of hidden blends, and align better with recyclability criteria under EPR policies. Material simplicity becomes a form of risk mitigation.

DPP-Readiness and Data Alignment

Being DPP-ready means having a clean, backed and structured data. A mono-material design generates a leaner data profile that syncs more easily with digital systems. Brands using World Collective’s traceability tools benefit from supplier-provided material data already linked across Tiers 2–4, cutting down manual info gathering. This clarity also strengthens impact storytelling.

Enabling Resale and Take-Back

Mono-material garments are easier to authenticate, repair, and recycle – making them ideal for resale, rental, or take-back programs. Brands can confidently promote second-life initiatives when the item’s construction is simple and consistent. Clear fiber content also helps secondhand buyers make informed decisions.

Supporting End-of-Life Strategies

Designing for recyclability becomes easier when a product is made from a single material. Brands can partner with recyclers to process returns without disassembly. As EPR laws expand, mono-material design gives brands a head start on compliance. It’s a practical way to embed circularity into product strategy and future-proof against tightening regulations.

Making Monomaterials Work From Trend to System

As we’ve explored, monomaterials are better understood as part of a broader systemic shift. They force us to rethink how we design products from the ground up, with the end in mind.

When paired with complete traceability and data sharing, mono-material design becomes a powerful strategy to achieve true circularity in fashion. It simplifies recycling, facilitates compliance, and aligns all players in the supply chain around a common goal: keeping materials in circulation.

World Collective’s mission have always been about connecting the dots in this way: linking designers with responsible materials, linking suppliers with digital tools, and linking sustainability aspirations with concrete action.

But making it work requires cooperation and access: designers willing to innovate within new constraints, suppliers committed to transparency, the right tools to support both, and tech partners providing the infrastructure to connect it all.

As the industry braces for regulations and adapts to new circular business models, those who treat sustainability as a system will lead the way.

This means moving beyond piecemeal, trend-driven responses (e.g. making one recycled collection as a PR move) and instead embedding principles and traceability into the core of how products are created.

It’s about designing and sourcing with a long-term vision, plus, recognizing that what a product is made of and what information travels with it.

In summary, mono-materials + traceability = circularity in action.

The invitation is clear: let’s rethink design and sourcing as one continuous, collaborative process. Fashion can then move from a wasteful linear model to a resilient circular system, not through one-off fixes, but through thoughtful choices made at every level, collectively.

If you're into conversations around innovation, systems thinking, and reimagining fashion from the ground up, keep exploring our blog for deeper insights:

• Innovation & Compliance: The Interconnected Digital Ecosystem The Fashion Industry Needs

• What Fashion Still Doesn’t Understand About Cause, Effect, and Real Impact

• The Material Innovation Era: How Fashion and Furniture Are Being Redefined

• Beyond Firefighting: New Operating Model for Resilient Fashion Supply Chains

Written by Maria Eugênia Lima, Junior Digital Content & Social Media Producer at World Collective