Son of a Tailor Turns Supima Cotton Scraps Into a New Re-Spun Capsule

Share

Son of a Tailor debuts its Re-Spun capsule, transforming Supima cotton cutting scraps into made-to-order T-shirts and sweatshirts that make recycled fiber a visible design feature.

Son of a Tailor, the Copenhagen-based menswear label known for its made-to-order precision, is expanding its sustainability playbook with a new capsule that turns production waste into product. Launched on February 12th, the Re-Spun collection reworks cutting scraps from its own Portuguese supply chain into two core pieces: the Cotton T-Shirt Re-Spun and the Cotton Sweatshirt Re-Spun, both produced only after purchase to avoid excess inventory.

The brand, founded in 2014 by Jess Fleischer and colleagues, built its reputation on algorithm-driven sizing and on-demand manufacturing, a model designed to reduce overproduction in an industry where unsold stock remains a persistent problem. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned every second globally, underscoring the stakes of production waste in fashion.

With Re-Spun, Son of a Tailor addresses waste at a more granular level: fabric offcuts. Rather than discarding remnants created during the cutting process, it spent more than a year collecting scraps from its Supima cotton T-shirts and sweatshirts and mechanically recycling them into new yarn. Mechanical recycling can shorten fibers, compromising strength and softness, a challenge widely documented by the Textile Exchange in its reports on recycled fibers. Supima cotton, however, is prized for its extra-long staple fibers, which can better withstand the stress of recycling while maintaining durability and hand feel.

Model wears shirt and pants.

The resulting fabric blends 50 percent recycled Supima cotton, sourced directly from the brand’s own production waste, with 50 percent virgin organic cotton. The melange gray tone is not dyed into uniformity but emerges from a deliberate mix of 25 percent black recycled fibers, 25 percent white recycled fibers, and 50 percent white organic cotton. Instead of hiding recycled content, the texture and coloration make it visible.

Construction details reinforce that ethos. Each garment features a two-piece back with a subtle seam that highlights, rather than disguises, the realities of manufacturing. The design choice turns what might typically be considered a constraint into a defining element.

By pairing fiber innovation with its demand-driven model, Son of a Tailor positions Re-Spun as an extension of its core identity. For Mathilde, the company’s supply chain coordinator, the shift is philosophical as much as technical. “We’ve always tried to minimize waste, but discovering how it can actually create value changes the way we think and opens new opportunities,” she said in a statement.

In sweatshirt

Related on Ethos:

All products featured on Ethos have been independently selected by our editorial team.
When you buy something through our links, Ethos may earn an affiliate commission.

Related

Fashion Leaders Bring Regenerative Textiles to Buckingham Palace

Luxury brands gathered at Buckingham Palace to show King Charles new regenerative fashion projects and Digital Product Passports designed to make supply chains more transparent.

The Tiny Details That Make Vintage Thrift Store Levi’s Worth Thousands

From the Big E red tab to concealed rivets and selvedge inseams, here is exactly what to look for — and what each detail means — when hunting for vintage Levi's at the thrift store.

Alejandra Alonso Rojas Brings Her Sustainable Vision to The RealReal

Luxury designer Alejandra Alonso Rojas is partnering with The RealReal to give her certified sustainable garments a verified second life on the authenticated resale platform.

Shopping Your Closet Is the Ultimate Slow Fashion Trend

Shopping your own closet can reduce waste, save money, and redefine your personal style.

Wood Fibers and Organic Cotton Make the Case for Natural Materials

From renewable wood fibers to organically grown cotton, fashion's raw materials are getting a serious rethink — and the companies leading the charge just made their case to European policymakers.