RMIT researcher recycles fire-service uniforms into fashion textiles

RMIT University researcher Lisa Piller has developed a textile recycling pathway that transforms retired Western Australian Parks and Wildlife Service uniforms into new yarns and fashion garments. The project, titled ‘Walking in Circles’, explores ways to repurpose technical textiles that would otherwise be sent to landfills or kept in storage.

As part of the initiative, recovered uniform fibers are blended with cotton from the Kimberley region in Western Australia. This process utilizes the first processing run from the Kimberley’s new cotton gin, which allows locally grown cotton to be processed within the region rather than being transported long distances interstate.

Working with the ARC Research Hub for Future Fibres, the project employs techniques such as blending, carding, and spinning to create experimental yarns. The resulting garments aim to demonstrate the potential for regional processing and circular textile systems to address waste challenges in the fashion industry. The project is scheduled to be on display at Fremantle Design Week 2026.