From Waste to Wear: How US Elite Sources Fabrics

OUR STORY

Our goal from the very beginning was to create something different.  Different in the way we approached our leotards, our fabrics, our service and different in the way we respect and care for our planet.  That is the reason we use the highest quality, sustainable and recycled fabrics, compostable mailers and recycled packing materials.  We believe we make the best leotards in the business - the rest is just because it is the right thing to do.

Where Our Nylon Comes From

Our fabrics start out as waste: fishing nets pulled from the ocean, old carpets, and discarded clothing. Instead of filling up landfills or trapping marine life, these materials are given a new life as born-again nylon.  The beauty of this is that we can turn waste into high performance fabrics that are great for the environment and even better for our athletes. 

Why Recycled Beats Virgin Nylon

Virgin nylon is produced from crude oil. It’s broken down and heated at extreme temperatures to form nylon fibers. This process is highly energy and water intensive, while producing harmful byproducts via chemical usage.

Recycled nylon is able to skip all of those steps. By regenerating waste back into its original form, the process avoids oil extraction, reduces emissions, and keeps valuable materials in use. The good and bad news is that most of the plastics used today end up in landfills, meaning we have a wealth of available resources to reuse.

Share of plastic waste that is recycled, landfilled, incinerated and mismanaged, 2019

The Benefits at a Glance

• Oil Savings: Every 10,000 tons of recycled nylon saves ~70,000 barrels of oil.
• Energy Savings: Production uses about 50% less energy compared to virgin nylon.
• Carbon Savings: Up to 80% fewer CO2 emissions — that’s like skipping a 100-mile road trip for every kilogram of fabric.
• Water Savings: 20–30% less water used — the equivalent of skipping a 15-minute shower for every kilogram.

A Closed-Loop System

Unlike many fabrics or materials, nylon can be regenerated again and again without losing any quality. That means your leotard could one day be recycled into new apparel, creating a true circular system.

What This Means for You

By choosing US ELITE’S recycled Nylon-Lycra, you’re receiving highly comfortable, extremely durable, 4 way stretch professional grade performance fabrics. While also committing towards a process that reduces oil use, cuts down greenhouse gas production, conserving water, and keeping waste out of landfills and oceans.

Your purchase is more than just apparel. It’s part of a solution.  Great for the environment, our planet and our athletes.  Join the MOVEMENT!