University of Wyoming associate professor Jennifer Harmon uses her Introduction to Textile Science course to shed light on the complex and often overlooked challenges of textile recycling. With support from a Cotton Incorporated grant, students visited Cotton Incorporated's North Carolina headquarters and a family cotton farm, then returned to campus to experiment with fabric mâché and develop commercially viable recycled fabric products. The course explores why recycling textiles — especially blended fabrics treated with "forever chemicals" — is so difficult, and what happens to discarded clothing after it leaves American thrift stores. Harmon advocates for buying fewer, higher-quality textiles as one of the most effective ways to reduce fashion waste.AcademicsMaya Gilmore, University of Wyoming Extension10/03/2025 12:03:10 PM_DO NOT USE TAGS - They will be deleted!