Textile Archive/T-Shirt RABE (Viscose, Elastane)

▼This page is part of the Fab Region Bergisch documentation initiative.

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Like every piece in the Textile Archive, this multi-colour t-shirt came from a used-clothing container, not a donation box (Textile Archive, 2026, canvas 31). Its fabric is jersey tricot: a stretchy warp knit typical of lingerie and swimwear (Fashionary, 2021, p. 160). Viscose, the first semi-synthetic fibre (France, 1890s), is made from wood pulp as an 'artificial silk' – soft, but weak when wet (Fashionary, 2021, p. 046).

A little elastane (Lycra, since 1959) adds stretch – it extends to over 500% of its length (Fashionary, 2021, p. 050). The label says 92% Viscose, 08% Elastane, the NIR scanner reads Viscose, Elastane – labels and reality don't always match, which is why infrared sorting is being developed for textile waste (Riba et al., 2020). The RABE label doesn't say where it was made.

It was set aside because of wear – but its fibres could go back into new yarn (R8 Recycle) and its fabric could become something new (R7 Repurpose; Potting et al., 2017). Care tip: Cut usable fabric into patches or rags (repurpose); send the rest to textile recycling. Dry flat or on a line, not in the dryer (ISO 3758:2023; GINETEX).

Display label and NIR result side by side to start a conversation about label reliability. Use it to show the path from garment back to fibre. Invite makers to propose a repurposing idea for it. Complete label language and 3D scan quality.

• Textile Archive (2026) Labels_Final – sample label sheets of the gesa measuring action, June 2026 [Canva design, 34 canvases]. Unpublished project data.
• Fashionary (2021) Textilepedia: The Complete Fabric Guide. Hong Kong: Fashionary International Ltd. ISBN 978-988-77110-9-4.
• Riba, J.-R., Cantero, R., Canals, T. & Puig, R. (2020) Circular economy of post-consumer textile waste: classification through infrared spectroscopy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 272, 123011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123011
• Potting, J., Hekkert, M., Worrell, E. & Hanemaaijer, A. (2017) Circular Economy: Measuring Innovation in the Product Chain. The Hague: PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. https://www.pbl.nl/en/publications/circular-economy-measuring-innovation-in-product-chains
• ISO (2023) ISO 3758:2023 Textiles – Care labelling code using symbols; GINETEX care labelling system. https://www.ginetex.net/en/labelling/