At the annual PCIAW Awards in London, seven textile initiatives were honored for advancing sustainability in workwear.
The ceremony highlighted progress in garment traceability, recycled content and end-of-life recovery across three categories: hospitality and retail uniform design, inclusive professional clothing design and best professional clothing catalogue.
CEO Yvette Ashby said selecting the 2026 winners was difficult because the number of submissions keeps growing and the industry’s ambitions are rising.
Supply chain tracking wins top honor
TælaEco received the award for best supply-chain management technology. Developed by Spanish firm Earth I Curate, the platform tracks each garment through its TælaEcoCORE infrastructure, linking items to data on materials, manufacturers, care, repair, reuse and eventual recovery.
Company chief Anne-Claire Augustine Albregts explained that the system lets industry players verify sustainability claims and plan end-of-life treatment. “These garments must withstand frequent wear, making durability and repair particularly important.”
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The platform’s mission follows a four-step approach, trace, return, resell and recycle, allowing recyclers to source certified organic, regenerative and recycled materials that meet each item’s technical needs.
Circular textile innovations recognized
UK-based Regatta Professional earned the Circular Textile & Garment Innovation Award for its Recycle.me collection. Created with the Salvation Army, Project Re and the Circular Textiles Foundation, the workwear uses mono-material polyester derived partly from production scrap.
Gresham Blake Studios was named winner of the Luxury Brand Uniform Design Award. Its 45 Collection incorporates the equivalent of 45 recycled plastic bottles per suit, showing how recycled content can be integrated into premium professional attire for hotels, restaurants, bars and leisure venues.
Functional workwear uses recycled content
Cooneen Group took home the Functional Workwear Design Award for a new line of prison officer uniforms developed for the Ministry of Justice. The 73-piece collection, slated for launch in 2027, targets demanding 12-hour shifts and uses Global Recycled Standard-certified polyester blends.
The company aims for at least 20% recycled content in each garment and has introduced take-back and recycling programs with specialist partners. Unused items are repurposed into products such as dog beds, extending the material’s value beyond its original use.