While some brands are using recycled textiles on a small scale, most remain reluctant to use textiles made from recycled PCT. Concerns mostly relate to the price, quality, consistency and colour availability. For other brands, recycled textiles are yet not on their sourcing radar, neither are they considered nor measured within the companies' performance indicators.

On the other side of the value chain, the perception of consumers of recycled textiles is key to generate value to this fraction of textiles. Large numbers of consumers still perceive recycled and second-hand textiles as of lesser value than those derived from virgin sources, associating them with lack of quality and of cleanliness. Though concerns on potential chemical contamination, lack of traceable origins and higher pricing than textiles from virgin sources are substantiated in some cases, there is still a need to improve the perception of recycled textiles. In this sense, educational opportunities for both consumers and brands should be readily available to support this shift, as well as conclusive testing to determine the accuracy of these claims.