recycled or reclaimed fibres are recovered from either pre or post-consumer sources. those falling into the category of 'pre-consumer' are unworn/unused textile wastes from all the various stages of manufacture. post-consumer textile waste could be any product which has been worn/used and have (typically) been discarded or donated to charities. once sorted for quality and colour, they can be shredded (pulled, uk or picked, us) into a fibrous state. according to the specification and end use, these fibres can be blended together or with 'new' fibre.