As a replacement for mineral materials, geotextiles have been pervasively used in civil engineering so as to provide separation and filtration. This study aims to recycle Kevlar selvages for the preparation of nonwoven geotextiles. The effects of fiber types and manufacturing processing are examined in terms of pore size, water permeability, and shear resistance (bursting strength, and puncture strength). The test results and statistical analyses indicate that a combination of 20 wt% Kevlar fibers, 60 wt% three-dimensional crimped polyester (PET) fibers, and 20 wt% low-melting-point PET (LMPET) fibers creates geotextiles that have a small pore size, good water permeability, and good shear resistance. These geotextiles prevent soil loss, and have greater water permeability and a higher resistance to sharp objects. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.