A method and system (10) are disclosed for sorting textiles (14). A plurality of textiles (14) to be sorted each has a portion that includes an electromagnetic radiation emitting and amplifying material. The textiles (14) are illuminated with a laser (20). A narrow band laser-like emission of at least one wavelength from the portion having the radiation emitting and amplifying material occurs in response to the laser (20) illumination. The textiles (14) are sorted based on the detected laser-like emission. The radiation emitting and amplifying material can comprise at least one stitched-in thread (32) comprising a substrate material and the electromagnetic radiation emitting and amplifying material in combination with scatterers, or a patch containing the electromagnetic radiation emitting and amplifying material and the scatterers.