This contribution is focused on the formation of regular shear band/matrix band structures, with band widths on the scale of several hundreds of microns, during equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) of a cold-worked AA6060 aluminum alloy. An analysis of a grid of indents across the shear zone shows that, while severe plastic deformation with shear strains of about 3.6 occurs in the shear bands, plastic deformation in the neighbouring matrix bands is almost negligible. This process is remarkable as it basically facilitates the generation of a new kind of bulk laminated materials by ECAP. Microstructural analysis by electron back-scatter diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy documents the different stages of microstructural evolution and texture evolution in shear and matrix bands and confirms the pronounced differences associated with the novel strain partitioning process. These results show that local strain gradients and microstructural evolution during ECAP are key to understanding recurrent band formation, and how the different local mechanical properties translate to macroscopic bulk behaviour.