Sustainable Materials Series
Innovation today is fueling the progression of fashion ecosystems. We at Active Threads serve to promote the longevity of material abundance and product life cycles while we emphasize the urgency of our climate crisis at hand. Society is magnetizing the evolution of retail, meaning, we cannot deny that fashion is one of the most impactful and detrimental industries to our planet. More specifically, certain eco-materials have not yet gained the attention they deserve. We are here this month to highlight eco-conscious alternatives and inspire empathy behind consumer purchases.
At Active Threads, it is imperative for us to mindfully consider the layers of sustainability behind the business practices of our respected partners. The brands we partner with exclusively align with our ethical values and ethos of ensuring quality, greener materials. We are eager to keep empowering long-term transformation by presenting opportunities of shared value and collaboration at AT.
………..Welcome to the Sustainable Materials Series!
We kick off 2021 thrilled to advocate for greener alternatives to outerwear and activewear. Greater value in business today is placed on circular initiatives and resource recycling, to minimize environmental harm. It is first up to companies to claim responsibility for their planetary impacts and remain accountable for any social disruption across the value chains of the business.
This month, our call to action is to heighten awareness for some of the materials which will certainly define the future of our clothing industry. The clothes we wear embody a creative version of ourselves, and we surely want to inspire an ECOlution! Kicking off with an introduction into the utilization and importance of eco-conscious materials, extending into a deeper weekly dive. While we acknowledge the progression of sustainable materials, there is of course always room for continued improvement. Stay tuned for weekly features this month on some of the eco materials including: Hemp, Bamboo, Organic Cotton, Recycled Polyester, Tencel, and Recycled Wool. Throughout this series, ActiveThreads will share industry updates and create awareness for more environmentally sound materials.
HEMP- rooted in textile manufacturing during the 1800’s, hemp actually became federally illegal to grow and produce until 2018. We are experiencing a significant shift as hemp takes the stage, offering a fantastic alternative to other resource-intensive and or waste contributing materials. It is incredibly durable, versatile, and resilient! Stay tuned for the evolution and continued growth of hemp in our next post, sharing the spotlight with Bamboo. Bamboo, also on the hot list for next week, has gained momentum in recent years for its capability to grow extremely fast and requires minimal maintenance. Bamboo can prosper in its raw form without pesticides and produces oxygen for the atmosphere. When sourcing or purchasing bamboo, manufacturing processes must be taken into consideration. Is it chemically treated? In next week’s part two of the Sustainable Materials Series, we will understand the ins and outs of bamboo.
Organic Cotton– Did you know that “conventional cotton has “earned” the title of being the dirtiest crop on earth. It consumes 16% of the world’s insecticides and requires $2 Billion in pesticides each year”. As conventional cotton is quite problematic to our planet, organic cotton has been at the forefront of manufactures and retailers in recent years. One thing to make note of is that organic farming practices contribute less direct harm to the environment, by utilizing less pesticides to begin with. What about recycled polyester? Take a look in your closet, do you own any clothing or textiles made from recycled polyester? Large activewear companies like Adidas are committing as much as 60% of their materials to recycled polyester. As a synthetic yet extremely versatile fiber, recycled polyester indeed diverts and minimizes waste from landfills by incorporating post consumer waste. Jump on board with us throughout this series of sustainable materials to learn more in week three!
Tencel/Recycled Wool – A great thing about Tencel, is that it is biodegradable. We still must consider the energy consumed to commercially produce Tencel, although it requires much less water for instance then it takes to produce cotton. Pioneers like Patagonia, utilize Tencel in many of their outerwear lines. What impacts are fostered by wearing wool and how can we minimize environmental harm from wool production? Today, companies who produce or sell wool based textiles are evaluating their direct impacts on the planet. By supporting regenerative material processes, a company can reduce the amount of methane/co2 emissions and ensure support for expanding sustainable ecosystems. See more in week four’s article!