From prioritizing biodegradable and regenerative fibers, to sourcing recycled materials made from the world’s trash, and even reimagining our own deadstock fabric as new products, we think about waste (or lack thereof) from the start of every product.
The material reduces waste in some way – such as minimizing excess material, conservation of natural resources, use (or lack thereof) of toxins, and sustainable production.
The material avoids waste by repurposing forgotten or overlooked materials that would otherwise be considered waste. It could also be an endlessly reusable material that avoids single-use waste.
The material supports the circular or second-life textile market by recycling waste into new fabric. The material may also be recyclable, allowing it to remain in the circular economy.
When thinking about minimizing our impact through materials, we keep it pretty simple: the materials we use either reduce environmental harm, reuse forgotten fibers, or recycle existing waste that’s headed for landfill.
Certifications OCS, GOTS Good, clean cotton Organic cotton is a renewable fiber that requires significantly less water than conventional cotton and none of the pesticides. Its farming methods conserve natural resources and forgo the use of toxic chemicals and GMOs – making it far healthier for the planet and its people. In addition to being sustainable, it’s also incredibly comfy. We use it for everything from basic tees to corduroy.
Certifications GRS, OEKO-TEX Cleaning up the cutting room According to the Council for Textile Recycling, annual textile waste is estimated at around 25 billion pounds (yikes). Rather than contributing to that number, recycled cotton rescues cotton cutting scraps and turns them into new yarn. And in addition to saving textiles from the landfill, recycling cotton requires less energy and water than growing it, while still being just as comfy and breathable as cotton straight from the plant.
Certifications GRS No new plastic There’s plenty of plastic to go around, we don’t see a reason to make more of it. Recycled polyester weakens the fashion industry’s dependence on petroleum, gives new life to old garbage, and touts the same technical performance as virgin polyester (with a vastly smaller footprint). What’s more: it can be recycled again and again without significantly affecting the quality.
Certifications REPREVE Beyond the blue bin REPREVE is a leading producer of recycled fibers sourced from post-consumer waste like plastic bottles. Their high-tech recycling facilities create some of the most certified and traceable fibers in the world and have given billions of old bottles a second chance at life. You can brag to your friends about it next time you wear one of our Responsible Flannels.
Certifications RWS Warm fuzzies Thanks to its ability to maintain its quality for decades, wool is a readily-recyclable material and one of the most suitable fibers for reuse. Recycling wool is a closed-loop system that returns previously-loved garments back to their original fiber state – meaning your new favorite sweater just might have been someone else’s old favorite sweater. And yes, it still has the same snuggly, chunky goodness you know and love.
Certifications GRS Trash talk Recycled nylon is (you guessed it) old nylon repurposed into new yarn. Ours comes from industrial raw materials that are considered defective and would typically be discarded and thrown away. With enough industrial waste to go around, who needs petroleum? Recycled nylon is just as strong, elastic, lightweight, and moisture wicking as virgin nylon – making it perfect for things like activewear and active accessories.
VIP (Very Important Plant) Hemp does a lot: it’s a low-maintenance crop that grows quickly, can thrive nearly anywhere, and absorbs more carbon dioxide than trees. It also requires a fraction of the water and none of the toxins that other plant-based fibers need to grow. And to top it all off, the entire plant is readily usable: the stalks become fibers while the seeds are used to make oil and supplements. Hemp as a fabric is super resilient and breathable, so we reach for it often.
Recycled luxury Unlike other materials like organic cotton, there’s not as much regulation in the cashmere market. So not only does recycled cashmere prevent this luxury fabric from going to landfill (could you imagine?!) it also avoids any funny business in the supply chain. Not to mention it reduces the amount of resources needed for herding, harvesting, and processing. Essentially, it’s softer-than-soft on you and also super soft on the planet.
Certifications LENZING Closed-loop cellulose When it comes to sustainably-sourced viscose, Lenzing is the gold standard. To create this silky, biodegradable fiber, Lenzing sources cellulose (a natural component of wood pulp) from sustainably-managed forests and processes it in a closed-loop production system (meaning any chemicals that are used are recovered, converted, and returned back to the production process). And, compared to traditional viscose, LENZINGâ„¢ ECOVEROâ„¢ boasts up to a 50% lower water impact and up to 50% lower carbon emissions.
Their haircut, your heirloom Baaa. Wool has been used in apparel for ages and is a rapidly-renewable resource that doesn’t require the killing of any animal. In fact, because of their quick-growing coats, domesticated sheep need to be sheared regularly for their health and hygiene. From a waste-management perspective, wool uses nearly 70% less water than cotton, is 100% biodegradable, and is easily recycled. It also maintains its quality for ages, making it perfect for heirloom-level knits and outerwear.
Buttons from tree nuts Corozo is nuts — literally. This natural, biodegradable material comes from the nut of the Tagua Palm, which grows in the rainforests of Central America, and is a particularly renewable and sustainable material. One Tagua Palm can produce up to 50 pounds of nuts per year for over a century, and because corozo seeds can only be collected after they fall naturally from the tree, there’s zero deforestation involved in the supply chain. We use corozo as a sustainable replacement for plastic buttons. They’re washable, highly durable and impact resistant.
Soft feel, small footprint Our signature SoftHempâ„¢ fabric is to thank for all of our super-soft yet ultra-durable pieces (think button downs, coveralls, and socks). Because it uses hemp as its primary fiber, SoftHempâ„¢ is grown without toxic pesticides and with significantly less water and resources as similar crops. We blend it with organic cotton to make it even more soft, breathable, and light on the planet.
From waste to warmth The secret to our suuuper warm jackets and socks is BisonShieldâ„¢: our proprietary insulation and yarn crafted from salvaged bison wool. Bison wool is incredibly lightweight, warm even when wet, hypoallergenic, and largely considered a waste product. When we discovered its untapped potential, we created a supply chain to divert this valuable resource from going to waste and use it in our best-selling winter essentials.
Started from a bottle There’s a lot of single-use plastic out there. We give it a second life by transforming it into our best-selling bags and accessories. Our signature (R)evolution™ fabric starts as plastic bottles , and is water-resistant, tear-resistant, stain-resistant, and all-around durable by the time it makes its way to you. And to keep it clean, we reserve our (R)evolution™ fabric for products that don’t go through the washing machine – keeping microplastics to a minimum.
Recycled and ready to move Our (Re)activeâ„¢ bags and accessories are lights-as-air, water-resistant, and made from 100% recycled nylon that saves industrial waste from going to landfill. Not only does recycling prevent perfectly good plastic from ending up in the environment, it also uses significantly fewer resources than traditionally-produced synthetics and removes the need for fossil fuels during production.
From bin to basics Our EcoKnitâ„¢ family is made up of comfortable and versatile basics made with recycled materials that put old waste to good use. We take recycled polyester and blend it with natural fibers like organic cotton and hemp to hit the sweet spot of durability, sustainability, and, of course, comfort. From tank tops to t-shirt dresses, our EcoKnitâ„¢ basics are designed to work with everything in your closet and be worn all year round.
Single-use plastic who? Stainless steel is incredibly durable, produces zero toxic run-off during production, and is 100% recyclable. In fact, more than half of today’s stainless steel has been sourced from scrap materials. We take this versatile metal and turn it into reusable drinkware that keeps your beverage cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 – so you never have to think about plastic bottles again.
Reusables from the earth Ceramic stoneware has been used for millennia to make everything from art to dishware (we’d consider ceramic dishware a work of art all on its own). It takes less energy to make compared to glass, and is a naturally beautiful and durable material that comes straight from the earth – making it the perfect materials for display-worthy, at-home reusables.
