Celebrating World Environment Day

It’s World Environment Day, and this year the focus is #BeatPlasticPollution. Whilst plastic pollution is one of the major concerns of our time, it’s also ‘one of the most fixable of today’s environmental challenges’. So, this World Environment Day don’t feel disheartened, there are real solutions to counter the rise in plastic pollution. 

We’ve put this blog together to share how we try our best to beat plastic pollution through the textiles we use in our clothes. Our garments are designed to make you feel good on the inside and out. And with this in mind, here’s a breakdown of the fabrics and certifications found in our summer collections.

Recycled polyester 

Recycled polyester is a durable and high-performance fabric. Known for its soft, flexible and water repellent properties, recycled polyester’s ability to withstand frequent wear and washing make it the ideal choice for adventures. We choose to use this fabric not only for its performance, but for its sustainability. Made from shredding recycled plastic bottles into fibres, which are then cleaned to remove impurities. These cleaned fibres are processed into new yarns or fabrics which are used to create new clothing or textiles. Recycled polyester uses approximately 59% less energy to produce than virgin polyester, whilst keeping waste out of landfill and our oceans.  

Tencel™ lyocell 

Tencel™ lyocell is an incredibly soft, semi synthetic plant-based fibre. It’s made mostly from the wood of eucalyptus trees, and to a lesser extent, oak and birch wood is used too. Tencel™ source their wood from responsibly managed forests, meaning they produce 50% less carbon emissions and consume less water than other Lyocell fibres. After being harvested the wood is cut into small pieces called chips, which are then ground to a pulp, cleaned, and dissolved into a liquid with a chemical amine oxide to make cellulose. This is then forced through spinnerets, turning the mixture into fibres. Once these fibres are washed and dried, they are spun into yarn, ready to be woven into fabric. Tencel™ Lyocell fibres have a lower environmental impact as they are made using closed loop production processes, which allows for 99.8% of solvents to be recovered. 

We love Tencel™ Lyocell because it’s an environmentally friendly technology known for its antibacterial, moisture-wicking, fast drying, and super soft-to-touch properties. The stable structure of the fibres ensures durability, making it an obvious choice when designing activewear. 

Organic cotton 

We use organic cotton in our products because we care about people and the planet. Organic cotton is grown free from pesky synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, making it good for the environment and good for your skin. Organic farming has a multiplicity of benefits from fair wages for farmers, to maintaining healthy soil and biodiversity (life on earth, in all it’s forms) as farmers grow a variety of crops alongside cotton. Once the cotton is fully grown in the field, the fluffy fiber is picked and spun into thread, ready for use in clothing.

We think organic cotton fibres are great because they allow airflow, reducing the likelihood of irritation from heat or sweat and resists odour build up. It’s naturally hypoallergenic, making it a great fabric for those with allergies or skin sensitivities. 

OEKO-TEX® 

We care about the environment, and we know you do too. That’s why we use the OEKO-TEX® certification wherever we can. OEKO-TEX® is a label that provides you with a guarantee all the textiles used in production of the garment are free from potentially harmful substances. This means the garment, from yarn to finished product, has passed a globally standardised test against a list of over 1,000 harmful substances. 

Built for adventure, kind to the earth

In the spirit of #BeatPlasticPollution, check out our range of recycled polyester. Whether you’re heading for a surf, to town, or hitting the trails; there’s an item designed for a lighter footprint on the earth.