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RSS/XMLGreen Steeze - now how about a green beret?
2008-06-20 08:42:15
So far this year, I've looked at keeping your functional snowboarding equipment green. Boards and boots, although impacted by style, are often purchased on the strict basis of function. Looking good is also important to many, however, so some cool threads are "de rigueur". So this week I'm going to flex my fashionista muscle and speculate on straight green steeze for the 2009 season.
Upon initially undertaking the search for the most ecological outerwear, I was surprised at how many manufacturers there actually are and I began to wonder why that is. Perhaps fashion has a shorter cycle from conception to product than more technical hardgoods. Perhaps the outerwear makers are just ahead of the game. Or perhaps, when it comes to outerwear, the tech is just not as important as the steeze. Whatever the reason, the following are the findings from my research in ecological snowboard outerwear.
The Players
686
The manufacturers of 686 outerwear are integrating bio-friendly materials, both new and recycled into their clothing line. Most notably, natural materials such as bamboo and wool are finding their way into their performance layering line. Both of these materials have anti-microbial properties and are very sustainable (you don't kill the sheep when it is sheared and bamboo grows like weeds). As a plus, if any of you have ever used bamboo bed sheets you'll know that they are really soft and comfortable. Sounds like a right mixture to me.
686 are also using bamboo that has been recycled into a down-like insulation. I can't comment on the insulating properties of the material, but its ecological credentials are very enviable: sustainable and recycled. It makes me want to rock a 686 puffy jacket next winter.
Burton
The behemoth that is Burton is also getting in on the green action. In December of last year, Burton introduced the Green Mountain Project, a collection of outerwear and layering pieces that incorporate recycled materials and eco-friendly weatherproofing. All shell fabrics are designed to withstand the harsh winter weather conditions with a 10,000mm waterproof rating and a 10,000g breathable lamination rating. All this in an environmentally friendly package? No wonder Vermont is the Green Mountain State.
I forgot that I was in the mountains, not the jungle.
Helly Hansen
Helly Hansen has been around for 130 years and hopes to see winter last at least another 130. For that reason, they launched the Ekolab R&D project in 2008 to "research ways to address environmental sustainability, and develop more environmentally friendly products." They claim to have eliminated Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) from the waterproof breathable membranes of their products. Although PTFE itself is inert, one of the chemical compounds used to produce it, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), is a likely carcinogen. Helly Hansen have also introduced fluorocarbon-free waterproof coatings. Fluorocarbons are also often found in snowboard wax and break down into toxic chemicals with lives ranging from 3,200 to 50,000 years.
By eliminating all this bad stuff and making use of organic cotton, recycled fabrics and minimalist design practices, Helly Hansen outerwear will be so green, it might make you disappear in the jungle while wearing it.
Holden
Holden produces a line of Eco outerwear which uses natural materials such as Hemp and incorporates recycled PET polyester, promoting the third 'R' of the holy trinity. They also use a water based, solvent free, laminate on their outerwear which provides it with a 10,000mm waterproof rating and a 10,000g breathable rating. So it works, but how does it look you ask? Well the Hemp gives it a soft feel and a linen look, so if that works for you then it looks pretty good.
Oakley
Coming this fall, Oakley will be releasing a new signature apparel line inspired and co-designed by Gretchen Bleiler. The collection includes an eco jacket and pant combo that is made of 100% recycled materials and is also recyclable itself. Gretchen and Oakley must have been reading Cradle to Cradle because this jacket and pant embody that spirit perfectly. According to Gretchen's blog, the outerwear was such a hit at the Breckenridge Grand Prix that she received a marriage proposal so you know it's at least as hot as Gretchen.
Sessions
Since green is in, Sessions has implemented an 11 step program, called Going Green, to minimize their waste. The steps laid out by this plan include: using energy efficient lighting, reducing packaging and catalog waste by researching sources for recyclable and post-consumer recycled packing materials, and choosing clean energy sources. In the next year they will also produce 100 percent organic clothing and/or apparel in a portion of each of their lines.
Quiksilver
In January, Quiksilver launched an eco-friendly winter outerwear line. Like Holden, Quiksilver will be making use of recycled PET plastic combined with Hemp. They will also be making use of a non-toxic natural dyes, organic cotton, and a biodegradable TPU laminate. The eco-friendly collection for 08/09 will include three jackets and two pants as well as Travis Rice signature outerwear pieces.Honourable Mentions
The following manufacturers are being green, but not directly in the outerwear market. For this, they get an honourable mention because any progress is good progress.
Planet Earth
Planet Earth are known as a street wear company, however, they also make snowboard outerwear. Although they do boast a "Green Label" line, which is made predominantely of natural, organic, or sustainable fibres, it doesn't include outerwear. One can hope that someday it will and then Planet Earth will graduate to the "Players" list.
Planet Earth is also "green by association" since the brand is owned by K2 Sports which is flexing its green muscle with the creation of the "0", a zero footprint snowboard. So wearing Planet Earth products may bring us a step closer to a carbon neutral shred experience.
Level
Level is collaborating with Gretchen Bleiler in the launch of Bliss, a new women's line for 2008. This line will make use of recycled/recyclable packaging materials and donate a portion of every sale to stopglobalwarming.org. They only get an honourable mention, however, because these will only make your hands green. No word yet on whether your green thumbs will be good for the garden.
In spite of the long list of manufacturers boasting eco-outerwear, there wasn't a single mention of a green beret in the list. Perhaps the army has cornered the market in green berets? The important thing here, is that it's becoming much easier to be fashionable on the mountain while being minimally harmful to our health or that of our environment. Even though currently, only a fraction of any given company's outerwear is made with ecological principals in mind, I have confidence that someday this will be the norm rather than the exception and I look forward to those days.
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