Adidas ramped up its environmental efforts through footwear and apparel collaborations with Parley for the Oceans.
Earth Day happens annually on April 22 but as inhabitants of Earth, we should all constantly strive to make responsible choices that protect our environment. These days you don’t have to compromise on style to wear eco-friendly clothing, which isn’t hard to find anymore. You may have even gone the eco-friendly route without knowing it. But the more you know how different brands are contributing to safeguarding the future of our planet, the better. Here’s a list of eco-friendly streetwear brands you should take note of before hitting “buy”.
Adidas
The German sportswear brand’s environmental efforts with Parley for the Oceans have produced more than five million pairs of footwear containing recycled plastic waste last year. In 2019, Adidas is only riding the wave harder with plans to double that figure. The project has seen plastic waste that’s collected from beaches developed into a key material of the collaboration footwear. But that’s not all. The recycled material is even used to produce apparel such as FC Bayern Munich’s third kit.
Shop the brand:
1) FC Bayern Munich 2018/19 third shirt – S$83.80
2) Adidas NMD R1 STLT Parley – S$155
3) Adidas Ultraboost Parley – S$245
Nudie Jeans Co.
Nudie Jeans produces high-quality, long-lasting products that’s loved all over the world. The brand heavily employs the use of eco-friendly materials in its products such as recycled and organic cotton or Tencel – a sustainable material regenerated from wood cellulose. If that’s not convincing enough, Nudie Jeans even picked up the Sustainable Fashion Award in 2018.
Shop the brand:
1) Jack vacation shirt – S$189
2) Lean Dean jean – S$189
3) Billy dry ring denim jacket – S$261
Patagonia
Across the board, Patagonia has spearheaded commendable initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, implementing good labor conditions and advocating for animal welfare. The outdoor brand is well above the field when it comes to its environmental efforts. Its hard-hitting mission statement says it all, “Patagonia is in business to save our home planet.”
Shop the brand:
1) Lightweight travel mini hip pack – S$39
2) Short sleeve shirt – S$99
3) Torrentshell pullover jacket – S$179
1017 Alyx 9SM
Matthew Williams, creative director of 1017 Alyx 9SM, set up a sub-brand called Alyx Visual, which exclusively makes its pieces with upcycled cotton-rich yarn from pre-loved clothing. These eco-friendly practices have trickled up to his main label that delivers luxurious streetwear garments. “I want to make clothing of the highest quality while maintaining a good level of sustainability and awareness. That is what I try to stay focused on,” Matthew Williams has said.
Shop the brand:
1) Code collection tee – S$189
2) Daisy ring Tee – S$275
3) Patriot crew sweat – S$459
Nike
As an industry giant and a popular brand globally, Nike has more reason than most to set an environmentally-conscious example for others to follow. It’s started taking steps in that direction with its use of eco-friendly materials including organic and recycled cotton and polyester. The sportswear giant has also made changes to its manufacturing processes that minimize off-cuts along with implementing a waste and water reduction strategy in most of its supply chain. 75% of all Nike products now comprise some recycled material.
Shop the brand:
1) Nike Blazer Low Flyleather – S$129
2) Air Max 270 “Throwback Future” – S$239
3) Air Max 720 “Team Orange” – S$259
What other eco-friendly streetwear brands should we include in the list? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Read more: Adidas closes the sustainability gap with Futurecraft Loop, a 100% recyclable running shoe