Sustainability is Sexy

November 05, 2021

Sustainability at The Collective

Sustainability is important to The Collective Park City’s mission of being a good environmental steward. About 80% of the lines and designers they offer meet their commitment to sustainability, which includes companies offering fair wages, humane and safe work environments, no child labor, and working to reduce their carbon footprint through renewable energies, recycling and repurposing where possible.  The following companies highlight The Collective’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

DL1961 

Denim used to be one of the worst climate offenders wasting thousands of gallons of water to produce a pair of jeans and the harsh dyes were washed down drains that emptied into our waterways, streams and rivers. However, several denim brands are now utilizing a variety of techniques to reduce and reuse waste water. Whether it is sourcing fabric that doesn't use toxic chemicals and dyes, optimizing manufacturing processes to create less waste, and using recycled green packaging, denim designers are working hard to make a high-quality product while minimizing their carbon footprint. 

One of our best-selling lines, DL 1961, utilizes Jeanologia’s Environment Impact Measurement (EIM) software to keep track of each garment’s water, energy, and resource usage. This approach makes sense because the first step in addressing any problem is knowing how to measure it, and subsequently assessing the consequences of each change and how it affects the environment. All the Lenzing fibers used by DL1961 are made from cellulose which comes from a renewable and biodegradable wood source to replace the the use of petroleum fabrics that emit micro plastics into our environment 

The family-owned and run company is also using recycled denim and plastic bottles to create eco-friendly, high- performance denim. DL 1961 uses a state-of-the-art water recycling system that reintroduces 98% of the water they use back into municipal drains. The Jeanologia Ozone Eco G2 machine allows the company to use air to create wash variation without using water. In fact, the average pair of jeans uses approximately 1500 gallons of water, whereas the average pair of DL1961 jeans uses less than 10 gallons! The New York based manufacturing facility has self-power generation that uses a heat recovery system for their production needs, and the plant is partially powered by solar energy to further offset their carbon footprint. 

DL1961 is committed to treating their employees with respect and working with factories that offer fair wages, reasonable hours, supportive and healthy working conditions. 

Zahra Ahmed, vice president of marketing, DL1961, told Women’s Wear Daily“DL was founded on a mission to do things differently. From Day One, we focused on how denim was made, and what improvements we could make on every step of the process. We use premium materials and innovative fibers alongside the most efficient production methods available to ensure a product that looks good, feels great but also does better for the environment.”

Faherty Clothing

Another family owned and operated New York based company, Faherty is committed to being a good steward of the environment for future generations, as well as a thoughtful and supportive community partner. 77% of the materials used in their clothing lines are made of sustainable fibers like organic cotton, ethically sourced cashmere, recycled polyester, linen, and hemp. They also strive to use non-toxic dyes and water-efficient processes wherever possible. They have replaced their recycled poly packaging with an eco-friendly paper bag and their goal is to be 90% plastic free by the end of this year. Faherty has partnered with several organizations committed to making the world a better place including 1% for the planet, Surfrider Foundation, and Blue Sign (link to these sites). Additionally, Faherty is proud to partner with Native American artists, Doug Good Feather (Lakota Tribe) and Bethany Yellowtail (Crow/Cheyenne Tribes) whose work and wisdom are an integral reminder of our universal connection to the land and to each other. 

Graf Lantz
 

The Graf Lantz sustainability and business policies are classic and simple: use quality materials and waste as little as possible. “True Sustainability begins with the choices we make every day.” The team works hard to ensure every scrap and off-cut is utilized somewhere in their product line. Graf Lantz has been sustainable from the beginning - even before it was fashionable. Their home accessories are built to last, produced domestically, and are renewable, biodegradable and made from natural materials using low waste practices. For the Los Angeles based company, quality and sustainability go hand in hand. They are concerned with where their material is sourced, how the product is made, and how they treat the people whose art and passion transform the raw materials into Graf Lantz products. The primary material used by Graf Lantz is Merino Wool Felt, which is 100% natural and grown year-round from the Merino wool sheep. It is also 100% biodegradable - wool fibers naturally and quickly decompose in soil and, in effect, release valuable nutrients (like nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon) back into the earth and fertilize the soil. Merino Wool is also 100% Renewable - every year Australian sheep produce new fleece, making wool a completely renewable fiber. Merino wool is made up of 50% organic atmospheric carbon coming from their pasture diet and supports a renewable lifecycle and system. Graf Lantz products are epically durable – the designers consistently strive to create timeless products that are built to last. Choosing quality materials and sustainable practices over trends and convenience sets them apart from other vendors and their customers and partners recognize and appreciate the effort.

ANDI Bags

When it comes to sustainability, ANDI’s motto is all about doing more with less. They use every single piece of material in their manufacturing so that no waste goes to landfill. Fabric offcuts are used as stitching reinforcement to make ANDIs more durable. They test and build their products to last, back them up with a robust warranty and recycle, and repurpose and/or donate any damaged products. 99% of their manufacturing and sourcing takes place in one locale, Taiwan, to cut down on unnecessary manufacturing and travel pollution. ANDI only works with partners who share their values to protect our environment and provide excellent working conditions for employees. They are constantly looking to improve their processes and actively seek out suppliers with Oeko-Tex® 100 and bluesign® certifications. ANDI products are 100% vegan and 95% of their products incorporate materials made from post-consumer recycled plastics, and they are upping their sustainability game with every production cycle. They use eco-friendly dyes and processes to reduce water usage for all fabrics. Hangtags are made with post-consumer recycled paper and their packaging is recyclable. ANDI is a member of 1% for the Planet as part of their commitment to be a force of good. 

Bella Dahl

The Bella Dahl team is dedicated to mindful and quality practices while creating timeless clothing that is beautiful, comfortable, and easy to live in. Their clothing is garment dyed versus fabric dyed which allows them to control the number and quality of resources that go into each of their styles. Most of their collections are made with natural and sustainable fabrics that are designed to be soft on their customers and softer on our earth. TENCEL™ Lyocell is a staple in the Bella Dahl collections, but the designers continue to explore and introduce new environmentally friendly fabrics. They are able to reduce their carbon footprint by producing the majority of Bella Dahl in Downtown LA, where their factories and wash houses pay a fair wage and uphold strict standards. 

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