Tag: fashion

  • How Sustainable is Recycled Polyester

    How Sustainable is Recycled Polyester ?

    In many of my previous blogs I mention Recycled Polyester. Here I will go into more detail and try to explain how Grizzly Wears Clothing went down that route. Most importantly, answer the question How Sustainable is Recycled Polyester ?

    How Sustainable is Recycled Polyester - Image from Condor Ferries
    Plastic waste in the Ocean

    I’m confident everybody is familiar with images such as this. These days they are all too common. This is a good thing for raising awareness. Also a terrible thing that parts of our planet have come to this. Firstly this is a great starting point in the lifecycle of recycled polyester. To look at plastic waste like this as a valuable resource encourages companies to remove it. 14 million tons of plastic waste end up in the ocean every year.

    Where is Recycled Polyester sourced from ?

    Recycled Polyester is mostly sourced from industrial waste currently. But it is also harvested from the seas and oceans. It can also be collected from your recycling bins.

    Virgin polyester is produced from oil. Oil being a limited resource that does no harm when left where it naturally occurs but so valuable we float buildings out to sea and drill miles down into the earth to collect it. We then load it into ships and transport it miles around the planet for processing.

    In conclusion, plastic waste sitting on the ocean floor or floating on top of the water must be much easier to collect. This waste is in the chemical state required for it to be used. Importantly it can be turned back to a raw material requiring less energy than producing virgin polyester.

    Turning polyester back to a raw material means it has to be cleaned, shredded, formed into pellets and then spun into fibres. These four steps are much easier than producing it from oil.

    Why is all Polyester not recycled then ?

    Currently, global industry is more optimised to produce new polyester than recycle it. However, this can be changed by consumers. Actively seek out recycled polyester and buy those products. Brands will go more towards using them if they sell more. Industry will have to realign to produce more recycled polyester than new. As a consumer you have the choice to change this.

    Additionally polyester degrades each time it is recycled and requires new material to be added. This new material does not have to be from oil as we can break down polyester to compounds and reform it. Leading the way to a closed loop system.

    Money plays a big factor in business. Companies seeking maximum profit will use virgin polyester. Although a more complex process to make, it is done on a huge scale. This huge scale operation means virgin polyester is cheaper to produce. The effect is companies have less incentive to use recycled. As we see use of recycled over virgin polyester increase, the costs should decrease. When recycled becomes cheaper than virgin polyester there will be a big incentive for businesses to switch. In addition the plastic floating in seas and oceans will become more valuable. Post consumer waste such as plastic bottles will be less common in landfill.

    That would be a great achievement to look forward to. And it could happen.

    How Sustainable is Recycled Polyester. A beautiful seascape
    Beautiful, clear seas

    What about microplastics ?

    Microplastics are still a problem. They get into our water, soil and foods. With help of current research, plants which consume microplastics such as eelgrass and oyster mushrooms are helping to tackle the problem. Thousands of microplastics are released every time clothing is washed and make their way out into the wider world.

    Being found in a wide variety of wildlife and sea creatures, microplastics are a danger to other animals. Recycled polyester will release just as much microplastic fibres as virgin polyester. I don’t know of a way this can be prevented other than more research into plants that can remove them.

    Organic fabrics such as cotton, hemp or bamboo do help relieve problems created by polyester but for the foreseeable future it looks like it is here to stay. This is why we need to be more responsible about how we use polyester and recycle rather than create. These natural fabrics definitely do not perform as well as polyester in sportswear and that is the problem. Removing plastic from the environment is a great step along the way. Hopefully as time moves on, there will be an effective solution for removing microplastics for good.

    In the meantime if you want to try and relieve the problem a little, why not try filtering the water coming out of your washing machine with a microfiber filter from https://planetcare.org

    In conclusion…

    The bottom line is with current fashion trends for athleisure type clothing, polyester is an unavoidable material. Impact can be lessened by switching to recycled over virgin. Consumer demand still grows and so does production. How Sustainable is Recycled Polyester ? In my opinion it is a huge step in the right direction. Furthermore we are only getting better at recycling and we need to keep going that way. Recycled polyester is a great tool in the battle to tackle climate change.

    If you like this blog and found it helpful and informative, support me by buying my sustainable clothing and help me feed into closed loop recycling !

  • Why is Sustainable Clothing Expensive

    Why is Sustainable Clothing Expensive ?

    As many consumers become more eco-aware and move towards more sustainable clothing, why is it not cheaper ? A very valid question in a world that is moving to a more sustainable future. Importantly, we have to develop better habits and practices going forwards. The fashion industry is just one key part of what we need to improve. So, Why is Sustainable Clothing Expensive ?

    Until recently, sustainability has not been a key factor in clothing. Furthermore, sportswear in particular, is dominated by comfort and performance. This creates a challenge in finding natural fabrics that can compete with man made fabrics which have been engineered to have specific qualities. A fabric that boasts true sustainability is rare to find but there are some out there. This leads Grizzly Wears Clothing to a crossroads, two paths to follow, so which do I choose as a business. The choices are; lower cost but a little more sustainable; ultimate sustainability but higher price. But firstly lets cover the reasons behind the price jump.

    An industry set in its ways.

    Quite possibly the biggest factor. The fashion industry, like many others, is built on economies of scale. Having a strong reliance and market demand for fabrics that were, revolutionary at the time means production followed. As manufacturing scaled up and got more efficient with one factory competing against another, prices dropped. The cost of a lot of these fabrics remains relatively low. For example, recycled polyester is double the price of virgin polyester currently. In essence, demand for recycled materials has not yet reached a level where production is at a level to reduce cost. Although, this is happening. With more brands switching to more sustainable fabrics, production is increasing. This is a good thing and a step in the right direction.

    Market demand drives positive change. As a consumer, now is the time for you to look out for greener clothing. By making the decision to spend a few seconds looking for that “recycled” key word on the labels of what you choose to buy, you are pushing in the right direction. This is the way.

    A new hope for the industry is on the horizon. With many innovative ideas coming to light, making use of otherwise waste material is a great way to restore balance. At this time we should be less reliant upon limited resources and looking towards renewable materials.

    More Sustainable = More Cost

    If you have read some of my previous blogs, you will know, I like to look at sustainability as a balance. Essentially, I see not all materials are equal. Each one has ups and downs. As a lot of the top tier fabrics cost more, More Sustainable means a Higher Price. However, there is a happy medium. By creating more clothes that are more sustainable from fabrics which do not cost extra, more people can afford sustainable clothing.

    If something is exclusively priced a lot of people do not have the money to buy it. For example: A T-Shirt is £1000 but completely sustainable, 1% of people can afford it. The overall impact is minimal. On the other hand a T-Shirt is somewhat sustainable, it costs £20, 90% of people can afford it. This gives greater impact. Although it is a bad example because T-Shirts are typically cotton which is highly sustainable.

    To conclude, we must look at the bigger picture. Think about the number of products which can have an impact, not just the impact per item. By taking this approach, Grizzly Wears Clothing tries to give greatest impact now and get better in the future. We are not perfect but see where there is room for improvement.

    Where can we improve ?

    There are many ways we can improve. By openly admitting we do not do everything perfectly, we can begin to take steps in the right direction. Some steps cost money. Some take time and work. Typically we are no different to other businesses apart from trying to be more honest. Starting from a strong position and doing as much as possible sets Grizzly Wears on the right path for the future.

    Going forwards we will push in the direction of greener materials. Our carbon footprint will come under closer inspection and be offset where possible. Currently, this is hard to measure. It takes time and resource which is not available but is a priority.

    Areas of improvement do not only apply to us. Every clothing business, no matter the size will need to get better. To survive in the future we must move towards greener shipping and adopt more sustainable fabrics.

    So… Why is sustainable clothing more Expensive ?

    The main reason is the scale of production. Some technologies are still in early days and not driven by economy yet. With rising costs of energy and fuel this applies to all clothing. Although we aim to be 100% sustainable, we recognise cost is a big factor. Furthermore when we look with an open mind at what is available at a price point, options are narrower. But they do exist. Every day more options open up.

    Support me in bringing the cost of sustainable clothing down by visiting my shop. By buying my clothing and bearing the Grizzly Wears name, you are helping me to research more fabrics, explore more options. And importantly, bring these new products to market.

    Sustainable clothing is more expensive, it won’t always be if we invest now.

  • New Items for March 22

    New Items for March 2022

    Having so many new lines coming, out for testing, in development I thought it would be good to drop them all in one place. This is about Grizzly Wears new items for March.

    With the countdown to the National Running Show getting close, all of my effort has been diverted towards this. April’s update may be very similar !

    Running Gear

    When the opportunity came up to launch at the Running Show I took it. New items were already being tested and in the pipeline but this has given me a challenging deadline. As I write this the first batch of 100% recycled men’s tees is in production. Women’s will follow directly. Unfortunately I can’t provide all sizes and colours I ultimately want to due to lack of warehouse space so colours will be done on rotation and sizes will expand over time.

    Following on from testing we don’t think Bamboo has the properties required to be used for running. This does not mean our efforts have been wasted. Following on from the tests with Bamboo fabrics we have decided it would make a much better base layer.

    Mountain Bike Gear

    Following on from the running tees quickly, will be a long sleeve 100% recycled polyester top. The cut may not be perfect for riding but it will be an affordable, sustainable, versatile piece of clothing. Being in early development there are no current deadlines or dates but this may be developed through summer and released for autumn/winter.

    Boxer Shorts

    Boxer’s arrive April with production expected to complete this month. Upon arrival they will immediately be added to the website. All of this first batch will be blue with sizes ranging from S to XL. After nearly 5 months in design, prototyping and testing I am nearly there !

    New items for March

    Stay tuned for April’s update. Intention was to update this post throughout the month. I’ve decided now to just leave it to reflect back on. I will use these monthly updates as a way of building up a timeline !

    https://www.instagram.com/grizzlywears/

  • The National Running Show 2022

    The National Running Show 2022

    I may have mentioned once or twice that Grizzly Wears will be at the National Running Show South. As a small business and a fresh start up this is a big challenge and a big deal !

    For those of you who have not booked your tickets yet, head over to https://nationalrunningshow.com/south and use the code GRIZZLYWEARS at checkout to get your tickets free of charge. It would be great to see you there so come over, say hello, buy some of our awesome sustainable clothing and support me. Help me make the most of this show and lets have a great couple of days. I will be there all weekend, right by the main stage.

    https://www.instagram.com/grizzlywears/

    On with the Show

    When I booked the stand at the show, I definitely was not ready or prepared. As I write this there are only 64 days left before showtime. The last few weeks have been extremely busy. But I am on track. Being a fresh start up working on a new range of sustainable running clothing there was nothing in stock. There still isn’t on my website. On the plus side, the men’s t-shirts are being made as we speak. Boxer shorts are being made and will arrive on time. Women’s t-shirts, vests, and a couple other items have a slot booked in and will be here. I’m not entirely sure how I pulled this one off but now I have headroom and can relax a little.

    Furthermore, as a business that has nothing this is a big challenge, I need transport, hotels, helpers and all important stock. There is no experienced events planner here leading me to believe there will be a lot of lessons to take from this show. Either way I intend on making the best of it and hopefully doing a few more !

    What will Grizzly Wears have at the Show ?

    Grizzly Wears Clothing will have:

    • Men’s Boxer Shorts !
    • Men’s and Women’s running tees
    • Women’s racerback vests
    • Women’s crop t-shirts and hoodies
    • Some cotton t-shirts

    This is what I hope to definitely have available. I will try and think of some exciting competitions that don’t get me into trouble too. The last part of that sentence is the bit I am struggling with.

    Updates

    7th March

    Getting closer and closer, time is ticking away now. But definitely on track, Men’s products to be printed soon. Women’s are due to be ordered this week. I should definitely put some effort into making the show stand !

    15th March

    Waiting for first batch of clothing ready for the show, this will go live, test stuff has been sent to testers & ambassadors. still have that to-do list to blow through. Yesterday was busy busy. Today, I’m getting hydrated and going for a quick morning run to gain that productivity boost.

    Women’s stuff all here and in preparation.

    4th April

    So… I completely lost track of time and forgot to update this weekly !

    It has certainly been a busy few weeks. We have our men’s recycled running tees available, women’s is in progress. Boxers are in transit. I have loads of freebies and promo items ready for the show. It seems like times is getting tight but I am definitely on track. Most things are all in place and ready. I definitely need to make a stand though !

    18th April

    With less than 3 weeks to go I feel I am nearly there now. Everything is ordered and/or in transit. The show must go on !

    Somehow I feel like I have pulled back a little time and can relax a little. I definitely need to take a few more photos of items and get them put on the shop. Hopefully I can get round to this week. Currently I am waiting on other people getting things here on time so most things are out of my hands and I just need to remain positive. I’ll do this by running and riding in the nice weather.

    27th April

    Into the last 2 weeks before the show, 1 week before we need to start packing and getting ready to head down… I am very nearly ready, pulled everything I can think of together. Few final touches to things and some sorting to do but we should be ready to arrive and give 100% on the day. Fingers crossed nothing goes wrong, I definitely need to get organised and get the counters finished. This was well underway at the weekend but I found some ducklings and had to rescue them so got a little behind. I’ll make the time up this week, get back on track and maybe even have some time to sleep.

    30th April

    One week today… I really need to get on with finishing everything off, thankfully the weather is sunny so I can get out and do some painting. All there is to do then is label everything, organise where it goes and load into van accordingly. I haven’t injured myself running or on the bike so just need to not do that now. I am totally on track for once. Hopefully no more wildlife in need of help turns up today. I believe everything is in hand and we will get to this show with everything in order and kindof planned for.

    If you see me at the Running Show, come and say hello. Hoping it will turn out to be a great weekend and although it wouldn’t be the worst thing to be rushed off my feet the whole time, it would be nice to see some more of the show. Later this week I will remove all stock from the website, If you wish to order anything online, now is probably the time.

    If you can’t make it to the show, here are the latest products which are available to buy in my online shop now:

    I will definitely add to this blog as the countdown to the show gets closer. And finally, there will be some awesome guides to running for you to read in the run up !