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AGI's New Regenerative Agriculture Project and Understanding Sustainable Fabrics
Induja from Trace
May 16, 2024
Happy Thursday!
We’re excited to kick off our newsletter this week with a discussion on what’s going on in the industry. This week we’ll dive more into conversations around major industry initiatives such as the Regenerative Cotton Farm Project, and take a deep dive into some of the most commonly used fabrics in the fashion industry and their more sustainable alternatives.
Keep reading for a highlight on one of Trace’s brand partners and our take on the most innovative brands and companies in fashion!
Headlines
AGI Denim, a major denim manufacturer has announced they are starting a new initiative: The AGI Denim Regenerative Cotton Farm Project, with the purpose of establishing sustainable agricultural practices in Pakistan.
This project identifies small farmers to implement regenerative agricultural practices that will minimize chemicals and protect biodiversity. The organization will partner with the non-profit: Rural Education & Economic Development Society (REEDS) to work closely with farmers in the area.
In addition to improving soil health and biodiversity, the project aims to reduce the company’s overall footprint, by reducing transportation through a more localized supply chain. The organization will also pursue the RegenAgri certification, to ensure that the project is maintaining globally approved standards.
To learn more about this initiative, read here.
Analysis of the Week
One of the factors that goes into the sustainability of clothing is the fabric used. Let’s take a look at some of the less sustainable fabrics to avoid, and consider some more sustainable alternatives.
Fabric | Why it’s not sustainable | Alternative Considerations |
|---|---|---|
Polyester | Most polyester is not biodegradable and will pile up in landfills. Polyester is also produced in an unsustainable manner, derived partially from oil and requires large amounts of water to produce. Polyester also releases microplastics through heavy washing. | Recycled polyester (rPET) - This is made from plastic bottles and uses less water than regular polyester. However, rPET still releases microplastics during washing, so this is not the most highly recommended fabric. |
Nylon | Nylon is a synthetic fabric used in tights and stockings, as well as swim-wear and active wear. Nylon is not biodegradable, uses petroleum and heavy amounts of water during production, and releases microplastics through washing. | Econyl is a nylon alternative fabric made from synthetic waste such as plastic, waste fabric and fishing nets. Econyl is produced in a closed loop system which uses less water and creates less waste. The downside with Econyl is that it also releases small amounts of microplastics. |
Rayon | Although Rayon is a plant based fabric and more sustainable than nylon or polyester, it is often a culprit of greenwashing. Rayon is derived from wood pulp of eucalyptus, spruce and pine trees. Often times, the wood pulp is not harvested sustainably, and heavy chemicals that are dangerous for workers are used during the production process. Rayon is also a major contributor of deforestation. | TENCEL Lyocell fabric is made from wood pulp, similar to rayon. TENCEL requires less water in production than traditional fibers, including regular cotton, is a less chemically intensive process than Rayon, and intentionally uses responsibly-sourced wood. |
Traditional Cotton | Cotton is a commonly used fabric with shockingly devastating consequences. Cotton requires heavy water usage and the production process often pollutes waterways with chemicals and dyes. Conventional cotton is also grown with a significant amount of pesticides. | Organic and/or Recycled Cotton is always a better alternative to traditionally produced cotton. While recycled cotton is the most preferable alternative, produced from consumer waste and less water & energy needed for production, organic cotton is also a decent substitute to traditional cotton as it doesn’t use pesticides and harmful chemicals in its’ production process. |
Other alternatives and methods to combat unsustainable fibers:
Organic Hemp or Linen Fabrics - These are some of the more sustainable clothing options you can consider. These fabrics are both derived from plants and use less water during production. They also do not release microplastics during washing, and are biodegradable fabrics.
Microfiber Wash Bags- Many brands produce washing bags for you to be able to wash synthetic fabrics such as polyester that typically release microplastics while in the washing machine. The washing bags will capture microfibers which you can easily dispose of after the wash.
Brand Spotlight
Learn about one of the sustainable brands we’ve partnered with!
Check out today’s featured brand: Horizon Active
Horizon Active is a sustainable active wear brand, which was founded in and produces in the U.S., to keep their carbon footprint low. The founder, Sara was driven by discovering the many environmental and social issues that exist in the fashion space and wanting to tackle these issues through all parts of their value chain.
The active wear is constructed from recycled fabric, made in-house, and shipped in zero-waste compostable packaging. Check out Horizon Active for all your active wear needs!
Innovation in Fashion
Jamble, is a fashion retail second-hand marketplace powered by live streaming and video. Jamble empowers resellers with video & live streaming tools to sell more effectively and provides buyers with a unique compelling experience.
Panagia, a well-known clothing brand is now producing a collection of hoodies, t-shirts, track pants, and shorts made from agricultural waste, such as banana leaf and pineapple lead fibers.
Refibred, an intelligent sorting technology for textile-to-textile recycling. It accurately detects fiber composition and containment presence in textile waste for recycling.
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