Women’s Running USA – September 2019

GEAR TREND ALERT

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46 WOMEN’S RUNNING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

T

he world produc-

es an estimated

92 million tons of

textile waste every

year. Which is sort of hard

to conceptualize. Put more

simply: The fashion industry

has been called the second-

largest polluter in the world

just after the oil industry.

Outdoor and activewear

brands have been some of

the first and most fired up

to committing to reducing

the industry’s environmen-

tal impact. As many of these

companies will readily admit,

it’s nowhere near perfect; but

as Patagonia—one of the

leaders in the sustainable

movement—states: “In the

end, Patagonia may never be

completely responsible. We

have a long way to go and we

don’t have a map—but we do

have a way to read the terrain

and to take the next step, and

then the next.”

From sustainable designs

(products built to last gener-

ations) to more responsible

materials (organic, renew-

able, recycled) and produc-

tion processes (reducing

water, energy, chemical use,

and carbon emissions), these

brands are taking big steps to

increase their eco-friendly

efforts—and creating some

stylish, high-performing gear

while they’re at it.

Eco-Friendly

Fashion

Going greener has never looked this good.

BY GABRIELLE PORCARO

ADIDAS BY STELLA

MCCARTNEY INFINITE

HOODIE signals a move

toward a reality where

products can be completely

recycled and repurposed.

Made from NuCycl and

organic cotton that has been

diverted from landfills, this

sweatshirt represents the fu-

ture potential of garments to

be reused again and again in

high-performance products.