Eco-responsible clothing: what are Wolbe's commitments?
Passionate about sports, we derive infinite pleasure from pushing ourselves on the planet's playgrounds. In the mountains, forests, oceans, or whitewater. But we see that these ecosystems are rapidly deteriorating. So, we created Wolbe to imagine a new standard : a brand that offers more freedom without compromising the planet. It's our way of actively committing to environmental protection.
How do we achieve this in the fashion world? What are our biases? On a complex subject, where there is no clear path, we explain the choices we make to ensure that our clothing is as respectful of the planet as possible.
1) What is eco-responsible clothing?
These are clothes that preserve the planet's non-renewable resources and limit pollution that accelerates global warming and the degradation of soils and oceans.
Just two things... But two real challenges for the fashion industry as we described it in our episode on eco-responsible fashion!
Fortunately, experts from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (a world-famous English sailor) have created a roadmap that clearly outlines the options to follow in the textile and clothing sector:
- choose materials that do not generate microplastics (no petroleum derivatives)
- increase the lifespan of clothing and facilitate eco-responsible use
- consider the recycling or biodegradability of the garment from its creation
- use renewable energy as much as possible
We recommend a very entertaining 4-minute film on the circular economy model that would be ideal to implement tomorrow (Ellen MacArthur Foundation)
2) Commitment No. 1: less but better
First, the cuts are minimalist and timeless , perfect for any style. Simplicity never goes out of style . Fewer pieces. But more versatile. That means fewer fabrics and fewer wasted resources.
Second, our clothes are pieces to LIVE in!
Being elegant on dates AND walking in the rain without getting wet AND cycling easily without sweating AND going out after work without changing… How many “lives” do you have in a day? How many clothes should you use?
Our clothes aren't just perfectly cut. We play with materials, cuts, and technologies to enhance their functionality.
The Biella shirt , the Gianni blazer , the Hortense polo shirt, the Arguin polo shirt or the Amsterdam sweater wick away perspiration and do not retain odors. You can wear them several times.
The Finisher jacket is a blazer when you wear it without the bib, and a very protective waterproof jacket when you activate it. It even has reflective strips under the cuffs and in the collar and zips under the armpits. To be visible at night on your bike. At least three pieces in one ! Ditto for the car coat .
Without betraying the style of course!
And then, designing clothes that follow you means promoting an active lifestyle and prioritizing your health!
LESS BUT BETTER. This is our guiding principle for making eco-responsible clothing!
This philosophy of versatility , which gave birth to the brand, obviously pushes us to also be very demanding on the manufacturing of the clothes itself. Choice of materials, partners, production sites. We explain our biases to you!
3) Commitment No. 2: natural or recycled materials
We work 100% of the first and second layers of our wardrobe with natural materials . And not just any natural materials. Merino wool and Tencel® because they must combine BOTH technical performance AND a limited footprint on natural resources.
Superfine merino wool is therefore our favorite material . It is the basis of our shirts , trousers , polo shirts and even car coats. Breathable, anti-odor, crease-resistant, renewable (the sheep are sheared once a year). Its properties are incredible. Very insulating, it is used in winter against the cold and in summer against the heat.
We select ZQ merino wool "mulesing free". And we have chosen an Italian weaver who raises his own sheep, combs his wool in Italy (while 80% of wool is currently combed in China) and therefore ensures perfect traceability!
To facilitate end-of-life recycling, we make 95% of our clothing from a single material . Our shirts and trousers are 100% wool. But we are evolving in our thinking on the subject. Indeed, certain artificial materials multiply the lifespan of a pair of trousers by 3. When we know that the first ecological gesture is to buy fewer clothes, we have launched suits in Combat Wool® . Cordura® provides 10 times more resistance to abrasion than classic wool!
Tencel® (or Lyocell) is our second favorite material . We use it in our shirts and sweaters . Made from wood pulp from responsible forests, its production is very clean (mild solvents and completely reused production water). Its breathability, softness, and antibacterial properties convinced us.
Cotton is avoided. It uses a lot of water and pesticides and doesn't dry quickly enough.
For our third layers, which effectively protect you from wind, rain, and cold, no offer yet exists without petrochemical-based fabrics. And yet we've been scouring the trade shows...!
We therefore trust Sympatex® , a German partner very committed to research. They have developed the equivalent of Goretex®, but more responsible. Made from recycled polyester , it is very efficient. The waterproofing of our blazer jacket is equivalent to that of a high mountain hiking jacket (so you can keep it for a very long time): it will withstand a downpour with a water pressure of 20 meters / cm2! And since it washes much less than a sports t-shirt, there is little release of micro-plastics.
Moreover, to facilitate its recycling, our jacket is made of a single material: it is 100% polyester (recycled).
For our car coat , we have chosen an exceptional Italian complex with 88% natural materials (wool and viscose), with nevertheless a waterproof polyamide membrane.
Our fabrics are Italian, French, or German. And our weavers are located close to the manufacturing sites.
They all benefit from the Oekotex 100 label, which guarantees compliance with regulatory thresholds for polluting, carcinogenic and allergenic substances. The wool is guaranteed to be of very high quality and respectful of animal welfare thanks to the ZQ merino and Sustainawool labels. Our French shirt weaver respects the Altertex code of conduct, which guarantees very high ambitions in environmental matters throughout the production process.
To make our clothes eco-responsibly, we finally refuse all so-called "finishing" treatments : anti-odor, anti-stain, easier ironing. Even if they can be relevant. Firstly, because they are chemical and can cause allergies. Secondly, because they ultimately disappear after a few washes. The same goes for water-repellent treatments based on fluoropolymers: our waterproof fabrics are PTFE- and PFC-free.
4) Commitment #3: making clothes that last
Our outerwear is 100% heat-sealed , meaning it's seamless . It's the perfect combination of strength, durability, and lightweight . This innovation in a city wardrobe also guarantees the complete waterproofing of our outerwear. Our small Italian workshop in the Venice region is renowned for this cutting-edge expertise.
We're always looking to make our clothes easy to use. They're tested, washed, and tried on multiple times. Because we know how you'll use them. For example, our Finisher jacket or our Gianni blazer can easily be rolled up in the bottom of a bag. They'll always come out looking perfect!
When it comes to maintenance, we strive for practicality. Odorless merino wool allows for half the number of washes. A shirt can be worn for three days without any problem! Our pants and polo shirts are machine washable at 30°C.
New avenues are being explored to accelerate progress on this issue. New materials and new technical processes will allow us to rapidly expand our potential in this field. Stay tuned!
5) Commitment No. 4: made in Europe
To limit our carbon footprint from transportation, we produce exclusively on the European continent, using fabrics spun in France, Italy, or Germany. Our Italian weaver is 20 km from our jacket and car coat manufacturer, for example.
But we know we can do even better to make eco-responsible clothing. And we're committed to reducing distances even further in this area.
We're proud of the commitments we're keeping today. They contribute to our daily motivation! But investing in a sustainable approach also means being clear-eyed about the improvements that can still be made.
Even better alignment of our weaving and manufacturing sites to optimize upstream and downstream transportation. Work on materials that would significantly extend the product's lifespan, etc. Don't hesitate to ask us questions or send us your ideas if you have any!
