From Flowerdown puffer jackets to seaweed t-shirts, PANGAIA is taking the sustainability fashion scene by storm. In the past few years, the green spotlight of eco-friendly fashion has gotten considerably more crowded… which is awesome. But some companies are looking for ways to stand out from the crowd. PANGAIA’s mission is to create high-end fashion products from creatively sourced, natural materials. The result is a company that is setting the sustainability bar higher than ever before. Let’s explore some of their products. The FLWRDWN Puffer Jacket Flowerdown is a new, trademarked filler that PANGAIA claims they have been working on for a decade. The material is created with natural wildflowers, and it is fully biodegradable. The flowers are infused with an aerogel, which improves their insulation properties, as well as their durability over time. PANGAIA says that the wildflowers themselves are “sourced from areas which contribute to habitat restoration, whilst helping to conserve a species of local butterflies.” The company claims that this sort of agricultural interaction reduces greenhouse gas production up to 12 tons of CO2 per hectare of plant material. In addition, because the flowers don’t require irrigation, their sourcing methods help preserve groundwater. The finished product, FLWRDWN, is hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, and arguably warm. PANGAIA is introducing this jacket filler as a down alternative, keeping animals safe, and humans warm. The FLWRDWN Puffer Jacket is available for $550, a surprisingly low price point for all of the intentional thought put into the product.
The Botanical Dye Seaweed T-Shirt Seaweed is an up-and-coming source for textiles, but PANGAIA is taking it to a new level. Not only does the brand create t-shirts using 20% seaweed fiber and 80% organic cotton, but they make sure that all of their trims, labels, and threads are either recycled or responsibly sourced as well. To add to the impressive list of sustainable initiatives, all product packaging is part bio-based, and the company claims that it will disappear entirely after 24 weeks. This specific t-shirt (and the other colors like it in the series), are dyed with non-toxic natural dyes made from food waste, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Despite (or maybe because of) the creative sourcing, the hues are rich and deeply toned. This particular red t-shirt is colored with madder plant root. The t-shirts are also treated with peppermint oil. This allows wearers to wash the t-shirts less, in order to save water, energy and time. (Cutting back on laundry has some major advantages, while using a washing machine can have a negative impact on the environment.) The Botanical Dye T-Shirt is often sold out on PANGAIA’s website, but it’s available for $85 whenever it’s in stock.
The Recycled Cotton Hoodie PANGAIA’s Recycled Cotton Hoodie is not your average sweatshirt. True to form, the company paid painstaking attention to the way this garment was constructed. To make sure the look and the feel of the hoodie were up to standard and desirable for buyers, the texture is thick and cozy, similar to other upscale, designer sweatshirts. The difference? All of the cotton used in the hoodie was either recycled or grown without the use of pesticides and chemicals. The goal of the company was to save water and respect the soil used to construct the textiles used in the garment. Similar to the previous piece highlighted in this post, all of the trims, labels, and threads used in the hoodie were also recycled or responsibly sourced. Same with the packaging--bio-based, and gone in 24 weeks. PANGAIA’s hoodies, available in three colors, go for $150 on their website. (Note: there are other exciting developments in the cotton world. Read about the World’s First Circular Cotton here on the blog.) How does PANGAIA have so much control and thought put into their textile construction? Forbes reports that it is actually a hybrid company that “brings together material science through its research and development facility, and demonstrate(s) its textile prowess via its own-brand fashion collections.” In short, PANGAIA is doing its own homework. Artists, designers, researchers, and scientists are all part of the company’s team, elevating its products to greater heights in both style and sustainability. Amanda Parkes, the Chief Innovation Officer of PANGAIA, said that when she moved into fashion she was surprised that most companies don’t have ownership over their production methods. PANGAIA was determined to be different, building a business model that incorporates a hand in every step of the manufacturing process. PANGAIA founders believe that fashion has the potential to have a positive impact on society and the environment. They’re doing their best to use the platform they have as a clothing developer to make the world a better place for everyone, whether it’s people, animals, or the other forms of biological life doing its best to thrive. Cover Image: Photo by Lindsay Henwood