Words by Smiley Team
Nike is moving towards its goals of “zero waste, zero carbon” with several more environmentally-friendly designs this month. After the brand introduced a clothing range made from recycled materials at the start of February, it will release its first more sustainable trainer design, Cosmic Unity, on 26th February 2021.
At least 25 per cent of the shoe’s weight consists of recycled materials, making it a trailblazer for further advances towards circular fashion. Its release comes shortly after Nike launched its Spring 2021 collection, which also incorporates recycled materials.
Among those behind Cosmic Unity is the senior creative director for performance footwear at Nike, Ross Klein. He said: “We asked ourselves a question that is guiding our process into the future: Can a product that makes the world better also make an athlete better? We wanted to create a synergy between making the world better by what we do, but also leave an impact for athletes so that they can perform at a higher level.”
In their Spring collection, they used 100 per cent recycled polyester and nylon to create large parts of their designs, including a winter sports jacket, a convertible skirt and a thermal vest.
Reliant on sweatshops abroad and carbon-intensive materials, fast fashion is responsible for 20 per cent of global water wasted and 10 per cent of carbon emissions. So clothing companies have a long way to go to 100 per cent sustainability in order to tackle the climate crisis.
However, the fashion world is increasingly waking up to the devastating impact it is having on the environment. Brands and retailers are slowly taking steps to reduce their toll on the environment, with companies like Adidas and H&M producing their clothes from more sustainable materials. Meanwhile, fashion leaders are setting an example, with Copenhagen Fashion Week promoting green designs at its events.
To play your part in decarbonising the fashion industry, try buying clothes only from second-hand stores such as Traid, a charity working to reduce clothing and textiles waste. The funds generated from clothing sales go towards organisations improving working conditions abroad and educating people about the social and environmental impact of the textiles industry. But, before you take to the shops, always bear in mind that the most sustainable clothes are the ones already in your wardrobe.
