MetaEfficient Reviews » Clothing

Ultra-Efficient Design Meets Low-Impact Manufacturing: Patagonia Wetsuits

benjamin — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:05:48 +0000

Ultra-Efficient Design Meets Low-Impact Manufacturing: Patagonia Wetsuits (photo: Patagonia)

If you’re not a surfer or a diver, a wetsuit may seem like a fairly specialized or even obscure piece of equipment. But once in a while, a product arrives on the market that’s noteworthy not only for how well it performs its job, but also for how it’s designed and produced. Such is the case with the amazingly efficient line of wetsuits recently added to Patagonia’s catalog of outdoor gear. (more…)

Old Running Shoes Never Die – But Brooks BioMoGo Really Does Fade Away

benjamin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:45:39 +0000

Brooks Trance With Biodegradable BioMoGo (photo: Brooks Sports, Inc.)

A critical aspect of a product’s “efficiency” involves not just what it does, but also where it comes from and where it goes after its useful life. Brooks has taken an innovative step to improve the life-cycle efficiency of its running shoes with its biodegradable BioMoGo cushioning material. (more…)

Five Efficient T-Shirts Of 2008

Siel — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:42:22 +0000

Just a couple years ago, a simple organic cotton T-shirt wasn’t so easy to find. Now, with Quicksilver, H&M, and even Forever 21 getting into the green fashion business, eco-friendly T-shirts are a dime a dozen. Still, finding well-fitting and stylish T-shirts made using fair labour can take some work — especially if you’re interested in the latest in eco-friendly and innovative materials and design. Here’s a look at five of the most efficient T-shirts available now: (more…)

Efficient Jeans: Those Made With Organic Cotton Or Hemp

Justin — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:43:34 +0000

Efficient jeans are still hard to find. Conventionally grown cotton requires more pesticides to grow than any other crop. The more efficient method is to grow organic cotton or hemp. The surf company Reef makes some good organic cotton jeans, like their Heritage Jeans (shown above), their Philosopher Jeans and Heritage Cords. Outdoor clothing company Patagonia offers a pair of organic cotton jeans: the Workender. The Gap offers some organic cotton jeans. You can also find designer jeans made out of organic cotton. Hemp is the most optimal material with which to make jeans, but few hemp jeans are available. You can find some at Hempest.

The Most Efficient Material For Cold Weather: Merino Wool

Justin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:27:13 +0000

Merino wool is the most efficient material for cold weather. Merino wool is softer than regular wool, and it feels more like cotton against the skin. Merino wool resists wind and warms better than synthetic materials. It doesn’t absorb odors and it regulates body temperature. It is also produced in a sustainable manner.

The jacket pictured here is the Smartwool Banff Jacket. It’s designed with a woven wool sueded fabric, and it has a heavy 100% merino wool lining. There is a women’s version of this jacket too. Smartwool sells a whole range merino wool clothing, including summer wear. Merino wool clothing tends to be expensive, but you can find Smartwool on eBay and at REI Outlet.

Icebreaker: Efficient Wool T-Shirts For Warm Weather

Justin — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:43:28 +0000

Icebreaker, a New Zealand company, is proving that wool can be worn in warm weather. They have released a new line of “ultra-fine” merino wool T-shirts. I’ve been testing their Tech T Lite while biking, it has performed quite admirably in the heat — it keeps you cool, and retains less odor than a cotton shirt. I am prone to be aggravated by materials that make you itch – but I didn’t find Icebreaker’s merino wool itchy. Icebreaker now has a entire range of men’s and women’s summer clothing. (more…)

Nike’s “Trash Talk” Shoe Made With Manufacturing Waste

Justin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:10:21 +0000

Steve Nash is the All-Star guard for the Phoenix Suns has forged a partnership with Nike to create the Nike Trash Talk, a basketball shoe made from manufacturing waste. The “waste” comes Nike’s own production facilities—scraps that would otherwise have been discarded. The Trash Talk is modeled after Steve Nash’s current shoe, the Nike Zoom BB II Low, and meets Nike’s Considered design standards for taking a sustainable approach to performance footwear innovation.

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Cocona: A Fabric Enhancer Derived From Coconuts

Justin — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 08:13:20 +0000

Cocona is a natural fabric enhancer that is made with activated carbon. The activated carbon is derived from coconut husks — it is a “waste” product of the water filter industry. But what does Cocona do exactly? It is said to help traditional fabrics resist moisture, control odor and shield ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Activated carbon has a huge absorbing area — one gram of it has a surface area the size of two tennis court. Some 40 outdoor clothing manufacturers, including GoLite, Marmot, Sierra Designs and Royal Robbins, are incorporating Cocona into their 2007 product lines. (more…)

Optimal: Making Manufacturing Processes Transparent: Patagonia

Justin — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 20:29:59 +0000

Patagonia is really a leader in effective, green manufacturing. Now the company is making its manufacturing processes as transparent as possible. Patagonia has created a web site called the Footprint Chronicles, where you can track the eco “footprint” of several pieces of Patagonian clothing. Also listed in the amount of waste and CO2 generated as the garments are produced — quite elucidating.

Merino Wool: Optimal Green Winter Material

Justin — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:59:11 +0000

Merino wool is an optimal green material for use in winter. In contrast to most other synthetic materials that are commonly used to make winter garb, it is quite sustainable. It’s softer than regular wool, resists wind, regulates body temperature, and warms better than synthetic material. Some good maker of natural merino wool clothing are Smartwool, Patagonia, Ibex and Icebreaker (pictured here).