SUSTAINABLE STYLE: WOOLRICH AND GRIFFIN STUDIO

The Woolrich Sustainable Collection, designed by Jeff Griffin of the UK-based carbon neutral design studio, blends the avid passion for the great outdoors and for functional garments shared by both brands.

More precisely, the collaboration bonds Griffin’s ability to balance form and function, plus his passion for technology and sustainability, with Woolrich’s expertise and authority in the outerwear field since 1830. The result is a future-leaning collection anchored in tradition.

Featuring vivid patterns and a vivacious palette, it highlights reversible outerwear, such as a parka that transforms into a sleeping bag/poncho and pockets inspired by poachers’ coats culled from the Woolrich archive.

In terms of sustainability, well-aware that standard dyeing processes require approximately 200 liters of water for only one kilo of fabric, Griffin worked with Italian technical sportswear fabric manufacturer Majocchi, to create an innovative Zero Waterproduction process.

Moreover, thanks to a partnership with Seaqual, an organization that challenges marine plastic pollution, the collection usesfabric made from recycled plastic harvested from Spanish coasts, where marine litter is transformed into 100 percent recycled polyester. The exclusive Eco Ramar Cloth, instead, reduces water usage by 80 percent. Organic cotton and recycled Italian nylon are printed rather than dyed with the classic Woolrich buffalo check as a major water saving measure.

At the core of this collection is the circular economy concept whose goal is to eliminate waste by transforming the textile industry’s leftover, discarded and unwanted surplus into functional, interesting and wearable garments. Circular economy also supports the idea that if high quality fabrics are used, the risk of reaching landfill becomes a non-issue due to the longevity and re-use of garments.