The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, with roughly 800,000 tonnes of clothes wasted each year in Germany alone. Wolford‘s engineering masterminds have been working for over 4 years on how to take the next step towards a brighter future, moving the fashion industry away from its linear, cradle to grave, system, and towards a circular economy. The Cradle to Cradle® approach tackles this issue as all ingredients used in the production are kept in an endless life cycle, never touching the bin. Each design is developed with the intention to bring the ingredients back to the cycle, and instead of taking new materials, Wolford simply borrows them for the lifetime of the product.
The first Wolford Cradle to Cradle® gold certified products will hit stores this September, starting with a pair of leggings and a pullover and expanding season by season. After their life cycle with customers naturally comes to an end, Wolford will return them to an industrial composting station and those smart ingredients will close the loop and begin a new life as nutrients for our planet, such as humus and bio gas.
“We are very proud to be able to launch the first Cradle to Cradle ® certified products in fashion industry, yet we are just at the beginning of our journey. But finally we are able to take sustainability to the next level, for a world beyond next season,” said Andreas Röhrich, Director, Product Development, Product Management & Textile Sourcing at Wolford.
The Aurora pieces are made up of three fibres: Lenzing Modal®, a cellulosic fibre derived from sustainable forestry; the specially modified oil based biodegradable polymer infinito® by Lauffenmühle; and a special ROICA™ premium smart yarn, which on top of high stretch performance is able to degrade without releasing any harmful substances. All of these components comply with safe standards for biological cycles by the Material Health Assessment supported by the accredited assessor EPEA Switzerland.
