Given its environmental impact, the textile industry is one of the most harmful industries in the world. Carbon emissions reach their peak in the production and distribution processes carried out nonstop to meet global demand.
New reports are constantly being added that highlight this major problem driving climate change. The United Nations has issued a global call on the subject called the Sustainable Development Goals.
The apparel industry, one of the biggest consumers of the world's resources, is trying to reduce its environmental impact by embracing sustainable fashion. This approach, which also covers the goals in the UN's plans for the future, is spreading across the entire industry. In addition to global brands, many local brands have also started taking sustainable steps.
Australia's P.E Nation is among those who have joined this most beneficial movement in the fashion world. The luxury activewear brand stands out for its eco-friendly solutions. Sourcing most of its fabrics from recycled materials, the brand keeps adding new sustainable steps.
The Beginning
Embracing sustainability to protect the planet's future goes beyond being a passing fashion trend. It's a responsibility everyone should take on in order to leave a livable world to future generations. P.E Nation does its part in this movement, which will never go out of style. It also invites everyone to share in this awareness.
The distinguished activewear brand uses fabrics woven from recycled yarns in most of the performance products in its collection. Its cotton fabrics come from cotton grown through 100% organic farming.
STRIKE SET is the brand's first collection made entirely from sustainable fabrics. The products in this special series also use Vita Power by Carvico fabric, woven in Italy. What makes the fabric eco-friendly is that it's made from recycled nylon. As a bonus, it offers great performance support.
This was followed by the LEAD RIGHT and FLEX IT sets, made with fabrics of a similar nature. Continuing production with a sustainable mindset, the brand has already made a significant contribution to the environment.
P.E Nation's sense of responsibility toward future generations can also be seen in the bags and product packaging it uses. To this end, it works with The Better Packaging Co, a company known for production that aims to reduce its carbon footprint. The brand uses compostable bags, sleeves and drawstring bags made from recycled PET bottles. In addition, the cardboard boxes used in distribution and sales are also made to be recyclable.
An eco-friendly approach is also followed in labeling and brand printing. The inner care labels and standard product labels have been redesigned. All the new designs are made from polyester yarns derived from solid waste. Recycled materials are also used in P.E Nation's iconic logo prints.
All of these have been described as just “the beginning” by this attractive and powerful name in activewear fashion.
Sedex, Australian Trusted Trader and ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative)
Thanks to its sustainable steps, P.E Nation is a member of three separate organizations that are authorities in this field. Sedex is a major organization that supports the growth of ethical trade through the standards it sets. Its membership grows every day.
ETI is an organization working to prevent the exploitation of workers' rights worldwide. Countless companies are registered with the organization, which aims to improve workers' working conditions.
Australian Trusted Trader, Australia's internationally recognized trade program, has its own set of criteria. By shortening and simplifying the import-export processes of member companies, the program makes an indirect but significant contribution to the environment.
Awareness of the future shouldn't be seen only as using eco-friendly products and not harming natural resources during production. Workers' working conditions and economic situations should also be considered in this sense. Improving employees' rights is part of the steps taken toward a more livable world. Recognizing the importance of this, P.E Nation is in constant communication with the brands in its supply chain. It strives to develop business models that will improve workers' working conditions. In this way, it also aims to meet the UN's goals on the subject.
The Future
P.E Nation's founders, Pip Edwards and Claire Tregoning, are successful pioneers of the sustainable fashion movement in Australia. The goal they set for themselves for 2020 was to produce 80% of their collections within a sustainability framework. In a statement on this, they said that if they couldn't make a product to the standard they aimed for, they would rather not make it at all.
The activewear company the two close friends founded in 2016 is today an iconic brand recognized worldwide. Pip Edwards' comment on the eco-friendly stance of this hugely popular brand is: “We're an outdoor brand born and raised on the beach. If we don't respect nature and the future, there's no point talking about what our brand does.”
It looks like we'll keep following P.E Nation's sustainable, innovative steps in the future.