Sustainable living is slowly but surely spreading into all areas of our lives. Durability is and. Sustainable fashion is a must. What about brands that worked sustainably and with care for the environment even before it was necessary and (too) necessary? There aren't many of them, but behind them are people who, out of their love for nature and passion for work, have followed it quite organically. The Royal Robbins brand, founded in 1968 by Liz and Royal Robbins, young climbers, adventurers and passionate travelers, is one such brand.
The founders, who are beginners in the technique clean climbing (climbing styles where the guideline is not to damage the rocks while climbing), they have successfully transferred their philosophy that we should not leave traces in nature to the production of clothing for spending time outside. Clothing that is light, quick-drying, wind-resistant, foldable, absorbs odors and moisture, protects against the sun and insects, and offers maximum comfort.
How Royal Robbins demonstrates its sustainability approach:
- In Materials Innovation. By recycling bottles and oyster shells, they produce special sea wool, Seawool, and thus successfully reduce the amount of land and sea waste. In combination with merino wool, it is used to make sweaters from the Westlands line, which are characterized by softness, breathability, temperature regulation, odor resistance and antistatic properties.
- Durable materials: hemp, organic cotton, recycled polyester, TencelTM and Modal.
- Paint techniques, which takes place already at the level of the fiber, as a result of which water consumption in the dyeing process is significantly reduced.
- A useful and simple design that is always up-to-date. The Billy Goat jacket is a wonderful example of a collection piece that hasn't changed much since 1975. The only changes are in the improved materials, which are even more durable and comfortable.
- Processed coffee grounds and apple peels. The coffee grounds that Royal Robbins buys from Starbucks in Taiwan are used in the production process of S.cafe fibers, which, in combination with recycled polyester, ensure that the fabric is resistant to unpleasant odors, effectively wicks away moisture and dries quickly. Processed apple peels serve as patches on clothing in the form of logos. Thus, most of their clothes are also suitable for vegans.
- Shortest possible transport routes. Production is located in Taiwan, so the raw materials for making clothes are bought there. Bottles, coffee grounds, oyster shells and apple peels also come from there.
Irena Cerar – Royal Robbins ambassador
A brand with such a story cannot be represented by anyone. That's why it was gratifying to work with Irena Cerar - traveler, writer, mountain guide and folklore researcher. He feels nature, recharges his batteries in it, collects materials for new and new books and, last but not least, lives it. In the plastic-free challenge, which she set herself years ago and with which she also impressed most of her colleagues and friends, she managed to significantly reduce the consumption of plastic in her household. The range of fast fashion certainly confuses rather than excites her, which is why she finds herself in Royal Robbins clothes, which are available in classic and timeless cuts and natural color schemes that are easily combined with each other. The time she would have otherwise wasted on shopping, she is now happy to devote to even more trips. She is convinced that the primary purpose of clothes is still to serve us and not for us to serve them.
You can already find the new Royal Robbins collection on the shelves of Emporium, Annapurna and Rebel stores, and of course at online.
