Another recycled tee shirt line, we can almost hear your eyes rolling from here. TRUST US, this is not just any ordinary eco tee line. PLAYBACK’s recycled cotton T-shirts and sweatshirts are made from collecting post-industrial cotton scraps and plastic and glass bottles and sorting them by color. They are then broken down into fiber form and paired with other fibers (recycled cotton or polyester) to add softness and durability. The fibers are then re-spun into yarn and knitted into PLAYBACK t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies. We’re not talking about a solar-paneled suit or pants made out of leaves, we’re talking about clothes you actually want to wear that happen to help the environment. So yea, they are made with some serious ethics in play, but let’s talk comfort. Here at GirlieGirl Army Headquarters, we have test run their hoodies and tee shirts and will tell you – they are some of the most cozy, durable, and warm eco fabrics we’ve ever put close to our teets.
Did you know:
- 4 million tons of textile waste are discarded each day.
- Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.
- The average American throws away about 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per year.
- Cotton production accounts for 25% of the pesticide used in the world.
- To grow enough cotton for one 250g cotton t-shirt it takes 300 gallons of water.
- It really doesn’t take any effort at all to choose to buy eco-savvy pieces like these as opposed to the (frankly) less comfy and less cool conventional versions.
These kids at PLAYBACK are serious nerds, and we heart it. They have done their research and found that some companies that make eco clothing actually end up using just as many or more environmental resources during the manufacturing process than conventionally made clothing. For example, most clothing made out of bamboo is shipped from Asia (because lax environmental laws allow the use of harsh chemicals), a process that negates the benefits of making the “environmentally-friendly” product in the first place. PLAYBACK found a way to measure their entire environmental impact, from extraction of raw materials to the process of shipping, dying, and finally, disposal. And they come out ahead of other eco-lines, 23 out of 25 times! Not to mention, who has $100 to pay for a tee shirt? Yes, many green lines charge even more than that for a simple tee, and this economy, for most of us, that is simply not realistic. Not PLAYBACK…tees are a humble $20, hoodies average $55 (still cheaper than American Apparel!), and the fun peacoat below is $99. Now you can do good for the planet, without doing bad for your wallet.
