The Problem: Plastic

Most Clothes Are Made From Plastic

65% of clothes are made from plastic-based fibers. If your tag says polyester, nylon or acrylic...that means plastic. And that’s a problem for three reasons: 1) it keeps us dependent on fossil fuels (plastic is made from petroleum), 2) plastic doesn’t biodegrade and 3) plastic is toxic.

Plastic Doesn’t Biodegrade

Plastic is a synthetic material. It takes up to 500 years to break down and never actually biodegrades. In other words: all the plastic that has ever existed, still exists. Every plastic bottle, every polyester t-shirt, is still in a landfill or floating in the ocean.

Plastic Is Toxic

During every wash, plastic-based fibers shed microplastics and leach toxins into the water (plastic is mixed with toxic chemicals). As a result, microplastics are everywhere. New studies show we eat a credit card’s worth of plastic every week.

The Answer: Natural Materials

Natural Materials Make Better Clothes

Natural materials make better clothes. Unlike plastic, natural materials have evolved over thousands (or millions) of years and are very dynamic. Fibers made from plants and wool are more breathable, more antimicrobial, and more enduring.

Natural Materials Biodegrade

Natural materials are inherently biodegradable. They come from the Earth, and return just as easily. Clothes made from natural fibers will turn to soil within a year (so long as they’re free of chemical softeners or dyes).

Natural Materials Are Renewable

Unlike synthetics, natural materials have the capacity to regenerate. Seeds make new plants...which make new seeds. Wool grows back. All that’s required is sun and water (and food for the sheep).

Our Materials

European Linen European Linen

Linen is a sustainable, natural fiber made from the flax plant. It needs only sun and rain to grow. We grow our flax in Normandy, France, overlooking the English Channel.

Why we use it

Linen is breathable, antimicrobial, heat-regulating, and long-lasting. Normandy is the perfect climate for growing flax and produces some of the highest quality linen on Earth.

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Our Bo Shorts, Cham Pants, Playa Shirts, Ola Shirts, Kite Jackets and Sun Tees are all made with 100% linen.

Organic Cotton Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is grown without fertilizers or pesticides and uses 70% less water than conventional cotton. We grow our organic cotton in northern India in the state of Punjab. 

Why we use it

Cotton is naturally soft, durable, and breathable. Only 1% of global cotton production is organic—we want to help increase that percentage.

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Our Canvas Cham Pants, Canvas Kite Jackets, Quilted Kite Jackets and Porto Shirt are made with 100% organic cotton.

Merino Wool Merino Wool

Merino wool is a natural fiber made from the wool of Merino sheep. Our Merino wool comes from family-run farms in Australia.

Why we use it

Merino wool is uniquely soft. It’s heat-regulating, wicks away moisture and doesn’t hold odor. Plus, it’s naturally renewable (wool grows back).

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Our Campo Sweaters, Park Shirt Jackets, and Point Jackets are made with 100% Merino Wool

Natural Dyes Natural Dyes

Natural dyes are pigments made from plants and minerals. We use natural dyes derived from rocks and soil.

Why we use it

Natural dyes are biodegradable, non-toxic and non-allergenic. Synthetic dyes are made from chemicals and are often mixed with plastic-based liquids.

Porto Shirts

Porto Shirts

Porto Shirts
Naturally Dyed Linen

Naturally Dyed Linen

Naturally Dyed Linen

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Our Porto shirts are all made with biodegradable natural dyes.

Raw Leather Raw Leather

All of our leather goods are made with ethically sourced leather.

Why we use it

Raw leather is more durable and beathable than chemically treated leather. And it develops a beautiful patina with wear. Only 10% of global leather production is tanned with organic tannins.

Belts

Belts

Belts
Sandals

Sandals

Sandals

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All our belts and sandals are made with hand-painted leather from León, Mexico.

Cactus Cactus

Cactus leather is a cutting-edge alternative to traditional animal hide. Made in Mexico, the nopal cactus produces a supple, elevated, and renewable quality that is nearly identical to cow leather (arguably even better).

Why we use it

Cactus can be harvested for years, requires no irrigation, and has a net positive impact on CO2 emissions.

Cactus Primo Sandals

Cactus Primo Sandals

Cactus Primo Sandals

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Natural Rubber Natural Rubber

Natural rubber is harvested from the rubber tree by “tapping” the bark (much like maple syrup). Natural rubber is significantly stronger and more elastic than synthetic rubber.

Why we use it

Natural rubber is significantly stronger and more durable than synthetic rubber. Plus, natural rubber is made from organic, renewable resources (rather than plastic).

Bo Shorts

Bo Shorts

Bo Shorts

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We use 100% natural rubber for the elastic waistband on all our Bo Shorts.

Corozo Corozo

Corozo is made from the seeds of the Ivory Palm, a tropical tree native to South America. It looks and feels like horn, giving it the nickname “plant ivory.”

Why we use it

Corozo buttons are extremely strong and heat resistant. Unlike synthetic buttons (made of plastic), corozo buttons are bio- degradable and naturally renewable.

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The buttons on our Playa Shirts, Ola Shirts, Cham Pants, Kite Jackets, Porto Shirts and Park Shirt Jackets are made with 100% corozo.

Coconut Coconut

Coconut is the fruit of the coconut tree, a palm synonymous with the tropics. The coconut's husk is both tough and lightweight, an ideal material for buttons. 

Why we use it

Husks are normally discarded, so coconut buttons give new life to a by-product of the food industry. And, unlike plastic buttons, coconut buttons are made from a naturally renewable material. 

Knit Ola Shirt

Knit Ola Shirt

Knit Ola Shirt

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The Knit Ola Shirts

Botanical Dyes Botanical Dyes

Natural pigments derived from flowers, plants, seeds and minerals. Our dyes are made from indigo, weld flowers, avocado and iron ore.

Why we use it

Unlike synthetic dyes (which leak toxins), botanical dyes are natural and 100% biodegradable.

Botanical Dyes

Botanical Dyes

Botanical Dyes

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Botanical Dyes

Organic Softeners Organic Softeners

Organic softeners are natural enzymes added to water that break down tough fibers in the wash.

Why we use it

Most softeners are made from plastic-based synthetics. Natural softeners make our products soft without compromising their ability to biodegrade.

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All our Playa Shirts, Ola Shirts, Cham Pants, Kite Jackets, Porto Shirts and Park Shirt Jackets are washed with biodegradable enzymes so the fabric is soft from first wear.

Alpaca Alpaca

Alpaca is a supremely soft natural fiber made from the wool of Alpaca (a close relative of the llama). Alpaca are indigenous to the Andes and have been domesticated for thousands of years.

Why we use it

Alpaca fiber is extremely warm, super soft (not a hint of a scratch), moisture-wicking and hypoallergenic. It's also naturally renewable (the wool grows back every year). We use Royal Baby Alpaca, the softest fiber in the alpaca fam.

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