Sustainability
Transcendent Active’s Commitment to Sustainable Fashion
When you think of activewear, you probably think of polyester or PET--that stretchy synthetic fabric that is made from petroleum, a carbon intensive and non-renewable source. At Transcendent Active, we’ve managed to bring all the comfort and function of polyester to you with none of the environmental consequences!
That’s because our sustainable activewear products are made from recycled polyester (rPET), which is obtained by melting down existing plastic and re-spinning it into new poly fiber, the same material that makes up clear plastic water bottles! By recycling this material to create fabric, we give these plastic water bottles new life so they don’t end up in a landfill.
5 Plastic Soda Bottles = One XL T-Shirt!
How Your Water Bottles Become Our Sustainable Activewear
First, the old plastic bottles are sterilized, dried, and crushed into small chips. Then those chips are heated and passed through a spinneret to form strings of yarn. The yarn is then wound up into spools and the fiber is passed through a crimping machine to create a soft texture. Finally, the yarn is baled, dyed, and knitted into the zero waste fashion you are wearing today!
This conversion process requires 33-53% less energy than the production of normal polyester! By using recycled polyester over regular PET, we can reduce our dependence on petroleum as the raw material for fabrics. Choosing a more sustainable fabric like rPET also reduces the amount of plastic in landfills, contributing to the decrease of pollution and soil contamination. By choosing to buy our sustainable activewear, you’re taking a small step that leads to BIG change!
Bluesign Approved
Not only do we produce sustainable fashion, but we do it in an ethical way, too! All of our fabrics are BLUESIGN Approved. Check out BLUESIGN, a system that provides safer and more sustainable environments for people to work and live in. Powered by a holistic approach, BLUESIGN traces each textile’s path along the manufacturing journey, making improvements at every stage from factory floor to finished product. As a solution provider and knowledge broker, BLUESIGN acts as an independent verifier to secure trust and transparency.
So how do we get the BLUESIGN seal of approval? Our sustainable activewear is traceable from the very beginning, and its production and manufacturing is verified responsible every step of the way.
Ethically Made in the USA
We all know that overseas garment production has changed American life. The industry that once offered jobs to millions of Americans has now been outsourced offshore. That is why we only manufacture in America! Transcendent Active works closely with our Downtown Los Angeles factories to ensure they are clean,safe, and respectful work environments. The employees are incredibly talented, paid well, and treated with the utmost respect. Because sustainable activewear isn’t just about the fashion, it’s about the people behind it, too!
Deadstock Fabric
Did you know that about 15% of the fabric used in the garment production industry ends up on the cutting room floor and gets thrown away? As part of our commitment to zero waste fashion, Transcendent is doing everything we can to help eliminate fabric waste. One way we are doing so is by buying deadstock fabric. Deadstock fabric is the leftover material that fabric mills have from their larger brands. In the past, mills would hold onto this excess fabric for a few seasons and then send it to the landfill. Now, eco-conscious fashion brands are seeking to give deadstock fabric new life.
The mill that we work with in LA carries deadstock fabric from brands like SoulCycle, Fabletics, and Athleta. That means that this deadstock fabric is top-quality but just sitting in the warehouse awaiting purchase or landfill. Small brands like ours benefit greatly from buying deadstock fabrics. Since the fabric is already made, we can assure quality and buy exactly the amount we need in order to eliminate unnecessary waste. So we turn this deadstock fabric into sustainable modest activewear!
This type of fabric isn’t exactly as sustainable as the recycled polyester we also use, but since it has already been made, we help make sure it doesn’t go to waste.
Zero Waste Fashion Initiative
Fashion isn’t just about the latest trends and coolest looks, it’s also an opportunity to bring about change since the industry has one of the biggest carbon footprints. That’s why, at Transcendent Active, we are doing all we can to limit waste and become completely sustainable. Stay tuned for more Zero Waste products and strategies!
Sustainable Packaging
Our commitment to sustainable fashion extends all the way to the small details of our packaging. Transcendent Active is thrilled to partner with EcoEnclose, a Colorado based eco-friendly shipping supplier. Our poly mailer bags are made with 100% recycled material, 50% post-consumer waste, and feature a dual adhesive strip for reuse. That means, if you need to make a return the second adhesive strip allows you to do this effortlessly without using another bag!
The notecards we send along with purchases are constructed entirely from recovered trash, printed with eco-friendly inks. All of it is naturally biodegradable and compostable as well.
All of our sustainable activewear pieces are wrapped in white tissue paper made entirely from post-consumer and post-industrial content and sealed with the world’s most sustainable sticker option made exclusively from 100% post-consumer paper!
The best part about our sustainable packaging? It’s all manufactured and printed right here in the USA.