Recyclable and recycled technical waterproof shells head up Patagonia's new range.
Yes we know it's barely summer, but Patagonia recently
showed off some of its new kit set for release for Autumn/Winter
2008 at a press day in deepest Mendip.
As you'd expect with Patagonia, environmental considerations were
high on the agenda with a focus on recycling. Along with donating 1%
of their turnover to environmental causes, Patagonia have invested
heavily in minimising their own impact, and by the beginning of the
next decade all their clothing will be 100% recyclable or they'll
stop making it.
The recycling theme runs through the new range, with the world's
first fully recyclable three-layer waterproof/breathable hard shells
and a technical jacket made from 100% recycled content.
The Footprint Chronicles
In keeping with founder Yvon Chouinard's policy on transparency
the company has also launched a mini website, the footprint
Chronicles, showing the full process from design to delivery of
individual products. You can see both the positive and negative
social and environmental impacts, including videos of the working
conditions.
Shelter Stone Jacket And Trousers - One For The Brits
The Shelter Stone Jacket and Trousers are claimed to be the first
recyclable three-layer waterproof and breathable hard shells and use
Patagonia's own H2No membrane fabric.
Patagonia says the Shelter Stone was designed with British market
in mind - hence the name - and the jacket looks quite workmanlike in
design, with two handwarmer and two chest pockets, pit-zips, and a
storm flap.
The trousers have near full-length zips with three zip-pulls
instead of the usual two allowing multiple venting - neat. As with
the jacket the two front slash, thigh and back pocket zips are all PU
coated, and the knees and seat are reinforced.
The trousers weigh in at 649g and the jacket 644g with prices set
at £240 and £210 respectively.
Icefield - 100% Recycled Waterproof
The Icefield is Patagonia's first technical jacket made from 100%
recycled material. It's also 100% recyclable through the Common
Threads Recycling Program (CTRP).
Made from plastic drinks bottled recycled into polyester stretch
ripstop the Icefield is a DWR coated, insulated, two-layer
breathable waterproof. Unlike the hood on the Shelter Stone, the
Icefield's isn't designed to accommodate helmets, but the jacket does
use the same H2No membranes.
You get pit-zips, two handwarmer and two chest pockets on the
outside and a large mesh and small security pocket on the inside. The
icefield will retail at £275 and weighs 947g.
Ascensionist - Eco-Friendly Soft Shell
Not content with recycled hard shells, the Ascensionist is
Patagonia's eco-friendly soft shell. Made with 45% recycled content
it looks and feels just like other soft shells, and offers comparable
levels of wind resistance.
Features include a helmet-compatible hood, lap-glued seams and
nice little chamois patches for your chin and neck. The zips on the
two external pockets are DWR coated, as is the rest of the jacket
which is aimed at the alpine market.
The Ascensionist weighs 544g and should retail at £180. The
jacket can be recycled at the end of its life through the CTRP.
Other new jackets include the 720g Climashield insulated
softshell, the women's Powershield soft shell Talus Jacket and new
mens and womens base layers.
More information
More details of the current Patagonia range at
www.patagonia.com where you can also find the
footprint chronicles mini site. You can expect to see the new
Autumn / Winter range in the shops early this autumn, 2008.
