The most important part of our mission can be traced back to our name. At Wise River, we aim to be tactical; it is our goal to promote awareness, inspire action, and be a part of the fight to protect the natural resources that are most important to our community. It’s no secret that the apparel industry has a dirty, wasteful history. We’re trying to do our part to combat that and help reduce its impact on the planet. As a result, we have carefully selected our materials and our partnerships based on the global sustainable practices that each promotes.
Our Materials
We Use The World's Most Innovative Eco-Friendly Fabrics
Recycled polyester is generally created through the process of breaking down post-consumer waste (often plastic water and soda bottles) into reusable fibers. Here, materials that would traditionally be cast off into a landfill are cleaned, broken down into flakes, then melted down to re-create the raw material. Recycled polyester reduces emissions of harmful fossil fuels by estimates of up to 75%. Recycled polyester contains all of the same qualities as virgin polyester, with a significantly reduced environmental impact. From a performance perspective, it is still a naturally wicking, quick drying fabric with a high UPF rating. However, recycled polyester requires a lesser dependency on petroleum and decreased CO2 emissions, all while keeping waste out of landfills.
Organic cotton is harvested through the use of natural, non-GMO seeds without harmful pesticides and fertilizers. As a result, organic practices help to promote healthy soil and increased biodiversity in our ecosystem. With no contaminated surface runoff as a byproduct, the environmental impact is severely lessened as organic cotton is safer for farmers, and ultimately consumers. Simply put, organic cotton is a much more environmentally friendly alternative to conventionally grown cotton. Conventional cotton accounts for an estimated 10% of pesticides and a stunning 25% of insecticides globally. Conversely, organic cotton helps to maintain soil fertility and better water retention without the use of harmful chemicals.
There are almost too many good things to say about hemp. One of the strongest, most durable fibers around, hemp is also exclusively grown without the use of any pesticides. In addition, it requires very little water, and can grow in a wide variety of soils. Furthermore, hemp can produce more than twice the amount of usable fiber in the same plot of land when compared to cotton. While an incredibly durable fabric, hemp is also naturally temperature regulating, anti-bacterial and odor controlling. With its light hand-feel and ability to manage moisture, you’ll feel cool and comfortable no matter the occasion. A unique texture that becomes softer with each wash, our hemp blends are not only sustainable in an eco-friendly sense, but will also be a staple of your wardrobe for years to come.
Recycled nylon is often derived from commercial fishing nets and other industrial scraps that would normally end up in a landfill. While not an easy process, we have partnered with some of the most advanced fabric mills on the planet to produce this eco-friendly performance material. While the process of creating recycled nylon requires less petroleum and lower emissions than virgin nylon, reclaiming waste from our waterways also helps to produce healthier, more sustainable ecosystems. For us, well that’s something we can get behind.
One of the most environmentally friendly materials in the world, TENCEL®/ Lyocell is created by extracting the pulp from sustainably harvested, quick growing eucalyptus trees. From here, the pulp is spun into fiber using a closed loop process, meaning nearly 100% of the non-toxic solvent used to develop the fibers is reused and recycled. In addition, the amount of water required during the creation of TENCEL® / Lyocell fibers is up to 20 times lower than that of cotton. The end result is an impeccably soft, light, and incredibly comfortable material that performs in all settings. This super-fabric wicks moisture better than polyester, dries 3 times faster than merino wool, and is twice as strong and soft as cotton. As a highly breathable, anti-microbial, and naturally temperature regulating fabric, TENCEL®/ Lyocell will stand up to any test that you may throw at it.
The Bluesign® System promotes responsibility throughout the entire supply chain through its stringent policies on worker & consumer safety, energy efficiency, limiting wastewater, and eliminating the use of harmful chemicals during the dyeing process. Wise River has built partnerships with leading Bluesign® System Partner fabric mills that have met the criteria of the thorough Bluesign® auditing process.
Most buttons you’ll find are derived of petroleum-based origins. Coconut buttons serve as an eco-friendly alternative, in which coconut shells are collected, cleaned, smoothed, and cut. Lightweight and incredibly durable with a unique rustic look, you can expect to find coconut buttons on all of our woven shirts and henleys. We feel that the natural, contrasting look that the buttons provide are a nice finishing touch to the products that we make.