Laurel Toney

The drastic increase of “eco-friendly” and “green” products available to savvy consumers in recent years makes it possible for anyone to have a positive impact, or at least less of a negative one, on our precious environment.  Many manufacturers are now using different processes, materials, and business practices in an effort to appeal to the conscious consumer and become environmentally sustainable. With this increase of availability and the number of definitions for varying levels of “green,” it can be unclear who and what does the most to protect our environment and still offer the latest looks and the best gear for people like you; people who are active and aware of both global issues and current trends in style. So, in order to instill a keener awareness of all the eco-friendly options, ahlivv discovers what hot brands are doing today to make our world better tomorrow.

One of our favorite brands, Billabong, is involved in a particularly remarkable initiative for both making sustainable products and giving back to the community. Together with Dakine, O’Neill, Reef, Electric and Nixon, Billabong established Project Blue, which is dedicated to raising funds to support the Surfrider Foundation. This foundation is a “leading global grass-roots organization that works diligently to protect our ocean, waves, and beaches.” These surf industry leaders offer products made entirely of recycled textiles and plastic bottles, like Billabong’s “Life” boardshorts.  These products not only reduce the waste in landfills by reusing plastic, but donate proceeds to the foundation as well.  Billabong says their Eco Supreme Suede fabric, from which these boardshorts are made, use about 10 plastic bottles each in an effort to reduce contamination and provide cleaner air, soil, and water. Other products from Project Blue participants do not offer such revolutionary use of eco-friendly fabrics and manufacturing processes, but still donate a portion of sales to their environmental protection foundation.

Roxy, another ahlivv brand, has introduced a collection called “Greenprint” that “takes green to heart” with earth-friendly materials. They offer organic cotton and hemp jeans, tees, and hoodies which reduce the amount of soil and water pollution because non-organic cotton is responsible for 70% of global pesticide usage. Also part of the Greenprint product line are fleeces made from recycled plastic bottles, using about 25 bottles per coat. Roxy further shows its devotion to protecting our environment and creating sustainable fashion by using recycled hardware, natural vegetable tannin dyes, and natural rubber to lessen the amount of landfill waste and reduce pollution. The Greenprint products are not just eco-sensitive, they’re also fashion forward, so your dedication to being environmentally friendly will not cramp your style.  Roxy does remind us on its website that being green can be a little more expensive, but “it saves the kind of green that counts.”

If practices like using 100% organic cotton and naturally pest-resistant hemp were in more demand by conscious consumers, the possibility for global reform becomes more realistic. Other ahlivv brands like Lolë and Carve also offer organic cotton products and recycled fabrics, slowly integrating environmental concern into their business model and product lines.

The North Face is another label concerned with sustainability, and has employed a number of practical business practices in order to reduce their impact. Installing light sensors, water saving fixtures, offsetting their operation’s energy use with 100% wind energy, and volunteering with local organizations have all been parts of their eco efforts.  They outline four specific responsibilities on their website: “Reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, design and innovate sustainable product, eliminate waste in our operations, inspire employees, customers & communities to ‘Live the Brand.’” Indeed, their actions on a small scale and locally serve as reminders of all the seemingly small things we can do in our lives to reduce our impact in a big way.

ahlivv joins these brands in making being green a part of our daily routine, by using recycled boxes to ship products and keeping our paper use to a minimum, but there is always more that we can all do to ensure protecting our environment and preserving our natural resources is a priority, and we encourage you to buy consciously to help make sure “being green” is more than just a trend.

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