Urban Bike Fashion; Materials, Design & Sustainability

(Or How to Avoid Supporting the Oil Industry and Looking like a Nerd!)

Not so fast.

Wikipedia: 94.5% of the world’s spandex fibers are
Produced via a method called, “Solution Dry Spinning.”
Super Simple Process Overview: this involves mixing a macro-glycol (a stretchy chemical) with a polymericdiisocyanate (a strong ‘bookend’ chemical – generally BDO) and moving it through various gassy chambers and then shot out into threads that are spun into fibers.
& All spandex is white unless colored otherwise...

BDO is oil. It’s a refined petroleum product.
BDO is refined to make engineering plastics, polyurethane systems
(e.g. golf balls, skateboard wheels, car bumpers) and as a carrier
solvent in printing inks and a cleaning agent.
As of 2008 the annual world wide market for BDO is between
$3-4 trillion for approx 3 billion pounds.
Expected benefits of a sugar based alternative: reduced energy, emissions
& gas requirements, significantly cheaper to produce.
San Diego company Genomatica has produced a
chemically identical BDO using sugar. And is currently in production trials.

First, a few problems:
Long & complex supply chain on an industrial level
Many people involved in a wide range of industries
Established access to designer chemicals/fibers
Corporate “trademark fabrics” e.g. Nike’s Dri-Fit
Volume required to produce or purchase

What the cycling industry & everyone can do:
Ask your suppliers if they know about new green alternatives
and if they are planning on making buying decisions based on it
Establish a known demand for these products. If a customer could
decide between non-recycled petroleum based apparel and something
that started off as sugar, reduced pollution and likely cost less, what
outcome would you expect to see in sales?
Other companies, such as Dupont, are working on similar ‘green’
alternatives. An increased profile brings all attempts closer to market.

Innovation & Change;
How Bicycling Saves the World.
It’s not just about eliminating cars or emissions based travel.
Bicycling for transportation creates a significant lifestyle impact that is also
visible at larger community and civic levels. Beyond bike lanes and commuter
bikes, riders become more aware of the joys and benefits of quality/specialized
products, logistical and transportation issues, safety and local laws.
Local businesses, interactions with other cyclists and air quality all get a boost.

“Only Americans would need special clothes to cycle in.” ~Berlin shop owner

Bicycles as a Lifestyle= Something for Everyone
Copenhagen
New York
London

Careful attention to materials, labor and transport.
These are the young companies actively producing
items that are moving towards a sustainable future.

Why Your LBS Should also be a Fashion Destination:
New and established riders look to their LBS to introduce them to practical,
cycling products worthy enough to have made it onto limited shelf space.
LBS is a major point of education and discussion on the merits of…
everything.
Fashion/apparel/accessories (particularly women’s) encourages first time
riders, new commuters and active participation in cycling as a lifestyle.
Fashion items reinforce the idea that cycling is enjoyable, safe
& gender neutral.
Fashion items may be at a lower price point that can increase overall &
off-season winter sales.

New Advances for Fall/Winter 2010:
Variety of natural (‘tweed’ wool, ethically produced cotton) fibers, new performance
fabrics (DWR, sweat wicking, reflective). Cycling specific anatomical design.
Feminine technical Jackets!

Contact:
info@nonavarnado.com
twitter.com/nonavarnado
Facebook.com/xNonaVarnado

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Urban Bike Fashion; Materials, Design & Sustainability

by Nona Varnado on Oct 06, 2010

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Urban Bike Fashion; Materials, Design & Sustainability — Presentation Transcript