Nike Unveils Radical, Carbon-Friendly Material To Reinvent Its Hoodies

Nike is reinventing its staple hoodie and creating a whole new sustainable material for it. The new ‘Nike Forward’ material is the company’s latest push into a greener future, where this new line of clothes is expected to cut emissions down by 75%.

The sportswear brand is ditching its usual fleece apparel for a material that can be made without using carbon-intensive steps. Nike Forward was inspired by fabric and bandages used in the medical field, and the company has taken a similar approach to manufacture the nonwoven alternative.

Firstly, the raw textile is layered over each other. Then a needle punches through it to intertwine the layers, reducing the need for stitching. The process ultimately requires less energy and uses minimal amounts of water and dye.

The end result is a gray structured hoodie and sweatshirt that features raw seams, cuffed sleeves, and also includes Nike’s Therma-Fit Adv heat regulator, keeping the clothes warm and lightweight. Buttons, aglets, zips, and other closures have been cleverly left out of the Nike Forward to make recycling easier.

The fiber can essentially be made out of post-consumer and pre-consumer goods, or other industrial waste.

As of right now, the unisex collection is only being offered in a light gray as Nike continues to work out how to dye clothes sustainably.

The process took a total of five years to perfect and boasts 70% recycled fabric. Its design allows it to be completely shredded, and the material can be reborn as another hoodie.

According to Carmen Zolman, the vice president of apparel innovation, this new manufacturing process is the biggest advancement made by the brand since the introduction of the microfiber Dri-Fit.

Nike is aiming to launch the line on September 15 for between US$130 and US$155. 

[via WWD and Fast Company, cover image via Nike]