Introducing The Fabric Forward Program
It’s estimated that 10-30% of fabrics created for the garment industry end up as waste. Even the best factories often struggle to get that number below 10%. And it’s a problem that has only increased as many apparel makers have been caught up in the world of more-is-more, fast fashion.
Source: Reverse Resources
At Oiselle, we know our natural resources are finite. And that if at all possible, we should avoid over-production. It’s why we often sell out of styles, and why we look to sell out at a very high percentage rate each season.
And yet, fabric waste remains a nagging problem. So last year, we started talking with our factories about new ways to tackle it, and out of those conversations Fabric Forward was born.
Fabric Forward is a Oiselle efficiency program where we put first quality, excess fabric that would normally be discarded as waste into limited edition performance garments.
First up this season: The Anniversary Crescent Tank, in a rainbow of excess 4T fabric. A beautiful blend of poly, tencel, and rayon, 4T is uniquely knit to feel like your favorite natural fiber tee, but with the ability to move sweat and water down its channels, away from your skin.
Reduce, Repair, Reuse, Recycle. Each of these practices takes energy and effort. We know there’s still a lot of work to do but we are pleased to be able to re-use first quality fabric in first quality garments - ready to fly!
MORE STORIES
Reflecting on the Year of the Underbird
This past August, we launched our Year of the Underbird program: an open application for aspiring Olympic Trials marathoners, with a promise to select 5 women for a 6 month contract encompassing a stipend, gear, storytelling, and community support. As we reach the end of our flight with our selected athletes, we invited each of them to share a few reflections on their past 6 months as teammates.
Black History Month: Celebrating Our Athletes
We are honored to support five exceptional Black women athletes challenging norms in the running industry: athletes, advocates, and powerful voices in the sport. We invited each of them to reflect on their journeys through sport: how their identity has affected their development, and how they hope to impact the rising generation of athletes. Hear from Madie Boreman, Kendra Coleman, Brenna Detra, Carmen Pelar Graves, and Ari Hendrix-Roach.
Learn, Grow, Pass It On: Increasing Access to Adaptive Sports
Paralympian, pushrim athlete, and Oiselle Haute Volée, Jenna Fesemyer, continues to pave the way and inspire the next generation of wheelchair athletes. She is committed to increasing access to adaptive sports, including access to equipment and training resources, and recently co-hosted a wheelchair clinic for young athletes in Columbus, Ohio.