Chris Brown 3D Printed Slides

R&B superstar, Chris Brown, is known for being a dynamic singer, dancer and actor but he is also a visual artist and streetwear clothing designer.  Most recently, Brown’s creative agency, the Auracles, collaborated with 3D printing footwear manufacturer, Zellerfeld and 3D shoe designer, Nos Ailes, to release the NAMI Slide.  Those slides sold out in three hours, breaking a record for the shoe company.

 If we’re mentioning it here of course - it’s sustainable…

 The 3D printed Nami 2.0 slides, made from NamiWave Foam (EVA), is pillow soft with memory foam.  They are completely biodegradable under optimal environmental conditions.  The innovation used to produce the slides offers a premium combination of unique materials while promoting sustainability. Designers are able to create amazingly progressive, sustainable footwear without waste and exorbitant cost needed for materials and shoe molds. The 3D printing technology significantly reduces the production and physical labor normally required to generate shoes.

The NAMI Slides offer a uniqueness of functionality, durability and environmental sustainability unlike any other on the market.  The architectural design mimics a ridged, wave-like texture on the footbed and the upper honors its name – Nami, translating to the word “wave” in Japanese.  Of course the slides are offered in the coolest colorways and can easily be styled with high fashion streetwear or simply casual. 

Find the slides on theauracles.xyz . They are available in an array of colors (such as beige, yellow, purple and black), and retail for only $95.

sources:

The Auracles. https://theauracles.xyz/

Fabric of the Future - Cactus Leather by DESSERTO

Mexico is home to one of the latest sustainable textile innovations - Cactus Leather. Thanks to its semi-arid climate, the country has an abundance of cactus growing. The fast-growing plant doesn’t need water irrigation, nor do its farms use any pesticides. It is a resilient plant that can withstand drought and scorching temperatures. Cactus manages to thrive despite the adverse effects and challenging conditions resulting from climate change. It’s quite adaptable and can sequester carbon into the soil keeping the growing areas fertile. Thus the production of cactus leather makes a significantly lower impact on the environment compared to conventional leather and PVC-based alternatives.

photo source: DESSERTO

Located in the State of Zacatecas, DESSERTO naturally grows cacti on a 14-acre farm. It is the sole cultivator and manufacturer of this unique cactus leather. Providing sustainability throughout the entire value chain of its product production. USDA-certified, organic cactus is grown there on the grounds of the company, and it is watered only with rainwater. The cactus crops are sustainable for several reasons, including but not limited to access to raw materials, energy-efficient sun drying of the cactus, soil regeneration, and CO2 sequestering capacity.

Focus on NOPAL - The Process

Only the mature leaves of the NOPAL (prickly pear) cactus are harvested, which occurs twice a year (thanks to the plentifulness of the crops). The pads are cleaned, smashed, and left out in the sun to dry for nearly a week. Once dried, the cacti fibers go through a process that extracts a powdered protein, which is eventually mixed with the organic dyes to form a liquid bio-resin formula. And this formula, when combined with a carrier material, forms Cactus leather. There is dried mulch that remains as "waste" from the process, and it’s mostly used as animal feed, but it can be used in other ways such as dietary supplements and to brew beer.

DESSERTO proudly provides plant-based biomaterials as an alternative to animal leathers, that are made from organic renewable compounds. The company is also a USDA Certified Biobased Product, and is V-Label Certified (providing cruelty-free vegan materials).

As for now, the Founders only provide cactus leather as the final product for designers to create their own designs using the plant-based product. However, they are entrusting the resources, responsible innovation, creativity, and financial investments of the fashion industry to bring awareness to all, and eventually rectify its harmful global impact. In efforts to make a broader impact, DESSERTO has teamed up with forward-thinking brands beyond fashion such as Hublot & Mercedes Benz, who have used the bio-material alternative leather as an eco-friendly, cruelty-free solution for their products.

Eco-Friendly Dry Cleaning

Here on SOSNU Co., I have spoken at length about alternative shopping methods that are considerably more sustainable such as clothing rentals, subscription services or shopping second-hand. With the recent research I’ve done on fashion rentals, one of the larger problems was excessive laundering and dry cleaning by the service provider. I also wanted to know the effects it had on our environment. When one thinks about how the clothing rental industry has ballooned to an unforeseen value of $1.26 billion...that’s big business to say the least. And because the clothing rental platforms offer free laundry and professional dry cleaning as a standard service for their customers, the offering is quite imprudent and detrimental to the condition of the clothing and our environment.

As a result of its harsh cleaning processes, dry cleaning can ruin clothing.  It is a method that has a major impact on the environment because it requires much more energy than doing laundry at home. The primary reasoning for dry cleaning’s toxicity lies in the main chemical, perchloroethylene (PERC). It is also a threat to the public at large because it is found in our groundwater and soil. Excessive exposure to this toxic air contaminant is linked to diseases among garment workers.   There have been a vast range of health issues associated with dry cleaning. These include headaches, memory loss, limited mobility, and more severely respiratory failure and cancer.

The Future of Eco-Friendly Dry Cleaning

Changes starting in California & Minnesota

Following evaluations of PERC exposure levels in California, The California Air Resource Board (CARB) approved regulations to reduce PERC emissions from dry cleaning operations.  California become the 1st state to ban use of PERC.  In order to meet Jan 1, 2023 deadline for eliminating PERC usage in dry cleaning operations, the state provides financial incentives to the dry cleaners to switch to non-toxic and non-smog forming alternatives.  Legislations also requires CARB to impose $3 per gallon fee on importers of PERC for dry cleaning operations.  The fees collected provide grants to dry cleaners switching to clean technologies. 

The Legislature of Minnesota have enacted an act banning usage of PERC, which will come into effect after Dec 31, 2025.  There will also be reimbursement of $20,000 to owners and operators of dry-cleaning facilities for transitional expenses from PERC to alternative solvents.

Instead of Dry-Cleaning…Wet Clean and its Benefits:

• Leave fresh natural scent instead of chemical odor

• Uses water and mild biodegradable detergents

• No PERC, chlorine, or phosphates

• Decrease in epidermal issues and process is hypoallergenic which is more suitable for sensitive skin

• Less felting, matting and friction thanks to gentle drum rotation with water showering

Companies going Green:

There are few companies continuing toward the dry-cleaning environmental response using innovative, non-toxic and non-smog forming cleaning technologies. Here is a list of vendors and suppliers across the nation whose leading expenditures are water-based and carbon dioxide (CO2) cleaning systems.

Oxwash.

Oxwash is an innovative wet cleaning capability and sustainable laundry service that supports several fashion retailers, specifically ones that provide clothing rentals and returns. There sustainable laundry service operates on a circular economic model that reduces water, chemicals, and energy use in the washing and wet and dry-cleaning process. Oxwash aims to avoid toxic chemicals and reduce pollution in the garment and textile industry by only using water and biodegradable detergents. They wash garments at 20ºC which reduces emission by 45%.

To further promote the company’s carbon neutrality mission, Oxwash has a fleet of electric cargo bikes that their employers use to collect clothing. These cargo bikes do not emit any hazardous gases or noise and light pollutants. Lastly for re-commerce, circular fashion renters and sustainable companies looking for efficiency and quality laundry cleaning services, Oxwash offers 48-hour turnaround within their metro areas (London, Cambridge and Oxford).

Rent the Runway (RtR).

RtR has the largest in-house dry-cleaning facility in the world.  Their quality assurance teams are committed to enhancing the efficacy of cleaning processes and increasing rental garment longevity.  Upon a garment’s return, each items completes a wet, dry, spot or hydroxyl cleaning process using biodegradable detergents free from added fragrance, zeolites, halogenated solvents and PERC. Afterwards, the items are steamed between 248oF and 302oF in a steam tunnel, and then sealed in a polyplastic covering to preserve their quality. 

In efforts to be more environmentally sustainable, RtR ask customers to return their plastic coverings and hangers, along with their reusable garment bags. These items can be reused and recycled.  RtR’s recyclables are transformed into wood-alternative building materials thanks to a partnership with Trex.

Sources:

California Air Resources Board

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/phase-out-perchloroethylene-dry-cleaning-process

Minnesota Statutes, 92nd Legislature

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2021/0/Session+Law/Chapter/5/

Oxwash

https://www.oxwash.com/

RTR

https://www.renttherunway.com/content/cleanconfidence