Isadore has launched a traceability program to track the provenance of the materials in its products, as part of the Slovak apparel maker’s efforts to make its supply chain greener and more transparent.
Isadore [A5-105] explains that it’s aiming to trace the supply chain for all its products by the end of next year. It started by focusing on core materials such as merino wool, denim, cotton, polyester and recycled polyester. The contents of each product and their provenance should be displayed online by the end of this year.
The project fits with the sustainable approach of the Slovak cycling apparel brand created by Martin and Peter Velits, both former professional riders.
“When we started seven years ago, we had a clear idea that we wanted to use sustainable resources, before this became a big topic,” said Martin Velits, in charge of Isadore’s design.
The brothers decided to get their apparel manufactured locally, at the Makyta factory in Puchov. They used paper instead of plastic bags for packaging, and later sourced plant-based bags that are fully biodegradable. Some of the jerseys are made from fully recycled materials, mostly from Italian suppliers and using PT bottles.
Velits acknowledges that such resources add to product costs, but surveys conducted by Isadore suggest that sustainability increasingly ranks among the top motives to pick the Slovak brand.
“It used to be just a couple of people, now it’s much more important in terms of purchase motivation,” said Velits, adding that its customers are most interested in style, comfort and performance.
Another green project by Isadore was to create a subscription rental service, in eight European countries. It’s meant as a “hassle-free way to upgrade your cycling wardrobe” – and to reduce the number of products sitting in wardrobes after just a few uses.
The system works with three types of subscription, ranging from €35 per month for one jersey per three-month rental, €60 for two and €110 for four. All rented jerseys are cleaned by an ecologically certified laundry service, and inspected, then dispatched to the next user. When they are worn out, they are recycled and reused for insulation.Isadore’s production manager, Adam Majsky, and other managers are on hand at the brand’s booth to discuss the traceability project.
