Adidas is big on investing in the development of sustainable performance fashion and the latest pieces that follow the eco-conscious concept are the Adidas by Stella McCartney Biofabric Tennis Dress and the Adidas by Stella McCartney Infinite Hoodie, seen here on Kristina Mladenovic and Garbine Muguruza.
The first Adidas item made with repurposed plastic was the 2015 prototype shoe created from upcycled marine plastic waste in cooperation with Parley. Tennis fans are familiar with Parley for the Oceans, as Adidas’ 2019 Australian Open collection included yarn from upcycled plastic waste intercepted on beaches and in coastal communities. These two weeks at Wimbledon, Adidas-sponsored players are again promoting eco-innovative outfits made with Recycled Polyester and Parley Ocean Plastic.
With these latest two Stella McCartney prototypes, the sports clothing giant is going further, from the promise of repurposed plastics to the possibility of biodegradable.
Adidas by Stella McCartney Biofabric Tennis Dress is the first of its kind, made with cellulose blended yarn and Microsilk™, a protein-based material that is made with renewable ingredients, like water, sugar, and yeast and has the ability to fully biodegrade at the end of its life. Helping Adidas develop this product was Bolt Threads, a company that specializes in bioengineered sustainable materials and fibers.
Adidas by Stella McCartney Infinite Hoodie is 100% recyclable, made from 60% NuCycl™ and 40% organic cotton that has been diverted from landfills and can be used over and over again. This item was created with advanced textile innovations company Evrnu.
Adidas’ ambition to create high-performance apparel that helps athletes realize their full potential during matches whilst also reducing textile waste leans on three main concepts:
- To make use of marine plastic waste and illegal deep-sea gillnets;
- To create garments that are absolutely recyclable, enabling a completely circular loop where products won’t end up on beaches or landfills in the first place;
- To develop biodegradable sports fashion that returns to the natural ecosystem.
Adidas hopes that by 2024 all their products will be made from recycled polyester.
