At Alpine Shop, we have a deep love and respect for the outdoors. It’s the reason for our business and the passion of many of our employees. So, it’s a no-brainer that we care about eco-friendly brands, too.
We’re proud to feature several “green” clothing brands and gear in our shop. If you’re trying to limit your carbon footprint and buy with sustainability in mind, we can help.
Here are just a few of our eco-friendly products!
Smartwool
Smartwool is one of our favorite brands. From winter vests to cozy wool socks, this company uses only ethically sourced wool in their products. They source wool from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and South America, where accredited farms are audited to ensure that they meet high standards. This means that they’re both ensuring sustainability while also safeguarding animal welfare.
Ethical practices make for quality products. In Smartwool’s case, this means that their products are comfortable, durable, and warm. Even the ski pros are taking notice. Take a look at this review from Mountain Culture Magazine:
Not only [were] the Smartwool products warm, I’m also impressed that they’re an ethical company. I won’t go into the details as this is strictly a product review, but to learn more about the New Zealand-based business, I recommend reading their supply chain information. Aside from the comfort and warmth my favourite part about wearing the base layers for a week was that they didn’t stink. Not even a little! I must have sweat litres into the things and they smelled like flowers. Ok, not that fragrant. More like wool. Since that trip I’ve worn them multi-pitch rock climbing on a particular chilly day and stayed perfectly warm and comfortable.
Mountain Culture Magazine
Patagonia
You may not have heard of Smartwool, but we’re betting you’re familiar with this brand. Patagonia is becoming widely recognized as one of the most ethical brands in adventure gear. They haven’t always lived up to this reputation; however, they’re up-front about mistakes they’ve made in the past and the steps they’re taking today to be as ethical as possible.
One reviewer notes that all of Patagonia’s cotton is certified organic and other materials are made from recycled fabrics. Patagonia also belongs to both the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and 1% For The Planet. On their website, they discuss their corporate responsibility and the steps they’re taking to ensure that Patagonia products are made under humane working conditions.
For us, knowing all of this makes it even easier to appreciate Patagonia’s top-of-the-line jackets, hoodies, and other apparel.
Columbia Sportswear
Another popular brand, Columbia, also considers the supply chain to improve its sustainability, but it goes a step further. Columbia looks at its production process and innovates to make its products more eco-friendly. Some products, for example, are made from recycled water bottles. Columbia strives to reduce dye to save even more water and develop water-repellant finishes without PFCs that harm the environment.
Columbia also lists their ethical values and credentials right up front. As they put it, “we have a responsibility to know where are products are coming from, what they are made of, and the conditions of the places where they are made.”
If you’ve been wishing for a new Columbia jacket, you can feel good about spending your money on such a conscientious company.
Shop Online or Visit Our Store for More Green Apparel Choices
If you’re interested in eco-friendly adventure gear or outdoor brands, shop online or visit Alpine Shop. Our knowledgeable staff will be happy to suggest a few more of our favorites.