American Giant, the San Francisco-based premium basics brand, has unveiled a line inspired by Covid-19, using the resources already available in its “vault” and getting creative to minimize textile waste.
The Vault Collection centers on American Giant’s most popular silhouette–the classic full-zip sweatshirt–made with materials such as leftover fabric scraps and high-quality production remnants from its Middlesex, N.C., factory that would have otherwise been wasted.
That’s the same factory that American Giant quickly converted from T-shirt production to medical mask manufacturing in the early days of the coronavirus outbreak.
“When the pandemic struck, we saw an opportunity to be even more conscientious with our resources and output,” Bayard Winthrop, American Giant’s founder and CEO, told Sourcing Journal. “We’re proud to offer a high-quality product that is sustainably produced and American-made during an unprecedented time in history. The Vault Collection brings our values to life.”
The first drop went live on Monday, with five different drops planned throughout fall. A spokeswoman said a waitlist of more than 12,000 consumers is anticipating the next drop, set for Oct. 2, with a third drop on tap for Oct. 23.
American Giant noted that it spends a lot of time and effort developing and sourcing fabrics and aims to use everything it produces. The company said as Covid-19 disrupted supply chains, the past six months have provided the time and space for American Giant to reach into its vault and find creative uses for some of its favorite trims and materials.
The Vault Collection comes in sizes XS to XL in men’s and women’s and is priced at $124. It features custom-developed combed ringspun cotton heavyweight fleece with reinforced elbow patches and a double-lined hood; custom contrast metal zipper, grommets and drawcord tips, and double needle straddle-stitching with high-strength thread.