Sportswear brand Adidas has changed the way they develop product by focusing on waste-reduction without sacrificing performance or style.
Both the Running and Adidas by Stella McCartney teams have reworked the way they make patterns to increase efficiency and reduce fabric waste.
To achieve low waste pattern efficiency, the Stella McCartney design team worked with a few colors and used 95 percent organic fabric. According to Adidas, “Advanced, eco-friendly cutting techniques ensure 95% of fabric used creates the final product, with the remaining 5% recycled or repurposed, so that no surplus material goes to waste — presenting the perfect performance and style option for those mindful of their carbon footprint.”
The Stella McCartney range will include a T-shirt, sweatshirt, cape and knit-shorts and the products were available as of February 1, 2014.
Designers for the Running apparel line were able to use 96 percent of the fabric on the cutting table by using squares and rectangles in the main pattern and ensuring a performance fit with stretchy inserts. The Running range includes a T-shirt, tank top, skirt, shorts, running tights and a sweatshirt.
Adidas made a film called “Pattern Efficiency Range,” highlighting the innovative pattern design and production technique by using a piece of paper to show how materials can be used in a more efficient and sustainable way.
Craig Vanderoef, business unit director of Global Running for Adidas said, “At adidas we are constantly striving to make our products better, not just by increasing performance, but by continuing to develop how the products are made. Our goal, when designing these ranges, was to maximize pattern efficiency while being as resourceful and creative as possible. We have created products that are high performing, and stylish that also reduce waste.”