Form marries function throughout New Zealand label Allbirds’ first-ever apparel range.
Launched today, the debut clothing collection brings sustainable basics and outerwear to the brand’s already popular range of comfortable shoes, and more recently, underwear.
From the start, we knew that our vision of evolved environmentalism was broader than just shoes. And as the chasm between disposable fast fashion and utilitarian basics has grown, the fashion industry has clung to the same outdated methods that continue to drive excessive carbon emissions, soil depletion, and synthetic waste,” the label says in a press release
“We are extending our responsible, modern minimalism beyond shoes. We leaned into our core tenets – simple design, premium natural materials, and commitment to sustainability – to create Apparel with purpose. Allbirds Apparel not only feels better, performs better, and looks better, it’s also better for the planet.”
The introductory collection includes four heritage staples: a T-shirt, wool jumper, wool cardigan, and a puffer jacket.
The TrinoXO T-shirt, $80, is the first piece in the range to drop on the site. It’s made from a soft and lightweight super yarn, with chitosan, a naturally occurring, odour-reducing fibre sustainably extracted from discarded snow crab shells, woven in.
“The chitosan from these shells has unique capabilities, allowing your clothes to stay fresh longer without relying on extractive materials like Zinc or Silver. The TrinoXO tee may be made from a revolutionary material, but it is a celebration of classic, heritage design,” Allbirds says.
The wool cardigan and jumper use responsibly sourced, ZQ-certified New Zealand Merino wool, which ensures a warm, durable and soft-to-touch staple to be worn year-round.
The Trino puffers are far from what you’d expect from similar pieces on the market. “The exterior is made of a Merino and Tencel blend, with a fluorine-free Durable Water Repellent (DWR) to keep you dry,” Allbirds says of the garment.
“Instead of traditional or synthetic down, our Puffer is filled with Tencel and recycled polyester, creating an innovative and effective down-alternative.”
With its new range, Allbirds is the first to launch a full line of apparel that labels the carbon footprint of each piece. The TrinoXO T-shirt, for example, has footprint of 7.1kgs of C02E.
The TrinoXO is available to shop now on the Allbirds site. Keep an eye out for additional pieces in the collection as they too make their way into the Allbirds online store.