Feelgood Factor

BY GAVIN MANLEY

A recent survey by insights specialists Gartner revealed that for the first time ever CEOs have named sustainability among their top ten goals. As with many corporate objectives, the push towards sustainability is driven by market dynamics — with more than two thirds of consumers now reporting that they are willing to pay more for sustainable products.

Image Credit: Margot Richard

And yet, arriving at a clear definition of what actually makes a ‘sustainable product’ appears to be an increasingly daunting task — and one that’s open to interpretation with ever-shifting criteria. Raw materials, manufacturing processes, water and energy usage, waste management, packaging materials, and even how a product ends up in a consumer’s hands all have a part to play in validating a brand’s sustainability claims.

So, with the dawn of another year — and a renewed focus on sustainability — there has never been a better time to look at some of those brands in the men’s accessories space that are helping to shape the conversation about the long-term wellbeing of the planet — and its people.

Incredibly, it’s estimated that between 88,000 and 176,000 pounds of dirt must be sifted through to procure a single one-carat diamond. Beyond the energy and resources required for traditionally mined diamonds, they have long been seen as unethical with detractors who point to poor working conditions, child labor offenses and human rights violations. Lab-grown diamonds — on the other hand — are produced in a carefully controlled environment with many of the same conditions as mined diamonds but without the environmental or societal impact.

Creating “beautiful jewelry with a conscience”, Charles & Colvard — a consumer brand at the forefront of lab-grown diamonds — uses the finest assortment of gems for its five-stone Diamond Signature ring for men. Made with 14K recycled white gold, this stylish ring makes an unapologetically bold fashion statement — while honoring the ethical standards this brand holds so dear.

Led by the belief that “we must act to protect the oceans and waterways that connect us all”, well-known American brand Sperry takes sustainability very seriously. The brand’s SeaCycled collection — which debuted during Earth Week in April of last year — is a range of footwear made with recycled and eco-friendly materials and manufacturing processes. This means that clear plastic bottles and other plastic waste are used instead of virgin polymers to manufacture polyester yarn. Why is this important? Using recycled plastic reduces the energy required to make yarn and it’s estimated that recycled polyester slashes greenhouse gas emissions by 25-70% (versus virgin polyester). On average, twelve recycled plastic bottles go into making one pair of Sperry shoes in the SeaCycled collection. Becoming a sustainable brand is of course a work-in-progress, and Sperry continues to set new goals that include reducing water usage and minimizing its packaging.

Making better designed, high-quality products that stand the test of time and stay out of the landfill is perhaps one of the most direct routes for brands that want to up their sustainability game. The vision behind lifestyle brand Quince is inspired by three pillars — quality, sustainability, and affordability.

Functionally chic, Quince’s ‘All-Day Backpack’ is constructed from 100% premium water-resistant neoprene that started life as — you guessed it — plastic water bottles.

All of Quince’s products are manufactured in Sedex-Certified Factories which aim to improve working conditions throughout the supply chain. Quince is notable too for its ‘factory direct model’ which means that its products are shipped directly from the factory to customers — which allows the brand to offer much lower prices than its competitors.

Revered for its natural beauty and durability, walnut wood has been a favorite of furniture makers  for centuries and is today used in luxury cars and even private jets.

Woodstone’s Troy Walnut timepiece is handcrafted using a rich, dark-colored walnut wood and recycled materials. Just as our fingerprints are unique to us, each Troy watch face comes with an entirely original woodgrain pattern.

In addition to the materials used in its products, Woodstone’s commitment to a more sustainable future extends to the wider world. The brand is proud of its partnership with Trees for the Future which provides hands-on, agroforestry training to underprivileged communities. Planting trees — as Woodstone’s website states — is not just good for the environment, it “also provides sustainable income, food and educational opportunities for thousands of people.”

In its quest to redefine what sustainable sunglasses mean, Sunski — an eleven-year-old eyewear brand from San Francisco — developed a new technology that turns post-industrial scrap plastic into frames. The look and feel of the Sunski brand is a heartwarming celebration of mother nature — which it calls its ‘north star.’ Each Sunski product comes with a lifetime warranty which means that if the shades break, Sunski will endeavor to repair them and if they cannot be fixed for some reason, customers will receive a replacement pair.

A proud member of 1% for the Planet — an international organization whose members contribute at least one percent to environmental causes — Sunski has donated more than a quarter of a million to nonprofits such as Save the Waves and the Conservation Alliance to date.

Cashmere wool is one of the most luxurious fabrics out there today and yet as global demand continues to grow, the effects on the environment are being felt far and wide. Throughout China and Mongolia, overbreeding and overgrazing of Cashmere and Pashmina goats have seen the grasslands they inhabit turn into deserts. Made from yak wool — which is virtually indistinguishable from cashmere — The Lodge Scarf by Taylor Stitch is woven from the downy undercoats of the yak — an animal which needs very little food to survive and is not confined to small plots of land. The upshot? The environmental impact is negligible.

Luxury fashion house Armani organizes its corporate social responsibility initiatives under three core pillars — people, planet, and prosperity. Armani’s signature sustainability program, Acqua for Life — an environmental and social project — began in 2010 which was the same year that the UN recognized access to clean drinking water as a basic human right.

Today, the company’s focus on environmental protection issues extends to the products it sells and Emporio Armani recently launched a sustainable eyewear collection with four styles.

Constructed from bio-acetate — a material consisting of at least 50% organic content — the geometric, square-shaped eyeglasses for men feel both retro and modern. What’s more, the new collection comes with dedicated packaging made of recycled polyester — reinforcing the brand’s sustainability credentials.

Originally published in the Winter 2023 issue of Ac Magazine (The Accessories Council).