The fashion world has been embracing sustainability and streetwear is no exception to the rule. Consumers are posing more challenging questions regarding origin, manufacturing process, and the consequences of their clothing: When considering sustainability and eco friendly, it is fair to ask whether the Sp5der Hoodie can be considered sustainable and eco friendly, as it is on the more expensive side of streetwear. This article is an honest appraisal of where Sp5der’s position is now with sustainability, what the brand is doing well, where it’s falling short and what customers interested in both fashion and sustainability should know.
Why Sustainability Matters in Streetwear Now
The fashion sector is one of the largest consumers of resources in the world. It uses vast amounts of water, creates massive amounts of textile waste and has opaque value chains. Traditional streetwear brands have been founded on a concept of limited drops and high demand, which has never been as much as it has been about exclusivity.Streetwear has always been about stuff that’s produced with a small amount of people and high demand, which is more about exclusivity than it’s about the environment.
But that is changing. A newer generation of consumers – the same group of people that propelled sp5der hoodie growth – is more and more considering sustainability in their buying decisions. Brands who ignore this shift, lose credibility with the purchasers who are concerned about the look of clothes in addition. Brands that interact with it in an authentic way and not just through a marketing gimmick, find themselves in a loyal position beyond the confines of a season.
The issue of sustainability takes on added significance when the brand is Sp5der, considering the price point. When an item of clothing is more than a casual hoodie and comes in at over $200, it raises questions about the quality and responsibility of the product, or just about the brand positioning.
From a sustainability perspective, what Sp5der does right
First, it is important to recognize what Sp5der does that is responsible in terms of the production, even if the brand doesn’t express it as such.The heavy weight construction contributes to a low replacement rate. Sp5der hoodies are thick and dense in construction. An article of clothing which will keep its form, wear out resistance and maintain sharp image for years would not need to be changed as frequently as a lower priced, thinner article of clothing. Sustainability would be one of the more meaningful things a garment can do – if it lasts a long time. Much of the damage of fast fashion is due to its fast fashion cycle of production and disposal. A 5-year long hoodie, as opposed to one, is a genuine cut of that cycle down for the individual consumer.
Limited drop model can help lower overproduction. They do not have a year-round mass release of product, but instead a limited release of product through timed drops called sp5dehoodie.com. Overproduction is one of the major environmental issues of the fashion industry: more is produced than is sold, and unsold clothes are often discarded in landfills or incinerated. Naturally, there is scarcity in Sp5der, which tends to alleviate the problem, but at the same time it also generates resale demand which poses its own challenges.Higher prices help to curb disposable use. Buyers don’t treat a $200 hoodie the same way that they deal with a $30 fast fashion product. They wash it more thoroughly, keep it in good condition and hesitate to throw it away. However, that change in behaviour because of the price and NOT intention to be environmentally friendly is still a more sustainable consumption pattern in practice.
The Sustainability component of the Sp5der is not up to scratch
A credible sustainability report needs to consider the whole picture and Sp5der has some question areas where some progress has not been made publicly.No public pledge with regards to organic or recycled fibers. Sp5der has not announced any commitments to using organic cotton, recycled polyester or other certified sustainable fibers for its hoodies. The cotton that the brand uses is not bad in itself, but the traditional cotton production methods have a heavy environmental cost, such as excessive water use, application of pesticides and soil degradation. Brands at Sp5der’s price point more and more are using certified organic or recycled alternatives, and the fact that there is no public stance on sourcing of fibers is noteworthy.
Roughly 80% of the population does not have access to the supply chain. Today, brands are expected to provide details on the origin and the manufacturing process of their products, especially by consumers and sustainability advocates. Sp5der has not disclosed specific information about its supply chain, including factory locations, working conditions and environmental information in the production process. It’s not exclusive of Sp5der, as many streetwear brands will function in the same way, however it means that customers will not have the ability to confirm the circumstances for the production of their hoodie by themselves.Packaging and shipping impact. Sometimes premium streetwear brands are known for their packaging that emphasizes “unboxing” rather than environmental impact. The environmental impact of a garment is measured in many other ways besides just the garment itself, such as the packaging, non-recyclable materials, and shipping for orders from abroad – that’s a carbon-intensive process.
Comparing the sustainability efforts of other streetwear brands with Sp5der
In context can help you adjust your expectations. Overall, the streetwear sector is doing worse than other fashion sectors when it comes to sustainability. There are brands such as Patagonia, Adidas (Sneakers – Stan Smith), and Nike (some collections) that have proven investments in recycled materials and supply chain transparency. Most streetwear pure brands, including Supreme, BAPE and Off-White, who all operate in Sp5der’s competitive arena, have short public sustainability commitments as well.In that regard, Sp5der doesn’t appear to be a sustainability leader, nor does it come up to the mark of its direct competitors. The limited drop model and high quality of the brand’s construction allow it to have an edge over fast fashion in terms of production volume and garment durability. However, there is clearly a scope for improvement compared to those brands that are specifically investing in certified sustainable practices.
Here are some things that you can do now as an “Eco conscious Buyer”:
If sustainability is a concern and you don’t want to completely avoid Sp5der, there are ways to purchase that will minimize your impact on the environment.The single most important individual step that can be taken is to purchase a used item through an authenticated resale website. When someone buys a Sp5der Hoodie on StockX, GOAT or Grailed it is a way to prolong a garment’s lifespan instead of creating new demand for clothes. The hoodie is already manufactured and therefore the act of purchasing a second-hand item won’t contribute to its manufacturing footprint.Taking proper care of your hoodie will greatly extend its useful life. The garment does not enter the waste stream for much longer when it is washed in cold water, air dried, and stored properly. The sustainability value of the original purchase can be compounded by a Sp5der Hoodie that is in good condition and able to be used for years to come.Selling used items, instead of discarding them, extends the lifespan of the product in the second-hand market and helps to reduce the amount of textile waste. Pieces in good condition are worth a great deal more than they are worth to be disposed of, with responsible disposal having a financial benefit as well as an environmental one, particularly with the demand of Sp5der.
What would real sustainability be for Sp5der?
There are several steps, which would count as real progress or change, not marketing positioning, for Sp5der to become a sustainable brand.Transparency in the supply chain would enable consumers to independently evaluate the production process, through publishing of verifiable information, such as location of factories, audit outcomes and standards of work, with workers. The sourcing of core products to certified organic or recycled fibre would be the solution to the raw material footprint. Take back or repair would increase the life of the garment and decrease end-of-use waste. Alternatively, using carbon-neutral or carbon-offset transport would help mitigate the carbon footprint without having to change the product itself.
These steps are all within the reach of a brand with the cultural sway and price point of Sp5der. It will be interesting to see if the brand decides to follow that path, based on how much its customer base indicates that sustainability is important as well as style.
