After spending a lot of time outdoors while growing up, when Paul Long started looking at creating a clothing line, he wanted to ensure it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 cause any harm to the natural world.

B次元官网网址淚 sort of always asked myself why does this clothing have to cause damage to the places that we claim to respect or want to enjoy.B次元官网网址�

Amid increasing struggle to find wool suppliers and wanting to ensure his items had the lowest possible impact, his Victoria clothing company, Anian, leaned into a circular model and started to transition its product line to completely recycled content in 2018.

Long said the best way to create something is to make it from whatB次元官网网址檚 already out there. For Anian, that means sourcing its wool and cotton materials from excess pieces off the production line or giving threads from old clothes a second life.

The company sources its yarn and fabric from Europe B次元官网网址� the hub for recycled textile material B次元官网网址� before making its clothes in Canada, with most of the manufacturing happening in Vancouver.

It wants to chip away at the excessive consumption of the clothing industry, while showing thereB次元官网网址檚 customer demand for ditching the fast fashion ways for more sustainable and long-lasting products.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 gone quite well and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that itB次元官网网址檚 a quality, long-lasting product and that it has a positive impact,B次元官网网址� said Long, AnianB次元官网网址檚 president.

He said while their line isnB次元官网网址檛 crazy expensive but on the pricier end, their competitors are charging up to 50 per cent more than they are but not using recycled materials. But with one of his wool shirts still going strong in its eighth year, Long hopes to show there are benefits to not opting for the cheap T-shirt that will only last a year.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 difficult to convince the customer theyB次元官网网址檒l have our shirt for five or six or seven years.B次元官网网址�

But he added much of their growth has been because of customers, who have been wearing one of their low-waste products for years, giving glowing reviews to their friends. When people find out the items are also made from otherwise-wasted textiles, Long said it becomes a talking point.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 probably where we found a ton of our success, if you get some of our products you become the ambassador,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t becomes your product and your story.B次元官网网址�

Aside from not consuming more materials, the company doesnB次元官网网址檛 use added dyes, which Long noted have negative energy and waterway impacts in countries where environmental regulations are lacking.

It takes more time and effort to obtain post-industrial and post-consumer textiles, but Anian looks to reconnect people with where their clothes come from.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 worth it,B次元官网网址� Long said. B次元官网网址淎s the system of recycled goods gets larger and larger, I think the system will become easier and easier.B次元官网网址�

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