Although I love how warm fleece has kept me throughout the years, while enjoying outdoor activities like hiking and skiing, let’s be honest–it’s not very attractive. Bionic Yarn, an eco-thread company that makes fabric out of recycled plastic bottles, is changing that by trailblazing the way we look at re-purposed fabric.
Can you imagine all of the plastic bottles you see kicked around the streets of New York City being melted down and re-purposed into clothing, backpacks, and even shoes? This, is exactly what Bionic Yarn is doing.
Tyson Toussant, the founder of Bionic Yarn, discovered that when plastic bottles are melted, they form the same polymer as polyester. The project began when he wondered: “Why can’t we get this into tents and backpacks?”
When he wanted to take the brand to the next level, Toussant invited rapper Pharrell Williams on board. Toussant’s vision was to bring Bionic Yarn to a point where it could become as popular and as iconic as the brand Levi’s. Pharrell immediately expanded the company by strongly urging Gap, Topshop, and Moncler to use this fabric in their production.
Pharrell makes the point that you cannot change the mainstream standard by which textiles are produced, and the fact that only certain materials are used, if you keep treating it as an alternative. Bionic Yarn follows their simple, yet powerful mission statement: “Stronger Thread. Greater Good.” With the focus on finding materials that are better than what we are using–whether it be stronger, cheaper, more sustainable, or readily available, we are expanding our ideas and thoughts on what makes a product “good.”
The Big SHFT: Tyson Toussant and Pharrell Williams, Bionic Men from SHFT on Vimeo.
