Remember our article about Guppy Friend? It’s an environmentally-friendly laundry bag that catches microplastics during the washing cycle. Many people don’t realise, but textiles containing plastic, such as polyester, release invisible pieces of plastic every time they are washed, and these microscopic pieces of plastic usually end up in waste water. Researchers from the University of California estimated that a city of the size of Berlin releases the equivalent of 540,000 plastic bags into waste water on a daily basis this way. And ironically, it’s outdoorsy sports clothes such as fleece jackets and windbreakers that are most to blame.
The founders of Jeckybeng are on a quest to help solve the same problem as Guppy Friend: does outdoor clothing really have to be harmful to the environment that it’s worn in? Their solution is practical, weatherproof clothing made of entirely natural materials.
The Jeckybeng Jacket: Enjoying, not Destroying, Nature
The brand’s website makes their intention pretty clear, by asking the question:
As urbanites, we are searching to find inspiration and equilibrium in nature. But why do we do this wearing an over-engineered garment made of plastic and looking like we are going to battle with nature?
It explains the intention behind what they set out to do – develop waterproof outdoor clothing that is in perfect harmony with nature.
The first flagship product has been realised with the help of a Kickstart campaign. A wind- and waterproof outdoor jacket, made of renewable raw materials and completely PFC-free (PFCs stands for perfluorocarbons).
The outer layer is made from a specially woven Swiss cotton, that is both wind resistant and swells up in contact with water making sure no moisture gets through. “We work only with the best natural and long-lasting materials such as EtaProof, merino wool, organic cotton and pima cotton, that have natural functional properties,” explains Jeckybeng founder Moritz Lorenz on the label’s website.
© Jeckybeng Jeckybeng’s all-weather jacket is made of sustainable materials and is PFC-free.
Apart from regular cotton t-shirts and surf accessories – of course made from organic materials and produced using local labour wherever possible – the brand currently only offers the one style of jacket. But if it’s a big seller, a broader range of outdoor is sure to follow.
For more information about the jacket and the label, check out the video below.
This article is a translation from the original which first appeared on our German-language site.
