Being an eco-responsible brand is not a communication posture, it is a constant commitment which requires rigor and which involves challenges that are as difficult as they are exciting.
When we grow, when we offer new models, and when we wish to respond to the aspirations of our community, our development and production rates are light years ahead of those of fast fashion.
And believe us, this can sometimes generate as much frustration for us as for you as the equation of granting your wishes and respecting our commitments seems insolvable.
Fortunately, we are a team of competitors, challengers and dreamers, and there is no challenge we will give up on, especially when it comes to dressing sustainably.
“All things come to those who wait” as the saying goes. And everything is even tastier when we manage to present to you not one but three products which bear the name of “Get Lucky”
Why keep it simple when you can make it eco-responsible?
The majority of hoodies, sweatshirts or jogging pants on the market are made of cotton. The reason is simple, we expect maximum softness from these products and until now one of the softest materials remains cotton.
We could have absolutely chosen the option of organic cotton, the cultivation of which is already more ecological and ethical than that of classic cotton. In fact, organic cotton cultivation uses fewer pesticides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers and no GMOs.
It takes 2,500 liters of water to make one cotton t-shirt, the equivalent of 70 showers. Organic cotton growing methods save water compared to conventional cotton. The problem is that this economy is not yet clearly quantified and the majority of cotton is still grown in countries outside the European Union.
The other reasons that dissuaded us from using organic cotton are the fact that its cultivation takes up more space than conventional cotton cultivation and on soils that could be used for food cultivation.
Finally, bleaching cotton requires the use of chemicals which transform it and which generate toxic organic volatile micro particles during its manufacture.
For all these reasons, we made a choice; The only one that made it possible to develop a comfortable and environmentally friendly outfit without ever having to use cotton, even organic. The Micro Modal® .
“Circle I’m listening!” » - “Make me a sports product made of fiber of natural origin”
At Circle, we are always listening to you and our products are developed for you and with you #CirclePlayers.
Among your feedback, we have received many requests for a more “natural” alternative to our other models. This was not necessarily obvious to us because as a reminder, our fight is not to use new resources but to tackle the waste that pollutes our land and our oceans, such as plastic bottles and fishing nets, to create low-impact technical clothing. #ProtectOurPlayground
We had started to introduce materials like TENCEL™ Lyocell into some of our products such as our T-shirt iconic Manifesto.
TENCEL™ Lyocell comes from beech, spruce, birch, aspen, southern pine and maple.
Without a bad pun, we had experience in this area and like you, we really wanted to develop a range of hoodies, sweatshirts and jogging pants. This is to complete the wardrobe of responsible athletes and to provide you with comfort and softness before, during or after your sports sessions. But we were not at the end of our troubles.
Backtracking
About two years ago, we began research to find the right material to develop an eco-responsible hoodie, sweatshirt and jogging suit.
We identified a material that we developed prototypes with, and we began testing them, both worn and in the lab. Romain Trebuil, our founder, never took off his famous hoodie which earned him many compliments.
And there, patatras. The material was starting to “pilling” despite the extensive ISO tests we had done beforehand.
So an ISO Kézako test?
It is a standardized test carried out by a company external to Circle which is used to check the quality and lifespan of our products.
We have tested the elements below as with each of our products:
- Dimensional stability during washing
- Abrasion resistance
- Pilling resistance
- Color fastness to washing
- Color resistance to perspiration
- Dimensional stability in steam
- Color resistance to rubbing
- Resistance to bursting of fabrics (tearing)
- Color fastness
Even if this material ticked a lot of boxes in our specifications, this premature pilling did not allow us to choose it because for Circle, an eco-responsible garment is a sustainable garment.
It is with the quote from Nelson Mandela in mind “I never lose, I either win or I learn”, that we continued the research, more determined than ever to find THE right material.
The choice of an ecological material
After several months of further research, we found a good alternative with Modal®, this material of natural origin coming from the processing of wood. This material then allows us to maintain a certain level of performance and to use a material of natural origin which does not monopolize land dedicated to food agriculture.
Modal® comes from beech from sustainable forests in Austria and neighboring countries. It was developed by the Austrian company Lenzing in the 1990s.
Lenzing mainly uses wood from thinning, a practice applied in sustainable forestry . Wood that is not suitable for high quality products such as furniture and is normally intended to be burned, is used for fiber production Modal® . The harvested wood is then crushed and dissolved with eco-solvents to obtain cellulose and then thread.
The fabric is then knitted and dyed in Portugal as close as possible to our manufacturing workshop. Wastewater is treated there internally.
Thanks to this material, we use existing materials while maintaining the level of quality and durability that we have set for ourselves with our other materials.
Here are some figures that confirm our choice:
- One hectare produces 10 times more Modal® only cotton
- Less than 1% of the world's wood supply is used for fiber.
- TENCEL™/Modal® requires 20x less water than cotton.
We see you coming, we say “wood” to you and immediately you have in mind images of solid trees and therefore rigid tissues. But think again because this material will have some nice surprises in store for you. Because it is even softer than cotton.
Durable, technical, soft and comfortable
Modal® is a very fine fiber that has everything good!
The fabric is naturally soft, smooth and silky. You have to touch it to believe it, but this collection of hoodies, sweatshirts and jogging pants will simply amaze you with its softness, comfort and cozy side. We warn you, you risk not leaving them but above all being touched a lot 😂
This softness is retained over time, making them products that you can keep and love for a long time. Little sustainability tip: avoid fabric softener, wash on a delicate cycle at 30° inside out and dry in the open air. Your products will thank you.
Another more technical advantage, TENCEL™/Modal® absorbs 50% more humidity (and therefore perspiration) than cotton. As a result, it dries much faster!
It is also efficient, both anti-odor and antibacterial because bacteria spread 10 times less than on cotton and it adapts to your body temperature. You can wear these clothes for your sporting activities, or throughout the day without fear of unpleasant surprises.
SoftWood_Tech
TENCEL™/Modal® is one of the main constituents of our material which we have called Softwood_Tech. To obtain the ideal fabric, we took the research even further with the addition of two other materials:
- Polyamide known for the strength of its fiber
- Elastane which is a fiber very appreciated for its elasticity.
THE STYLE AND LIFESTYLE ASSET
Yes, we are first and foremost a sportswear brand and while we do not compromise on materials, we have the same standards when it comes to style. Especially when it comes to developing pieces as essential as a hoodie, a sweatshirt and jogging pants.
Even before the successive confinements, these pieces had become essentials in our wardrobes. Today, it is no longer a question of choosing between style and comfort, between aesthetics and practicality. Athleisure fashion is celebrated by both sports equipment manufacturers and luxury brands.
Suffice it to say that there is competition but with our strong commitment to eco-responsibility, we have risen to the challenge. We've worked on the cut, details and colors to make our products as cool as they are durable.
For jogging, we used a drawstring so you can choose between a high or low waist and we inserted a double pocket to carry your treasures. There is also a cutout on the front which adds an elegant touch and is reminiscent of our leggings Get in Shape .
We have developed two types of tops:
- The real classic hoodie with pockets and hood. Unisex, you can choose to wear it fitted or a little oversized. Its assets: the tone-on-tone cord, the handmade Circle embroidery and the unique “Protect our Playground” print on the sleeve.
- A slightly cropped women's sweatshirt to lengthen the silhouette. Its advantages: a unique cutout in the back, a comfortable round neck, handmade Circle embroidery and the unique “Protect our playground” print on the sleeve.
3 products, 3 colors and a world of possibilities
When to wear them and how?
First possibility which is “Circle compatible”: you can wear these products before and after your sports session. The perfect opportunity to curl up in a comfortable, stretchy and soft-to-the-touch outfit.
For those who are cold, you can even wear them during your outdoor runs or at the end of your yoga sessions during relaxation postures. You will love savasana.
You can also go full urban style, with a sweatshirt and jogging suit or hoodie and jogging suit. Or choose to wear only one of the three products and make it the centerpiece that counterbalances a classic look to give it depth.
For a slightly more urban style, don't hesitate to combine the jogging-sweatshirt or jogging-hoodie duo with a long trench coat.
You can also have fun with colors and make Navy, Moss and Lilac color blocks or, on the contrary, have fun mixing colors.
And if the temperature rises a little, don't hesitate to tie the sweatshirt or hoodie at an angle on one shoulder.
Choose one of these products and “Get Lucky”!
