Waterdog Surf- Environmental Clothing

The Environmental Surf Brand ™
Environmentally Friendly ׀ Socially Conscious ׀ Technologically Advanced

Environmental Clothing
Shop Preview

Clothing can be particularly taxing on the environment which we all enjoy. For instance, a cotton t-shirt typically uses 1/3 of a pound of pesticides to produce. These pesticides largely end up in runoff and ultimately to our local surf break. Pesticides were found to pollute every stream and 90% of the wells in the United States according to the US Geological Survey. If it's in the streams, it's on the way to our local surf break. Waterdog seeks to provide a viable alternative to traditional materials and growing methods. The materials used in Waterdog's clothing are renewable, recycled, and/or pesticide free. We've listed some of the alternatives so you know the scoop.

Bamboo

Environmental Qualities- Bamboo grows fast. Really fast. In fact the moso type bamboo which is used in textile production can reach its mature height of 75 feet in 45-60 days, making bamboo highly renewable. Furthermore, bamboo is naturally antibacterial, allowing it to grow without the use of pesticides.

Fabric Qualities- Bamboo makes a softer, more durable, garment than cotton. Additionally it is more absorbent. Did we mention its natural antibacterial qualities? That definitely has its advantages after a day at the gym.

What's the downside? It's a little more pricey than cotton. A Chinese company has a patent on the process that turns bamboo into fabric so all of the material is exported from China. If this is an issue for you there are other alternatives. Try the hemp blends or organic cotton.

Hemp

Environmental Qualities- Similar to bamboo, hemp grows fast and is naturally antibacterial, making it easy to cultivate without the use of pesticides. Some sources say the yield for hemp is five times as great as cotton on a per acre fiber yield. Hemp has another advantage as well; its leaves block sunlight that would otherwise allow weeds to grow amongst its stalks. This minimizes or in most cases eliminates the need for herbicides.

Fabric Qualities- The fabric wears similar to cotton, but is not as soft as bamboo. It is durable and has been produced throughout history.

What's the downside? The man. That's right, the man is regulating the production of this plant and the U.S. is not issuing licenses for its industrial growth. Importation of the textiles is perfectly legal, but for right now the only countries we know of that allow hemp growth are China, Romania, and Canada.

Oh yeah, there is also that whole association with the drug. Hemp has absolutely no drug value whatsoever and this is simply an erroneous perception by many. Basically the leaves look the same as marijuana and the plant is related, but smoke it and you'll cough, not get off.

Organic Cotton

Environmental Qualities- It's cotton but without all the pesticides. Instead, biological pest control is used to keep the predatory bugs out. In other words, find stuff like praying mantises, spiders, lizards, and the like to eat the bugs that eat the cotton.

Fabric Qualities- It's cotton. If you don't know what cotton feels like...

What's the downside? It doesn't have any of the other advantages of hemp or bamboo like being naturally antibacterial. It's not as soft as bamboo either. It's cotton, so it's what you are used to wearing.