Hot on the heels of Patagonia making its bio-based wetsuit material publicly available in order to advance the sustainability of the surf industry, and everyone from adidas to G-Star Raw to Thread turning plastic bottles into fabric, Quiksilver has announced the launch of its newly designed AG47 New Wave Boardshorts, made with REPREVE® fibers.
Manufactured by Unifi, Inc., REPREVE fibers are made from recycled materials, including plastic bottles — Quiksilver says each pair of Quiksilver AG47 New Wave Boardshorts contains approximately 11 recycled plastic bottles. In addition to the AG47 collection, Quiksilver says it now uses REPREVE in more than 75 percent of its total boardshort line.
“We have found a great partner in Unifi for our business,” said Nick Drake, chief marketing officer for Quiksilver. “REPREVE fibers contribute to a fantastic performance material that we've incorporated into almost all our boardshort collections. Being made from recycled plastic bottles, REPREVE fibers are helping Quiksilver and our consumers make an important contribution to the problem of waste pollution in our oceans.”
The AG47 New Wave Boardshort is constructed using Quiksilver Dry Flight Technology and features four-way stretch with 3M’s Scotchgard™ Protector Repellent, which helps water to bead up and roll off, allowing the fabric to dry quickly.
Unifi says the AG47 Boardshort is the perfect fit for REPREVE and its #TurnItGreen initiative, which focuses on educating consumers about the importance of recycling and the cool products their recycled plastic bottles can create, thanks to REPREVE.
“REPREVE is committed to raising awareness about the importance of recycling, and we strive to align with companies that are equally dedicated to sustainability,” said Roger Berrier, president and COO of Unifi. “Thanks to Quiksilver and its new AG47 collection of boardshorts, we can show a new wave of individuals how choosing products made with REPREVE can have a positive impact on the environment.”
REPREVE’s #TurnItGreen initiative continues to gain momentum – earlier this month, the Detroit Lions became the first NFL team to sign on, kicking off with a training camp takeover at Ford Field on August 6, during which Lions quarterbacks traded in their traditional red jerseys for REPREVE green jerseys, each made from 21 recycled plastic bottles, and attending fans received REPREVE-based #TurnItGreen fan towels made from three recycled bottles and other REPREVE-based items, including t-shirts and autograph cards. The Lions/REPREVE collaboration will continue throughout the season with a series of #TurnItGreen promotions and a consumer education campaign to encourage fans to recycle bottles during games.