The Banana T-shirt

MATERIAL
Innovation is often associated with technology that elevates electronics and digital solutions to new heights. The production of this t-shirt is innovation that is not only impressive but also contributes to driving the textile industry in a better direction. The t-shirt is made of 60% banana agri-waste and 40% organic cotton. "Agri-waste" refers to residual products from banana cultivation (specifically, the leaves of the tree) that are traditionally burned after the bananas are harvested. PYRATEX® has found a way to convert these fibers into textile fibers instead, thereby saving the planet from CO2 emissions.

Banana fibers share many similarities with cotton fibers; they are soft, absorbent, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic. The major differences lie primarily in cultivation. Unlike cotton, banana fibers have minimal impact on the climate. The plant, for instance, yields 60% higher returns, requires little water, and no fertilizers or chemicals to grow. No chemicals are used in the production process either.

The banana fibers contribute strength to the material, while the organic cotton makes the garment soft and comfortable.

Note that even though these garments are produced with a considerably more environmentally friendly fiber with a relative low footprint, calling them sustainable would not be correct in our eyes. Substantial amounts of water and energy are still used to make these products, in addition to transportation.

ABOUT PYRATEX®
PYRATEX® was born in 2014, with the mission to replace synthetic textiles with new natural and recycled alternatives. It was initiated with an R&D path by collaborating with various European textile institutes with the idea of developing biobased fabrics, bringing performance and well-being to the wearer. After 4 years of R&D to develop the first PYRATEX® fabrics and set up a European supply chain for the production of these materials they initiated their first collaborations with brands.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
Central to our design philosophy is that we couldn't care less about trends. Instead, we design garments meant to be beautiful in 2, 10, and 100 years. The goal is to create classics. Every. Single. Time. This also means that our clothes feature clean designs in timeless colors and without prominent logos or illustrations. The Banana T-shirt is one such classic. Clean lines, roomy fit, subtle logos, but with a slightly different story than a typical cotton t-shirt.

USE MORE +
This product is made from a durable natural material with a timeless design. Natural materials are not as strong as plastic materials, but we believe it's more likely that you'll love a nature-based product for many, many years. The lifespan also depends entirely on how you treat the garment. If you take good care of it and repair it when needed, you will be able to enjoy it for a very, very long time. We're here to help with that through Use More +, a service that gives you help on fixing and caring for your product, and one free repair of this product. Read more about Use More + here.

STORE AND MICROFACTORY
Our store is not your typical shop. Sure, we sell clothes and make money from it, but can we do everything the opposite of what typical clothing stores do? Our goal is just as much about opening minds and showing that it's possible to do things in a completely different way, with a totally different footprint.

Visit us at Grünerløkka in Oslo (where Markveien crosses Korsgata) to try on clothes, share your input on new products, repair worn garments, see how your products are made, or just have a chat with one of us. More information about the store here. Read more about our store concept here.