You’ve heard of the “farm to table” movement in restaurants. What about “seed to garment” in the apparel world?
That is a phrase The North Face is using to describe its new initiative, The Backyard Project.
The company set out to build a locally-manufactured line of clothing. It leaned on California farms for the cotton, and then it had yarn made in South Carolina.
Raw materials were cut and stitched into finished products near The North Face headquarters in the Bay Area.
The project is noteworthy because most garments are made overseas. While this is a micro launch, it’s neat to see The North Face experimenting not only with made in the USA, but made locally near the design team, logistics, and shipping center.
An effort like this, which works with small organic farms, mitigates the use of herbicides and pesticides. It cuts down on the overall production footprint of the clothing line.
We got a made-in-California hoodie to try out this month and can attest it is a cozy and unique piece. The company is selling The Backyard Project clothing in stores starting this week.
Stay on the lookout if you’re interested in being a part of the “seed to garment” movement yourself.
