Radmor is Good for Everyone

Everyday we see and read about the worldwide curse of plastic waste.  Scientists report plastic in every ocean worldwide and beaches everywhere increasingly are polluted by bottles and bags.  Fish eat plastic and studies cited in Newsweek and other trusted periodicals reveal that humans are ingesting microplastics when consuming marine life.  After a windstorm, you can always see those disposable plastic bags stuck in trees, bushes and on fences.  Today, 10 states and 5 U.S. territories have banned disposable grocery bags.  

At a recent PGA education summit and merchandising event, I was introduced to a clothing boutique branding itself by a commitment to sustainability by taking on the plastics issues, and that of clothing filling up landfills.  Let me introduce you to Radmor.

This thoughtful boutique line is just two years old and incorporates sustainability into everything they possibly can.  For example, their buttons are made of natural shell (a biodegradable alternative to plastic) and their fabric is a jersey made from Peruvian pima cotton and elastane yarns, which are smooth and spun in extra-long staples. This means the fibers will wear nicely (aka, are very durable) and, when they’ve served their purpose, will biodegrade instead of clogging landfills.

“The average American throws away 80 lbs. of clothing each year… most of it ending up in landfills because it can’t be recycled,” Scott Morrison a co-founder of Radmor told me.  The majority of that clothing waste is made from synthetic polyester.  Polyester takes decades if not centuries to decompose in a landfill.

“We start by avoiding the use of virgin polyester, always.  Less than 15% of our collection use synthetic fibers, but we recognize that consumers expect them, and we’re realists.  If we have to use a synthetic material then it has to be a high quality solution like certified recycled REPREVE polyester made from ocean plastic or ECONYL nylon made from recycled nylon fishing nets,” Morrison explained.

Something you may not have ever seen, at least not yet, is a so-called poly ball, sometimes dubbed a Neptune ball.  Seagrass forms these oval orbs from the base of its leaves that have been pulled off and shredded by currents and intertwined.  These balls collect plastic as they form and carry the rubbish to shore.  Much of Radmor’s recycled plastic comes from Neptune balls. 

Morrison’s apparel roots are deep.  He founded three denim lines and has collaborated with luxury and lifestyle brands throughout his career (eg. Nike, Richemont, Van Clef & Arpel, Chloe, Canada Goose, Evisu, among others).  His co-founder gets golf.  That’s Bob Conrad, who pursued a career in professional golf thru the early 2010’s. 

Their line not only has shirts, shorts and shorts for women, but also includes shirts, shorts and pants for men.

I will be attending the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida at the end of January and will update you on Radmore’s latest, as well as all the new lines in attendance.