Inside Adidas’ push to create sustainable sports uniforms

This could be a pretty cool thing.

When you think about Adidas you might normally think about sneakers. Or a James Harden stepback three. Maybe even Run DMC and their classic Superstar kicks.

Adidas is hoping that in a few years, you’ll connect to company to the environment.

Adidas is going beyond its Parley collection – which re-purposes plastic removed from oceans – and is spreading new sustainable fabrics across the brand. Yesterday, in Miami during Super Bowl week, they introduced “Primegreen” and “Primeblue” fabrics — two new materials they created using 100% recycled polyester.

Courtesy of adidas

One of the first places they’re going to use the new fabrics will be in the sports leagues we know and love.

In some cases, they’ve already started. Last season, Arizona State debuted Adidas’ sustainable football uniforms that were made out of yarn.

That was apart of a bigger initiative Adidas launched with Arizona State, Miami, Mississippi State and Georgia Tech. By 2021, they want to expand it in to different sports and into the pro ranks.

Right now, Adidas is partnered with the NHL, MLS, USA Volleyball and various Power 5 NCAA schools like the ones mentioned above.

Adidas sees the changing uniforms as a public good as well as a push to the public showing that sustainability means more than just recycling their water bottles or sending trash to the right places — it’s about what you wear too.

“We’ve been doing this on a boring level since 1998, starting with all of our compliance issues and everything. Somehow, talking about landfills and trash heaps doesn’t inspire people,” James Carnes, Adidas Vice President of strategy told For The Win. “When you start to be able to expose that the problem with plastic waste has gone beyond something that’s manageable you get people’s attention.”

One of the challenges that comes with introducing new sustainable materials is actually getting people to use those things and recycle them, Carnes said. Tapping into sports and sneakers is one of the ways they plan on showing the public what is possible.

It’s always cool to see new strategies and innovations come alive in the sneaker and apparel world, but it’s even better when they can potentially help do some good. Hopefully, this one works out well.

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