Adidas & ByBorre Launch Sustainable Design Ideology

The True Color principle provides a framework for industry creatives to adhere to in order to maximise efficiency while reducing waste and emission levels. It suggests a responsible and mindful approach to each stage of the production process – from identifying and reaching the end user, to decisions on materials and where they come from, as well as textile production, garment construction and minimised colour processing.

“ByBorre and Adidas don’t expect everyone to stop using all colour and/or finishings, but expect everyone to start asking the right questions to challenge the current industry’s ways,” says Denis Dekovic, vice-president of design at Adidas. “Now is not the moment to be irresponsible or unaware when it comes to what you produce,” adds Borre Akkersdijk, ByBorre’s founder.

ByBorre has presented a capsule collection of garments that follow the True Color principles. Jackets, shirts, trousers, skirts and shorts are made using innovative materials from the likes of Gore-Tex and The Woolmark Company, and combine complex knitted textures with muted tones – the true colours of the materials used without excessive processing or dyes, which damage the environment.

Existing manufacturing techniques must be challenged in order to match growing environmental concerns. True Color shows that by avoiding unnecessary steps and the excessive transiting of goods, keeping processes such as dyeing and finishing to a minimum, and using materials in their purest form, garments can become more environmentally friendly. 

See Elevating Textiles, Conscious Colour and Sustainability Round-Up: August 2019 for more examples of sustainable thinking in the fashion and textile industries.