Why durability is built into every fibre

We want our clothes designed for superior performance - gear that is comfy, waterproof, windproof and breathable with all the features you need for a long day on the slopes.

But if we’re going to tackle climate change and conserve nature, we all need to produce and consume less, including in the world of snow sports gear. So we also want to make our gear durable.

By making gear that delivers season-after-season, we reduce the demand to harvest virgin fibres or process new plastics. As lovers of the great outdoors, we have a vested interest in protecting it.

That’s why, in every step of the process, from the fibre to the finishing, we are making choices and testing to help marry sustainability and high performance into the final fabric.

Mapping our route

To illustrate our approach, let’s look at the stages of making our most used recycled polyester fabric.

First, we test and approve the factory where the work takes place. From recycling raw materials through to weaving houses to dyeing factories, every place that has a role in making your Dope and MONTEC gear is found by us, inspected by us, and tested by us – with tests managed using the respected ISO, AATCC and JIS standards.

At the fibre level, we test for quality and for high levels of recycled material (unfortunately, our industry often labels fibres as ‘recycled’ when barely half the bundle is actually recycled).

When it comes to weaving we’ve chosen a dense, plain weave which offers extra durability and boosts water resistance.

Our choice of yarn is also significant. There are hundreds of potential polyester yarn suppliers we could opt for, but we looked to work only the very best suppliers in recycled polyester, with proven credentials for both material quality and sustainability. Our recycled polyester yarn has 77% less CO2 emissions and 87% less energy usage than if we were to use virgin polyester (and their emissions data is third party verified).

Finally, once we have the fabric we undertake a series of tests for durability, waterproofness and breathability – all to make sure that the gear is long lasting no matter what the mountain throws at it.

So, what does make our fabrics so durable and long-lasting?

Please scroll to the bottom of the article for a detailed breakdown of our testing methods and results. We decided to include a RADICALLY EXTREME amount of information about the precise nature of our testing methods and fabric standards?! We aren’t shy about sharing.

Sustainability is not solely about making something long-lasting, we also work with organisations like bluesign®, with supply chain partners and many others to ensure safe and fair supply chains and to reduce plastic packaging, emissions and water use.

We’ll keep pushing forward, pursuing our passion for creating comfortable outdoor gear that endures season after season while helping to sustain the slopes we all love to ride on.