Core Garment Traceability
Know where your clothes come from
Though we have always focused internally on making our production and clothing as eco-friendly as possible, we haven’t made the extra effort to ensure these initiatives are clear to our customers. So this year we have decided to break down the processes behind the manufacturing of our core products and their core garments, to trace them back to their origin, and to share that information with you by the end of 2022.
We want you to be able to make informed decisions and feel good about purchasing our products. We want you to have confidence in us as the type of business you want to support.
Follow along as we uncover the journey our core garments make from their origin to our warehouse.
How it works?
Core Garment Traceability requires us to identify every process in the creation of our core products and garments as well as in which countries the farms, plants, factories and facilities at which these processes are carried out are located. We need to communicate with our certified suppliers and manufacturers to trace the garments. No matter how far we’ve traced a garment, we will provide everything we know, and everything we don’t, right here at isadore.com.
To make it clear to you what phase of the production process we are talking about, we are grouping every core product with its core garment into the three major categories of its creation: Raw Materials, Milling, Manufacturing.
When we are talking about our core materials we are speaking specifically about Merino wool, recycled synthetics, virgin synthetics, and materials intended for our urban garments. Hopefully it will make it easier for you to follow our progress when we categorize our materials like this, so that you can find out more about the sources and production methods of your favorite items.
Raw Material
Starting point of a garment: the cotton farm, the wool sheep that yield our raw materials, or processing of plastic bottles. It’s intense in labor and use of soil, water and pesticides so we want to know that human and natural resources are considered and protected.
Milling
Creation of the main fabric from raw materials such as wool or cotton: combing, spinning, twisting, dying, weaving, finishing. These processes are energy, water and chemical intense, so we want to know that the energy used is clean, the water is recycled, and the chemicals are safe.
Manufacturing
Includes all steps from fabric to final garment: cutting, sewing, washing, pressing and packing. It’s the most labor intensive part of a garment’s journey, which is why we want to know the working conditions and visit all manufacturing facilities in person.
For us this is only a beginning. We are planning to trace the core garments of every product by the end of 2022.
Merino
Wool
Renowned as one of the oldest renewable fiber sources. We use it because we believe it is one of the best performing materials for moisture wicking, thermoregulation, and odor resistance.
Signature Jersey
The Signature Jersey is our longest-standing product, and has undergone many updates, both minor and major, in order to create the best possible cycling lifestyle jersey. Currently, we are in the process of replacing the virgin polyester used in the fabric blend with recycled or biodegradable poly.
Origin of the raw material:
Merino wool from Australia / Polyester from Spain
Country of fabric milling:
Czech Republic, yarns from Germany
Country of product manufacturing:
Slovakia
Woolight Jersey
Our Woolight Jersey uses a unique mix of materials that you won’t find with any other brand. Though there is a lower portion of Merino used compared to other Isadore jerseys, it still provides excellent thermoregulation and fast moisture wicking.
Origin of the raw material:
Merino wool from Australia / Polyester from Spain
Country of fabric milling:
Czech Republic, yarns from Germany
Country of product manufacturing:
Slovakia
Long Sleeve Jersey
This is our most popular long sleeve jersey. The fabric is a combination of Merino fibers in the interior, and durable polyester on the outside. Currently, we are in the process of replacing the virgin polyester used in the fabric blend with recycled or biodegradable poly.
Origin of the raw material:
Merino wool from Australia / Polyester from Spain
Country of fabric milling:
Czech Republic, yarns from Germany
Country of product manufacturing:
Slovakia
Merino Baselayer
The Merino Baselayer is the product where the unique Merino properties of insulation and breathability can work the best. Made from 100% Merino wool.
Origin of the raw material:
Merino wool Australia
Country of fabric milling:
Czech Republic, yarns from Germany
Country of product manufacturing:
Slovakia
Virgin
Synthetics
Although our long term goal is to replace all virgin synthetic materials with recycled versions as recycled synthetics become more and more available and innovative, we currently do work with synthetic materials, but only from responsible suppliers who have been OEKO-TEX® and bluesign® certified.
Climber's Bib Shorts
These bibs are not only for climbers, but offer top performance for all hot rides. Made using a combination of Swiss and Italian high performing fabrics, the unique zig zag structure provides a distinctive look and feel.
Origin of the raw material:
Yarns for material 1.: 80% Polyamid from Spain, 20% Lycra Sport from UK
Yarns for material 2.: 84% Polyamid from Italy, Elastane 16% from Italy
Yarns for material 3.: 77% Polyester from Italy, 23% Elastane from UK
Country of fabric milling:
Material 1. Switzerland
Material 2. Italy
Material 3. Italy
Country of product manufacturing:
Czech Republic
Debut Bib Shorts
We have chosen this combination of two Italian Lycra fabrics made by a producer with decades of experience.
Origin of the raw material:
Yarns for material 1.: Nylon 70% from Spain, Elastane 30% from UK
Yarns for material 2.: 84% Polyamid from Italy, Elastane 16% from Italy
Country of fabric milling:
Material 1. Italy
Material 2. Italy
Country of product manufacturing:
Czech Republic
ThermoRoubaix Bib Shorts
We updated our ThermoRoubaix Bib Shorts for the AW’20 season and were able to replace one of the materials with recycled fabric. So now they are made partially from virgin and partially from recycled materials without compromising performance..
Origin of the raw material:
Yarns for material 1.: Nylon 83% Spain, Elastane 17% Germany
Yarns for material 2.: Nylon 56% Italy, Polyester 25% Italy, Elastane 19% UK
Yarns for material 3.: Nylon 52% Spain, Polyester 32% Italy, Elastane 16% UK
Country of fabric milling:
Material 1. Italy
Material 2. Italy
Material 3. Italy
Country of product manufacturing:
Czech Republic
Medio ThermoRoubaix Tights
We updated our Medio ThermoRoubaix Tights for the AW’20 season and were able to replace one of the materials with recycled fabric. So now they are made partially from virgin and partially from recycled materials without compromising performance.
Origin of the raw material:
Yarns for material 1.: Nylon 83% Spain, Elastane 17% Germany
Yarns for material 2.: Nylon 56% Italy, Polyester 25% Italy, Elastane 19% UK
Yarns for material 3.: Nylon 52% Spain, Polyester 32% Italy, Elastane 16% UK
Country of fabric milling:
Material 1. Italy
Material 2. Italy
Material 3. Italy
Country of product manufacturing:
Czech Republic
Recycled
Synthetics
Nearly three years ago, we set out on the quest to find recycled alternative materials for our products. We consider ourselves among the pioneers in this area since our efforts resulted in our Alternative Line, which was the first fully recycled high performance cycling kit released on the market.
Alternative Jersey
Although cheap recycled polyester cycling jerseys may have been available for some time, we wanted to push the envelope by creating high performance summer cycling jerseys using source fabrics that are a blend of recycled Polyester and Elastane. That way could use state of the art super light mesh recycled materials made in Italy for our jerseys, which surpass their virgin synthetic counterparts in terms of performance.
Origin of the raw material:
Yarns for material 1.: Recycled Polyester 93% China, Elastane 7% Italy
Yarns for material 2.: Recycled Polyester 87% China, Elastane 13% Italy
Country of fabric milling:
Material 1. Italy
Material 2. Italy
Country of product manufacturing:
Czech Republic
Alternative Baselayer
A baselayer is an essential item of every cyclist’s wardrobe, and the feather weight of this Alternative Baselayer offers better performance than one made from virgin synthetics.
Origin of the raw material:
Recycled Polyester 93% China, Elastane 7% Italy
Country of fabric milling:
Italy
Country of product manufacturing:
Slovakia
Alternative Long Sleeve Jersey
After succeeding in the short sleeve jersey recycled fibers project, the logical next step was to crack the long sleeve problem. Our solution was to find super smooth brushed materials that come from recycled sources with equal or even better wicking and thermoregulating properties.
Origin of the raw material:
Yarns for material 1.: Recycled Polyester 87% China, Elastane 13% Italy
Yarns for material 2.: Recycled Polyester 100% China
Country of fabric milling:
Material 1. Italy
Material 2. Italy
Country of product manufacturing:
Czech Republic
Alternative Bib Shorts
We consider this product as one of our biggest innovations to date. We were able to source the Italian high performance Lycra materials we use for this product produced from fully recycled fibers.
Origin of the raw material:
Yarns for material 1.: Recycled Nylon 76% Spain, Recycled Elastane 24% Germany
Yarns for material 2.: Recycled Nylon 78% Spain, Recycled Elastane 22% Germany
Yarns for material 3.: Recycled Polyester 93% China, Elastane 7% Italy
Country of fabric milling:
Material 1. Italy
Material 2. Italy
Material 3. Italy
Country of product manufacturing:
Czech Republic
URBAN
We are combining state of the art, high performance materials, that are durable, with a casual look.
Urban Shorts 2.0
Made by a Japanese producer with more than 100 years of tradition and experience. It is a special combination of Cordura® fibers for durability and COOLMAX® yarns for breathability.
Origin of yarns for material: :
All yarns from China
Country of fabric milling:
Japan
Country of product manufacturing:
Slovakia
Urban Jeans 2.0
Denim fabric production in Spain has a much longer tradition than is generally known. And this is not just any denim; these jeans are made from denim which is blended from extra durable Cordura® fibers, the finest cotton and elastane for four way stretch.
Origin of yarns for material:
Polyamid Cordura 54% Spain, 43% Cotton France, 3% Elastane (Lycra) Spain
Country of fabric milling:
Spain
Country of product manufacturing:
Slovakia
Urban Short Sleeve Shirt
We have created together with our Spanish mill this custom made fabric that is super easy to care for, with anti-wrinkle, four way stretch. And as a bonus fabric it's one of the most sustainable shirt materials available, made from a blend of organic cotton, recycled Polyester and Elastane.
Origin of yarns for material:
Organic Cotton 52% Portugal, Recycled Polyester 42% Spain, 6% Elastane Spain
Country of fabric milling:
Spain
Country of product manufacturing:
Slovakia
Urban Reversible Jacket
This jacket combines a unique look using two special materials in recycled fibers versions, but at the same time offers excellent outdoor performance on and off the bike.
Origin of yarns for material:
Material 1.: Recycled Polyester 100% South Korea
Material 2.: Recycled Polyester 100% Japan
Country of fabric milling:
Material 1. South Korea
Material 2. Japan
Country of product manufacturing:
Slovakia
