Bleed
After having witnessed the awful environmental and social conditions of the modern textile industry while he was studying textile design, Michael Spitzbarth decided to start his own business in 2009. He wanted to prevent nature, humans and animals from ‘bleeding’. Bleed Clothing, a German boardsport brand, stands for 100% eco, 100% fair, 150% yeahh!! Bleed Clothing produces vegan clothing (outdoor and sportswear) and aims to change the world of fashion with its animal-free approach. The entire Bleed collection is made from sustainable materials such as organic cotton, kapok wax-covered hollow fiber and recycled PET or silver.
Because Bleed draws inspiration from nature and has an ecological and animal-friendly philosophy, alternative materials are being used. In the organic sector the use of organic cotton is normal, but with less than one percent of the land under cultivation, we have to think about other materials from a biodynamic point of view. On the one hand, the “old” natural fibers such as linen and hemp are extremely important (more expensive but very durable and functional), as they grow back quickly and are also practical. On the other hand, the textile industry urgently needs recycling systems to combat the waste and plastic problem. With SYMPATEX and Climate Partner Bleed has developed an outdoor jacket made entirely of recycled materials, which is also completely climate-neutral. When talking about alternative materials, the market for accessories is important to mention, since leather is much used for these products, and thus finding an alternative to leather is crucial. For many years they have relied on Portuguese cork oak, which supplies the best renewable raw materials. And now there is Jacroki: wallets and belts that are mostly made of waste paper and offer an extremely durable alternative.
Over 90% of all articles are produced within the EU, with many production stages in Germany. Ecological and social standards are certified and checked by independent institutes such as Naturland, GOTS, Fairwear, Organic Exchange or Bluesign (for functional fabrics). The Naturland certificate guarantees fibers from purely organic cultivation, the traceability of the entire textile chain and the adherence to strict social guidelines for the bleed collection. Even a fair wage level is included in the standard, this limits the daily working hours and of course excludes child labor and forced labor. The GOTS standard stands for true and consistent natural textiles that are controlled at every stage of the manufacturing process. Products with special materials e.g. kapok or hemp are manufactured outside the EU. At any point in the proaction process, whether in the EU or outside, employees work under conditions that ensure their health and safety. Bleed differs from a purely ‘organic brand’ because they only use vegan materials, which is why they received the PETA (Progress Award as most animal-friendly brand in 2011. Furthermore, the brand is different because Bleed works with ‘functional nature’ and recycled fibers such as: hemp, kapok, tencel and recycled polyester. These are better resource alternatives compared to the water-intense production of cotton and they demonstrate the functional performances nature has available to us. Furthermore, the energy used for the Bleed collection is derived exclusively from renewable resources such as wind and solar energy.
Most consumers think it is enough to just buy clothes made of synthetic or plant-derived fibers. Unfortunately, this is a fallacy when you see how conventional cotton is treated with highly toxic pesticides and herbicides that not only end up in the fields but also in groundwater. The impact of dye works on animals, nature and humans is also immense. A lot of communication is still necessary from all parties involved (manufacturers, press, shops, etc.) in order to inform the consumer. Bleed is committed to educating customers about the fashion industry and giving them the opportunity to gain deep insights into their supply chain and their entire business. The trend is going in the right direction and the demand from customers for ecologically and socially correct production is on the rise. Bleed believes that ‘story & lifestyle’ will reunite customer and brand.
Based: Helmbrechts, Germany.
Ships to: Worldwide.
Products: Male and female clothing and accessories.
Mission: To inspire a sustainable lifestyle that excites and easily integrates into our daily life.
Vision: We believe that it is possible to lead an adventurous life without bleeding nature dry.
