un-sanctioned race vest made with Miti fabric and Roica EF. © un-sanctioned

un-sanctioned is an innovation-driven performance running apparel brand newly launched in September and founded on the belief that it’s time for running to give back to the environment all runners take so much joy from. In partnership with Miti, un-sanctioned has developed and launched with two initial sustainable performance running fabrics called BottleKnit – a 100% recycled polyester made from plastic bottles, and WasteKnit – a 100% upcycled polyamide made from industrial waste blended with Roica EF sustainable stretch yarn by Asahi Kasei for uncompromising smart stretch performance.

“We are not trying to do anything special here, we are just trying to do what is right. Which just so happens to involve completely turning running on its lazy head to make that happen,” the brand states. “Polyester is plastic and plastic is petroleum dug up from the depths of ocean floor beds. Guess what most of your running gear is made from? Yes, plastic.”

“It seemed insane to us to start a brand and be responsible for putting even more virgin plastic out into the world. That’s why we partnered with one of the world’s leading performance fabric manufacturing mills to R&D and create BottleKnit – made from 100% recycled plastic bottles collected and shredded in Europe and reborn into a premium, breathable, moisture-wicking performance running fabric, in Milan, Italy.”

Every garment comes with a QR code. © un-sanctioned

“Our first launch colour is Petroleum, yes, because we think it’s a great colour, but also because it’s a statement against what normal running gear is made of, and therefore what the brands who use it stand for.”

“One brand’s waste is our brand’s treasure”

“It’s pretty much exactly what it says it is,” the company continues. “It’s industry waste; including discarded off-cuts from the manufacturing process (of other brands) that’s collected and shredded back down, then reborn into a new equally good performance nylon/elastane fabric.”

The brand’s WasteKnit collection is made from fabrics by its Milan-based knitting mill partner, recycling waste into regenerated nylon.

un-half tights made with WasteKnit 100% upcycled performance fabric. © un-sanctioned

Every garment also comes with a QR code woven into the label to provide the customer with the relevant content and product information.

Packaging

The company uses plant-based, compostable, stealth-like mailers, recycled wrapping paper, and soybean ink in its packaging. “The standard manufacturing process is to pack every-single-garment (no matter how small) each in its own plastic bag before shipping,” the brand explains. “Obviously, the thought of this caused us huge conflict. So we convinced our Portuguese manufacturing partner to not do that – even though it made the whole process more complicated – for them – for us – for our fulfilment partners.”

“Instead, at minimum they’ve been able to pack and ship ten garments in one bag, and at best twenty five. Sure, that means the garments get ‘a little more wrinkled’ than when individually packed. But we’re pretty sure you’re going to give them more of a beating out on the roads.”

www.unsanctionedrunning.com