I started Marc Skid because I believed that brands should be more like the people we love in life. I think it's universal that we are drawn to people with a sense of humor, who are purposeful in their lives, and who have strong character. The brand's call to action is "Make Your Marc on the World." Inspired by our motto, I strived with everything about the brand to help make the world a better place. I had some inclination about many aspects of the brand -- using organic Pima cotton and giving a helping hand to those in need and to our beautiful world. However, one thing I did not know is that water bottles are just polyester in a different form. Although it costs more, to stay true to my mission, I decided to use upcycled water bottles for my waistbands. Having come from the corporate world, I know most corporations will not incur additional cost unless demanded by consumers. Do you want to Make a Marc on the World? One way is to demand that we first use upcycled plastic before we make any new plastic. To help, I want to introduce you to companies using 100% upcycled plastic to create their products. I encourage you to vote with your purchases. Together we can Make a Marc on the World!
An age difference of twenty-seven years is uncommon among close friends, but, in 2009, recent college graduate and outdoor guide Bill Johnston, 23, and textile manufacturer John Riddle, found themselves spending much time together. Bound by a shared love of nature and concern for it, they began discussing ways to create clothing from recycled plastic bottles and upcycled cotton. The next year, 2010, saw the pals found Recover, a clothing company dedicated to reducing the pollution that threatens the beauty and health of our planet.
“Our mission is to create the best, most environmentally friendly and socially responsible products possible, and to educate and inspire those around us to live and work for a sustainable tomorrow,” is stated on the Recover website. That website also tells the full story of how Recover apparel is . . . recovered. Plastic bottles are collected and stripped of labels and caps. The bottles are shredded until they are flakes that are melted into pellets that are then extruded into yarn. Discarded industry scraps of cotton are collected and then sorted by color. The cotton is blended with polyester. It is then spun and knit into fabric to cut and sewn into an item of apparel.
The headquarters of Recover is in Charlotte, North Carolina where it “aims to be a driver in supporting local jobs, education, and communities.” Dedicated to local improvement, Recover has extended its influence beyond the borders of North Carolina and, indeed, of the United States. The company partners with a cut-and-sew co-op in Haiti that creates jobs for hundreds of people in that nation. The co-op takes the material recycled and upcycled in Charlotte and sews it into Recover garments. Recover also has a partner facility in Guatemala that is “powered by biomass from local forestry and coffee industry waste.” The company’s relations with places outside American borders reflects its conviction that working to stem pollution and build sustainable communities is a global imperative. Marc Skid salutes Recover as kin in its use of recycled and upcycled materials and its commitment to heal our precious Mother Earth.
To find out more about Recover, just visit its website at https://recoverbrands.com and/or email info@recoverbrands.com.