Smartwool Second Cut Hike Socks are created using recycled yarn made from old socks. Yet, they offer the performance of a brand-new sock made from virgin material and set an example against waste and landfill in the outdoor fashion industry.
In 1994 Smartwool invented their first-ever Merino wool performance sock, the Classic Hike. Now, that sock comes full circle with The Second Cut™ Hike sock. It combines the iconic fit and feel of the original sock with a circular yarn utilized from the brand’s sock take-back program. In surveying their customers, the brand found, that there is a need for a recycling program for socks. Hence, the brand invested in finding a solution, rather than downcycling collected textiles at the end of their lifecycle. While the brand started out by creating a dog cushion from the material they collected and kept out of the landfill, Smartwool has now managed to create new socks out of old socks.
The Second Cut™ Hike Socks are the manufacturer’s first circular socks, made with repurposed yarn from Smartwool's Second Cut™ sock take-back program. Here, the brand cooperates with the circularity manufacturing facility, Material Return.
An attempt at closing the loop and keeping material from old socks in the production cycle is not only a push to not waste resources but also to address the fashion industry’s waste problem. With only 12% of clothing materials recycled globally, socks are one of the most thrown-away pieces of apparel. The Second Cut project highlights not only a really innovative concept but also Smartwool's shift toward a circular business model, which involves collecting and repurposing materials for deconstruction and reuse. »With the relaunch of our Second Cut Project, we are one step closer towards achieving our 100% circularity pledge by 2030,« said Alicia Chin, Sustainability & Social Impact Director, Smartwool.
"We are committed to finding innovative ways of manufacturing to limit our impact on the environment, and the Second Cut Project allows consumers to aid in our progress by visiting our retail partners to recycle their socks," Alicia Chin explains.
The project includes customers in the take-back program and caters to their need for involvement as well as a more eco-friendly option when buying new outdoor socks. In addressing textile waste and educating customers, consumers also end up empowered and engaged to be part of the solution. The Second Cut Project and socks show that brands and consumers can – and should – work together to reduce environmental impact.
The wool used in the socks is responsibly sourced, ZQ-certified merino wool. The rest of the fiber comes from 2nd cut material/sock waste. For this, worn-through socks that would usually end up in landfill, are collected and then ground up into shoddy. From there, shoddy is blended with merino wool and spun into yarn. Designed with an elastic arch and a seamless toe for more comfort, the same performance as using virgin materials is achieved.
The take-back program involves both consumers as well as participating retail partners: Kicked off in retail, consumers can give back their worn socks there. Participants can also send in old socks for recycling by selecting a free mail-in bag on Smartwool.com. All brands, sizes, colours, and materials of unwanted socks are welcome. They should be single socks, so not rolled up or paired. Smartwool has collected over 1 million socks and counting to keep good materials out of landfills and give old products new life.
Menopausal women struggle with side effects such as hot flashes, night sweats and urinary incontinence to name a few. Helping women stay active even in this not-so-short phase of life, Femography has developed leggings that help manage the intensity of the number one symptom of the menopause, hot flashes, whilst offering other useful features.
Menopausal women are a natural part of the target groups of many sports companies. However, very few sports brands take the specific needs of women in this phase of life seriously and develop products tailored to them. Femography powered by $2B apparel giant MAS Holdings, is a design and manufacturing company that is helping global brands address this new target group. With its Absorbent Menopause Leggings, the company is breaking new ground and showing that the sports market has a lot to offer for this target group.
About 80 percent of menopausal women have experienced hot flashes. There are three phases to a hot flash: an intense feeling of heat, excessive sweating, and a chill after the hot flash. Hot flashes are completely unexpected and unannounced and can affect women in any situation. Although it is a natural phenomenon, it is still uncomfortable.
Femography aims to alleviate these challenges with leggings that are suitable for both sports and everyday wear, allowing women to continue to lead an active lifestyle.
At the heart of the Leggings is the patented Anti-flushTM Technology. This means that the leggings are designed to reduce the intensity of the three phases of a hot flash and help keep you cool and dry. The fabric cools the body, quickly wicks away sweat and helps regulate body temperature. It does this by absorbing some of the heat from the first phase and releasing it back to the skin during the final phase of the hot flash when the body goes into a post flush chill.
The patented Absorbent Gusset Technology - a leak-proof, absorbent gusset in the crotch - acts as a fluid barrier and helps with incontinence and irregular bleeding, other prevalent symptoms of menopause. The gusset is made of a moisture absorbing material and a hydrophobic and stain resistant mesh layer in a contrasting color, combined with odor control and anti-bacterial properties that further enhance comfort and provide the wearer confidence.
Ensuring that the leggings are built with a key purpose, blending fashion with function, Femography has worked closely with the Hohenstein Institute in Germany for product testing and validation. The Anti-flushTM technology was tested in a clinical study conducted in collaboration with three universities in the UK (University of Leicester, University of Bristol, Open University of London). In addition, the products have been tested and approved by women, including doctors, mothers, bloggers, and athletes, each going through different stages of menopause
Soon to be launched in a variety of aesthetic colors and sizes from XS to 4XL, Femography offers not just the Absorbent Menopause Leggings, but also an array of menopause underwear including bras, panties shorts and much more, that complete your activewear outfit, available via Become, Femography’s direct-to-consumer brand.
Do you love your work but also adore holidays and mountains? Then, the term "workation" is certainly not alien to you. Integrating nature as a creative lever and a source of inspiration into everyday work life is a concept embraced not only by many freelancers and remote workers but also by companies and teams. AMA Stay, operating as both an Apart Hotel and a community, offers everything needed for creative and productive work.
How do we know this? We tested it ourselves during the ISPO Award Jury Meeting in September 2023. Simultaneously, we interviewed AMA Stay Managing Director Markus Promberger about the concept. "We are not a wellness or family hotel," explains Markus Promberger, who, along with his brother Klaus, opened AMA Stay in December last year. "We recognized the trend of mobile work and aim to become the basecamp for innovators in the Alps as an aparthotel. Creative minds can find a place here where they can work on their ideas and projects with nature as their backdrop."
Perfect for us as the ISPO Award Jury to assess the latest products and enjoy active breaks in the surroundings, testing innovations in real-time. AMA Stay is located near Kronplatz in St. Vigil, close to the Dolomites and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated in the village centre, it provides an ideal starting point for work and exploring the surrounding mountains.
AMA Stay caters to digital nomads who value comfort, quality, and a certain level of luxury, in contrast to backpackers on a budget travelling through Southeast Asia. Guests include freelancers such as art directors, photographers, and coaches, as well as many companies. With more than 60 nationalities, including guests from Norway, the Netherlands, the USA, and even Burundi, the atmosphere in the hotel is truly international.
In addition to Italian and English, the official languages at the hotel, guests are surrounded by Ladin, the local language in the valley. In total, AMA Stay has 80 units; the typical guest is relatively young, and the communication within the hotel is informal and friendly. The team also fosters a familial and cheerful atmosphere, emphasizing meaningful work and passion for one's job. Excellent food and fine wines complement the guests' stay.
However, the workation destination in Gadertal is far from being just a business hotel. Since its opening at the end of 2022, the facility offers not only hotel rooms but also apartments, providing various options for accommodation. Long stays, lasting for a month or several weeks, are also welcomed. "In the last month, we had some guests who opted for long stays and rented our co-working spaces for an extended period. Some work in the evenings and spend their days in nature. Regardless of when someone goes outside, everyone appreciates the combination of proximity to nature and the focus on their own projects," shares AMA Stay Director Markus Promberger. In addition to individual bookings, companies inquire about team events, sometimes occupying the entire hotel. AMA Stay offers an ideal off-site location with modern technology, flexible workspaces of varying sizes, a rooftop spa with a sauna and infinity pool, and the opportunity to go outside together. Team bonding during shared mountain experiences through biking or hiking creates a strong team dynamic and provides valuable takeaways for their regular office environment.
For many digital nomads and solo travellers on workation, connection and interaction are crucial. Whether it's feedback on their own ideas or a brief chat over coffee, community, meaningful conversations, and networking with like-minded individuals are essential. Therefore, the first AMA Community Days from October 17th to 21st focus on this aspect. Through engaging workshops, inspirational talks, and wonderful activities, the central theme of Mental Health will be explored. These days serve as a shared space for networking, learning, knowledge sharing, and personal growth. The AMA Community Days are more than just a frontal event; they represent an inspirational journey, delving deep into complex topics and collaborative work.
The programme includes activities such as yoga and morning hikes, shared meals, such as dinner with live music, and, of course, exciting keynote speeches. Former ski racers Manfred and Manuela Mölgg and Werner Heel, for instance, will speak about mental health in professional sports. Additionally, there will be more lectures and workshops.
After almost three years of development, the Swiss mountaineering specialists at Mammut present the Alugator Ultra, one of the lightest aluminum shovels on the market. Thanks to its modern design and innovative materials, the Alugator Ultra received an ISPO Award.
Mammut avalanche equipment has always stood for intuitive handling and state-of-the-art technology. With the Alugator Ultra avalanche shovel, the Swiss equipment specialists are introducing an extremely light yet robust avalanche shovel for the winter of 2023-24.
Julian Langer, Senior Product Engineer at Mammut, was instrumental in the development of this new avalanche shovel: "The Alugator Ultra shovel is synonymous with Mammut's innovative strength and is the result of three years of development. Weighing less than 400 grams, it is not only the lightest UIAA-certified aluminum shovel, it also meets the highest safety standards. The welding process used to create it is also unique and exclusive to the market.“
In addition to the welded construction, the blade, which is only 1 mm thick, is another special feature. It is made of 7075 aluminum. A material used primarily in aerospace applications, it is 90% as strong as stainless steel, but weighs only a third as much.
Despite its low weight of 395 grams, the Alugator Ultra avalanche shovel makes no compromises. A shovel blade size of 22 x 24 cm guarantees effective digging and, like all Mammut avalanche shovels, reliably cuts through compacted avalanche snow. The quick-release telescopic handle and the symmetrical T-handle for optimum power transfer during shoveling are two other well thought-out details that ensure the avalanche shovel works reliably. Bonus: The space-saving shovel blade design allows this essential piece of equipment to fit into a small avalanche airbag backpack.
There is no need to worry about the robustness of this lightweight avalanche shovel. All Mammut avalanche shovels are UIAA-certified, which means they are durable and efficient for rescue operations. Alexander Weijnman, Head of Avalanche Safety at Mammut, explains: "In Europe, high-quality equipment can be recognized by valid standards and, in the case of avalanche shovels, by certification (UIAA 156). This guarantees that a shovel can withstand the weight of the concrete-hard avalanche snow.“
In an emergency, every second counts. That's why functional avalanche equipment must meet the highest possible safety standards. And that's exactly what the Mammut Alugator Ultra avalanche shovel offers.
„Especially on long ski or splitboard tours, any extra weight saved in the pack makes a positive difference. A UIAA-certified avalanche shovel with a full-size blade that weighs less than 400 grams - that's a real innovation.“
All information about the new Mammut Alugator Ultra avalanche shovel can be found on the Mammut website.
Is it all over in the fall? No way! After a hot summer, the cooler temperatures are just what we need to start new outdoor adventures at our leisure. These five products should be a part of your gear.
Pack your backpack in the golden fall, wander through colorful forests, breathe in the scent of the damp earth and enjoy the last warm rays of sunshine. Now, that nature is at its most beautiful, every outdoor fan is drawn outside. It goes without saying that fall is the perfect season for spontaneous weekend climbing, biking, or hiking trips. But what does the perfect gear look like? For spontaneous excursions, versatile and lightweight products are ideal. Especially if they can be used several times because they do not develop unpleasant odors.
During sweaty activities, it's easy for T-shirts, socks and even backpacks to start smelling. Polygiene's StayFresh™ odour-inhibiting technology solves this problem. Polygiene StayFresh™ is based on silver chloride, which occurs naturally in water and soil. The silver ions in the salt prevent the proliferation of bacteria, which typically cause the unpleasant "sweat smell". The technology is invisible, works around the clock and keeps equipment fresher for longer. It means you don't have to take a change of clothes with you, and it's better for the environment because it means less laundry. If you wash only half as often and wear your clothes longer because they stay fresh, you save valuable resources such as energy, water, CO2, time and money. Polygiene calls this "mindful living."