All products are not created equal - particularly as we become more aware of how our shopping habits impact the world around us. From the cars we drive, to the food we eat and the clothes we wear – we know every decision counts but it’s often hard to decipher the good from the not-so-good.
We’ve read about over-consumption in the United States. We’ve seen the photos of landfills full of barely worn clothing, tossed because it’s no longer “on trend,” because a new miracle fabric that promises greater performance has come along and we’ve just got to have it! Or even because things are no longer passed on to the next generation, or to younger siblings, because they deserve “new” as if functional and barely worn isn’t perfectly adequate.
We are also aware of the impact that this over consumption has on the planet - beyond landfills and waste we have our carbon footprint to consider. The emissions and waste produced during the manufacturing and shipping process takes its toll, but it’s hard to know how to manage (or calculate for that matter) our own carbon footprints for the common good.
For decades “sustainability” and “sustainable practices” have been offered up as the solutions without a thorough explanation of what that really means when it comes to our day-to-day shopping habits. For many it started with recycling and reusable shopping bags and now the answer is coming by way of high-quality goods that handle wear and tear. Shoppers are seeking out brands with more sustainable manufacturing practices, buying vintage and investing in pieces that will truly last.
We have built our Heritage Gear brand around the premise of creating and crafting beautiful products that stand the test of time. Pieces that become “heirlooms” to pass on to the next generation of users who desire of them. The idea of “Buying Better” is also a foundational premise when we consider what to produce and in what quantities. Limited Editions are more than a marketing ploy or a method of inventory management. Creating something not everyone can have, for whatever reason, is also a method of being responsible.
Finally, there’s a responsibility to the people involved in bringing our products to life. Ensuring the core elements of our products are made by workers who experience the integrity and wellbeing they deserve in environments that are decent, clean and healthy, is core to what Heritage Gear is all about. We produce all our products with US-based Partners whose facilities all lie within North American countries. Our core elements of wool and leather are managed through sustainable practices, carefully monitored to ensure environmental friendliness. And as premium wool and leather can last for years when taken care of properly, there is inherent sustainability built into our products that supports the idea of responsible consumption.
At Heritage Gear, intention, curation and quality are at the heart of our design and
manufacturing process. Our True North will always be to build beautiful, sustainable products that truly stand the test of time. That you will be proud to wear, use and subsequently, pass along. That have a positive impact on the planet and enlist pride in the people who make them. And of course, look great and make others ask, “Where did you get that?” Pieces informed by the past and built to last are the way of the world and, as it turns out, are better for it as a result.