Durability and biodegradability
A perfect balance
We've taken on an ambitious challenge: creating clothing that's 'Made to Disappear' - designed to vanish without a trace. But don't be mistaken; this innovative approach doesn't compromise the durability of our products in any way.
Our garments are designed to last as long as possible. They withstand weather, frequent washing, and daily wear with exceptional resilience. Rain, snow, or sweat won't trigger their biodegradation process.
It's only when you no longer need them and choose to dispose of them that their biodegradable nature comes into play. The biodegradation of a garment is a process that requires specific conditions and time. It takes much more than simple exposure to the elements for a garment to decompose.
Thus, with Cévène, you get the best of both worlds: durable clothing for everyday use that has the ability to disappear ecologically when its useful life is over.
Experience and training
Eco-design approach
In addition to our more than 15 years of experience in fashion, we've undergone rigorous eco-design training, provided by La Belle Empreinte as part of the programs set up by Ademe (Agency for Ecological Transition). For several weeks, we studied in depth every stage of garment manufacturing, from seed planting to folding clothes in their packaging.
This training taught us that the environmental impact of a material can vary considerably depending on its region of origin. Take cotton, for example: its cultivation generally requires a lot of water, which is often presented as problematic. In Egypt, high-quality cotton requires irrigation 5 times higher than the world average. Conversely, in countries like Thailand or Tanzania, natural rainfall is sufficient, making cotton cultivation almost neutral in terms of irrigation.
This complexity has led us to adopt a meticulous approach: for each component of our garments - and on a parka, there are many! - we trace the entire supply chain. It's a long and complex process, as unfortunately, there are very few workshops left that work with natural materials.
We select our materials from regions where their impact is lowest. Assembly takes place in Portugal, a country recognized for its expertise in garment making and its significant use of renewable energy. In 2023, 61% of its electricity was produced from renewable sources, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint.
Biodegradable, recyclable
Use and end of life
Our thinking extends to the entire life cycle of the garment. Washing, for example, is an often-neglected source of pollution. It's estimated that 500,000 tons of plastic microfibers end up in the ocean each year, solely due to home laundry. That's equivalent to the weight of 7 Boeing 747s ending up in the sea every day! Our solution? Use only materials whose fibers degrade rapidly.
Biodegradability refers to the ability of an object to be naturally decomposed by living organisms, primarily bacteria or fungi, within a reasonable timeframe. At Cévène, we have set this reasonable timeframe to a maximum of one year. Why one year? To allow for a normal cycle of seasons to pass.
This choice excludes the use of petroleum-derived fibers (polyester, elastane, etc.) as well as all bioplastics which, even if produced from plants, are not biodegradable and therefore take decades if not centuries to disappear.
However, we want to emphasize that biodegradability should not be an excuse to discard our clothes in nature. Recycling is always the best option.
With this in mind, all our garments are designed to be easily recyclable. We use fabrics made of a single material (for example, 100% wool), avoiding blends like cotton and elastane that complicate the recycling process.