Biza and Green Apple: Activewear Gets Eco-friendly
Cristofer Smith has been in the activewear apparel business for nearly 18 years and has worked with cotton and petroleum-based fabrications such as microfiber polyester, Meryl nylon and Lycra fabrics. After learning more about the state of the environment, Smith sought out an alternative sustainable and ecologically friendly fiber appropriate for activewear. He fell in love with bamboo and launched a pair of clothing lines last year in Manhattan Beach, Calif.—Biza and Green Apple— using the sustainable fiber. Smith worked closely with a knitting mill in China to develop the bamboo/cotton/ Lycra fabric he uses for his luxury sweats line, Biza, and item-driven T-shirt line, Green Apple. Bamboo was chosen for its natural wicking, antimicrobial, breathability and cooling properties. The organic cotton helps provide structural support and minimizes shrinkage variables.
Throughout the manufacturing process, Smith attempts to be as ecologically friendly as possible. “The best way we found is to encapsulate chemicals and dyes and process and reuse them because they do evaporate if you do use them again. [The materials are reused] until it’s close to being nothing, or it’s thrown out in an eco way,” Smith said, adding that bettering the entire process is an ongoing challenge.
“It’s been a lot of fun.With all everything I know about this industry, it has been cool finding out that there is another way,” Smith said.
Smith launched his first two brands, a vintage- dyed lifestyle line called Urban Flex and a technical athletic brand called Urban Sport in 1991 in a garage containing cutting tables that he built out of plywood and sewing machines he bought with his student-loan money. He sold both of the brands to the Irvine, Calif.–based American Sporting Goods Corp. in 1998.
Wholesale price points for Biza range from $12 for a ribbed tank and $18 for cropped French terry lounge pants to $24 for a velour hoodie jacket with bamboo bead detail on the drawstrings. Wholesale price points for Green Apple range from $8 for a scoop-neck tank to $12 for a polo shirt. Green Apple is also available as blank shirts and custom-order prints for private label.
For more information, contact Landa Sales in the California Market Center, suite B523, at (213) 627-3797 or visit www.bizasport.com and www.greenappleshirts.com. —Rhea Cortado
