No Crabs Were Harmed in the Making of This T-Shirt
Anyone who's ever run their fingers across a pair of Allbirds wool sneakers has probably wished they could wrap themselves in a sweater made of the same material. And now you can. On Tuesday, the fan-favorite footwear brand announced a line of apparel that includes a cozy jumper, cardigan, T-shirt, and puffer - all made from Allbirds signature sustainable materials.With the launch of its clothing collection, Allbirds moves beyond just sneakers with another sustainable material called "XO". XO is a naturally derived fiber made from discarded crab shells and other marine life shells, which is the second most abundant biopolymer on Earth. The chitosan from these shells has unique capabilities, allowing your clothes to stay fresh longer without relying on extractive materials like Zinc or Silver.
A biopolymer is a cell produced from a living organism. And "chitin" - the type of polymer produced by marine life in the form of shells is biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic, and anti-microbial. Meaning, clothing made primarily from Allbird's XO fabric won't stink while you wear it and won't demand quite as much from the environment as your average tee when you do finally retire a garment.
And hey, it is kind of a flex to say that your outfit hails from the sea, no?
