Parallel Revolution Creates Shirts that are Green and Stylish

A new brand has its sights set on a better way to make clothing. But, for a change, the focus seems to be as much on the way the clothes look and feel as on the environment.

Parallel Revolution is the brainchild of Jake Wade, a recent graduate of California State University, Chico’s entrepreneurship program. During his freshman year he co-founded the company. After half a dozen modifications and pivots, the brand finally found itself in the ‘Eco-USA-Craftsmanship’ niche.

Wade told Business Opportunities in a recent interview:

“We’ve completed a production run of what we believe to be the most sustainable shirt in the world, made in America. An ‘old’ tagline of ours is ‘Planet Earth’s Preferred Outfitter,’ which stems from our commitment in making things Earth can be proud of (or would ‘approve [of]’).”

Parallel Revolution markets eco-friendly hemp clothing sans the tie-dye hippie feel. Even the company’s packaging and tags are recyclable and reusable. Heck, the tags can even be planted to grow wildflowers.

All of the woven products are produced in the U.S. with some smaller items being produced overseas. The company says its approach supports the farmers who grow the materials for its textiles and their families. Parallel Revolution also says it invests two percent of each sale to benefit charity and nonprofit organizations.

Parallel Revolution’s products focus on letting the materials speak for themselves, Wade explains.  When it comes to his goals, he plans to “let handsome design do the selling and hemp’s natural properties deliver lasting satisfaction for the customer.”

In this video, Wade talks more about the benefits he hopes customers will see in the clothing line.

There are many reasons hemp makes great clothing, Wade says. The material is breathable, comfortable and durable. Wade even claims it contains natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties keeping you cleaner and fresher for longer. But Hemp is also stronger than cotton, polyester, and blends of the two thanks to its rugged fibers.

Even Parallel Revolution’s buttons are created from strong, eco-friendly materials. Each is crafted from a Tagua palm nut from the rain forests of Ecuador, Columbia, Peru and Southern Panama. Local workers collect the fallen nuts, which are later sold to a button manufacturer. There they are carved, finished, and sometimes dyed to meet specifications.

The idea is not only to use sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable materials, but also to take advantage of the crack and fade resistant properties the Tagua nuts offer.
Image: Parallel Revolution

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