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# Cause-Oriented Upcycled Shirts
The North Face & National Geographic Collab Boasts Sustainable Tees

By Kalin Ned | Published 2018-06-07 | Eco
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sustainable-tee
References: [designtaxi](http://designtaxi.com/news/400004/National-Geographic-Creates-Limited-Edition-Tees-Made-From-Trash-Found-At-Parks/) & [shop.nationalgeographic](https://shop.nationalgeographic.com/products/the-north-face-bottle-source-limited-edition-black-mens-long-sleeve-tee?utm_source=DesignTAXI&utm_medium=DesignTAXI&utm_term=DesignTAXI&utm_content=DesignTAXI&utm_campaign=DesignTAXI)

Renowned adventure brand The North Face teamed up with [National Geographic](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contour-zero) for a [co-branded collection of sustainable tees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buff-x-veja) and long-sleeve shirts. The initiative was created in an effort to "preserve the nature of national parks" by collecting mindlessly discarded trash and converting it into something usable. Appropriately dubbed the 'Bottle Source Collection,' the project warranted the recycling of about 160,000 pounds of garbage collected from the streams of Yosemite, Great Smoky Mountains, and Grand Teton National Parks.

The plastic bottle-made sustainable tees entertain a sleek aesthetic, which makes them agreeable to any fashion preference. In addition, National Geographic has committed to donating $1 USD for the production of every t-shirt to the [National Park Foundation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waste-free-food-container).

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 2.5/10
- Popularity: 27% | Activity: 40% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X
- Top markets: North America

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco)

## Key Themes

### Why This Trend Is Growing

- **Upcycling:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create products from discarded materials, reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
- **Sustainable Fashion:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop eco-friendly clothing options that appeal to consumers' fashion preferences.
- **Cause Marketing:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with non-profit organizations to create co-branded products that support a meaningful cause.

### Industries Being Reshaped

- **Fashion Apparel:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate upcycled materials into clothing designs, capturing the growing demand for sustainable fashion.
- **Environmental Conservation:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implement creative recycling initiatives to transform waste into usable products, promoting environmental sustainability.
- **Promotional Merchandise:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Offer co-branded products that align with a cause, enabling companies to engage with customers while supporting a social or environmental mission.

## Related on Trend Hunter

- [Merino-Based Adventure Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/icebreaker-1.md)
- [Sustainable Clothing Collection Collaboartions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sustainable-clothing-collection.md)
- [Park-Inspired Outdoor Fashion Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/parks-project-1.md)
- [Adventurer-Focused Sustainable Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/deadbyrd-trademark-ecowear.md)
- [Cheeky National Park Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/for-a-good-time-call.md)
- [Tree-Planting T-Shirt Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/treedom.md)
- [Sustainable Clothing Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/regeneration-nation.md)
- [Sustainable Yacht Crew Uniforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/national-marine-suppliers.md)
- [Sleek Outdoor Recreational Gear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/greater-zion.md)