At a time when all brands are offering so-called eco-friendly clothing, it's sometimes difficult to navigate the options and distinguish the genuine from the fake. For us, who proclaim ourselves more sustainable and are working to limit our footprint, it's essential to be completely transparent with our customers.

As cyclists, we are directly confronted with climate change during excessively hot summer days, or with abnormal weather conditions at other times of the year (storms, severe weather, etc.). But our sport, being mechanical, also requires a lot of equipment and sometimes leads us to consume a great deal. As is often the case, we are both victims and perpetrators.

The choice of materials

The production of raw materials used in clothing is the primary driver of environmental degradation in the textile industry. Depending on the manufacturing process, the consumption of water, fossil fuels, and toxic and polluting substances can vary considerably. When discussing eco-friendly clothing, it's essential to choose the right textiles, made from sustainable fabrics or natural fibers.

At the house of Matchy, We place great importance on using recycled materials:

Our entire clothing range is made partially or entirely from recycled materials (at least 30% per product). Because we develop technical and high-performance products, the main materials we use are:

• recycled polyester

• recycled elastane

• merino wool

• polyamide

Our products are certified by the label Global Recycled Standard and improved by production with a low environmental impact.

Many of our products are made from 100% recycled materials, and we have incorporated eco-friendly chamois pads into all of our cycling shorts.

The place of manufacture

Eco-friendly clothing should be manufactured close to where it is sold, and under socially acceptable conditions. Indeed, in some countries, labor laws are stricter and more protective of employees than in others. Despite this, the majority of cycling apparel still comes from distant regions, particularly Asian countries, which means a long journey for the product to reach the consumer, as well as often insufficient oversight of production conditions.

At the house of Matchy, We produce our clothing mainly in France and Italy, near our headquarters in Annecy. This allows us to limit our transport-related impact, maintain constant contact with our production sites, and also support local expertise and the local economy.

When a product is damaged, this proximity also allows us to send it back to the manufacturer who can repair it, and therefore offer you a "crash policy" by repairing your jerseys and bib shorts following a fall or accident.

Eco-friendly labels

To make life easier for consumers, labels have been introduced. These certify that a garment meets a range of important environmental criteria. However, it's still necessary to be able to distinguish the good ones.

If a product label indicates a certain material, try to find the label (and verify its authenticity) to be sure.

Unfortunately, just like with food products in our supermarkets, not all labels are created equal. Matchy, We use credible and verified labels, which we will list for you:

• SCS

The SCS recycled content certification assesses products made from pre-consumer or post-consumer materials diverted from the waste stream.

• Repreve

REPREVE® is a high-performance recycled fiber from a trusted brand, used to manufacture durable textiles with wicking, odor control, water resistance, etc.

• Greensoul

Technology M.I.T.I. Green Soul combines the use of 100% sustainable recycled fibers with the most environmentally friendly dyeing and finishing processes without compromising fabric performance.

• Bluesign

Bluesign is a system that provides safer and more sustainable environments for people to work in and for everyone.

• Oeko-Tex

Oeko-Tex is a quality label comprising several technical standards, aimed at certifying the health and ecological qualities of textiles and leathers, guaranteeing the absence of toxic products.

• GRS

GRS is an international and voluntary standard that establishes criteria for third-party certification of recycled content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and restrictions on chemical composition.

Now you are ready to make slightly more conscious equipment choices, and to ride your bike in a slightly more eco-responsible way.

Let's work together to build a better future. #besustainable.