T-Cycle T-shirts have emerged from a growing movement that is taking practical steps to respond to the environmental crisis we face. Urban areas can be revitalised with priority bicycle routes while providing a fun healthy mode of transport for the city's residents. By reusing existing textiles, and eco-friendly dyes, T-Cycle is minimising the pollution for cycle fashion.
The name 'T-Cycle' not only represents cycling but also recycling as all the t-shirts are reused or new ones that never got worn. It may sound cheesy but in choosing to purchase a T-cycle t-shirt you are helping to save our planet by both reducing the amount we consume and promoting cycling as a fun fit way to get around.

 

Here are some facts about the textile industry and why recycling is the way forward.

• In the UK we produce some 1.8 million tonnes of textile waste each year and it's on the rise.
  

• 80% of textiles waste IS reusable yet 74% goes to landfill, 13% are incinerated and only 13% is recovered or recycled.
  
• We all love cotton yet not many people know that more pesticides are used growing cotton than any other crop on the planet. It takes over a quarter of all insecticides used today to produce regular cotton. Not only does this reduce soil fertility and cause water pollution, it also reduces bio-diversity and kills animals and humans.
  
• 20,000 cotton workers a year die from pesticide poisoning.
  

• Our thirst for fast fashion has meant we are stretching our resources to the Max and creating problems for the future.
  
• The increasing need for cheap, throw away clothes means low wages and poor working conditions for sweatshop workers.
  

 T-Cycle benefits

• By choosing to buy a T-cycle product you cut out the pollution from the growing and manufacturing stages.
  
• All the t-shirts are printed using environmentally friendly water based printing inks. In all other printing processes minimal chemicals are used.
  
• All T-cycle t-shirts are delivered to the store by bicycle
  
• By promoting the bicycle, T-cycle hopes to encourage people to cycle more. There are so many benefits to cycling as a mode of transport, not only does it keep you fit and saves you money it cuts out carbon emissions which will benefit the environment for all of us. 
  
• T-Cycle recommends to save energy: wash in cold water, air dry and iron only when necessary.
  

Something to think about
 

• Say no to sweatshop labour, buy good quality clothes or recycled.
  
• Think about how your clothes are made, find out what is involved in their life-cycle.
  
• Make do and mend, if clothes start to wear stitch them up or reuse them, be creative.
  
• Look for organic clothing these use less chemicals. If you can't find what you want ASK for it to be stocked, the more demand for organic and ethical clothing the more likely it will be available.
  
• Enjoy your clothes, appreciate the time and energy that has gone into their production. The Fashion industry is huge, involving some of the most polluting manufacturing processes. Each stage from the growing, spinning,preparing,dyeing,printing,finishing,making, selling and finally laundering of a t-shirt can involve huge amounts of chemicals along with machinery and transport, they all add up to a massive effect on our planet.
  So try and be responsible and find out what you can about the clothes you buy, are they organic or recycled? where were they made? are they locally produced? It is important as a consumer to take steps in minimising the impact we make on the planet.
  

contact polly@t-cycle.co.uk