BC’s ecologyst Outfitters is disrupting the legacy clothing industry by producing and selling sustainably and ethically produced fashion through its unique manufacturer-to-consumer (M2C) business model.
Originally founded by CEO René Gauthier as surfing brand Sitka in 2002, ecologyst has evolved into an eco-friendly outdoor apparel company with a mission to create the world’s most sustainable clothing supply chain.
ecologyst combines technology and in-house ethical production to eliminate waste and reduce inventory, while maintaining high quality standards.
In addition to adding their merino wool tops and bottoms to their wardrobe, ecologyst brand fans will soon be able to add the sustainable label to their investment portfolio.
Calgary’ Trail Blazing Ventures (TSXV: BLAZ.P), a capital pool company led by entrepreneur Darren Bondar, has filed the paperwork to acquire the clothing brand.
Bondar was most recently the founder, president & CEO of Inner Spirit Holdings which was acquired by Sundial Growers for $131 million last year.
Prior to the completion of the acquisition, ecologyst intends to complete brokered and non-brokered private placements totalling $7 million. Funds ecologyst will use to expand their M2C business model to more cities across North America.
ecologyst believes that the future is circular, where the solution to ending the environmental degradation associated with the existing clothing industry lies with owning fewer, higher quality and ethically produced garments.
Hyper-aligned with that vision is streetwear manufacturer Frankie Collective and last week ecologyst announced they are acquiring the women’s clothing brand.
Frankie upcycles vintage and unsold garments from top global clothing lines like Nike and Adidas into unique pieces, pushing the boundaries of contemporary style, extending the product life cycle, and adding value to like-minded customers and the environment.
Clothing produced by Frankie has a sell-through rate of 73% within three weeks, and many of its new rework releases sell out within hours.
“The Frankie Collective complements ecologyst, with both businesses focused on manufacturing clothing that offers apparel for customers who share the same vision of living in harmony with the planet,” commented Gauthier regarding the acquisition.
“Our aim is to demonstrate that synergy is possible among the concepts of economy and environment. With the clothing resale market expected to reach $53 billion by 2023 – outgrowing the fast fashion market – the acquisition of Frankie Collective solidifies our quest to have the world’s cleanest supply chain based on environmental consciousness and transparency.”
The addition of Frankie is aligned with ecologyst’s value-based ethos and the move to becoming a publicly-traded company will help fuel the market expansion opportunity that lies ahead.
Photo: Ecologyst’s Victoria-based studio space by James Jones.
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