This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of Proforma Simonetta Freelance, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy (see proformagreen.com). John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry.
The list of new styles and materials in eco-friendly fashion from the promotional items industry continues to grow. Bodek & Rhodes has now introduced a sporty camp shirt made from Tencel.
Never heard of Tencel? Well neither had I. When asked, Bodek & Rhodes sent this statement on the material:
“Tencel is made from cellulose in wood pulp, which is harvested from tree-farmed trees. Cellulose is the natural polymer that makes up the living cells of all vegetation. The tree farms have been established on land unsuitable for food crops or grazing. The fiber is produced via an advanced ‘closed loop’ solvent spinning process, with minimal impact on the environment and economical use of energy and water. The solvent used in the process is toxic but 99% is recovered and continually recycled.”
So these are shirts from trees? Interesting.
The specific shirt in question is the UltraClub Adult Short-Sleeve Tencel Pattern Camp Shirt. These 4.6 oz 100% Tencel shirts are very soft with a hex pattern in the weave. They also have an “enzyme-washed finish” for softness. The shirts are currently available in Blue, Ivory, and Black in sizes S-3XL.
As you can see from the image the shirts are a traditional camp cut, very relaxed, very casual but formal enough for uniforms or casual wear for ecopreneurists or their businesses. It is certainly a different look than the many polo cuts on the market.
These shirts EQP at around $33. For most promotional product distributors that price will include the standard 7,000 stitches of custom embroidery for name or logo. Like many of the other eco-friendly shirts on the market they are designed to compete against traditional top shelf apparel. The UltraClub Adult Short-Sleeve Tencel Pattern Camp Shirt certainly holds its own in this category.
To learn more about Tencel and the process of making it Marc Seiler is the ASI contact to talk to at Bodek & Rhodes. If you are interested in these items to promote your own business contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.
Adventures in Green Marketing 
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