Australian eco cycle wear brand OORR – Out of the Rat Race – has launched a new Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of cycling and fitness apparel enhanced with coffee and ‘Frog Skin’ nanotechnology.
I admit, we were quite baffled when we read that description. But after watching OORR founder Tim’s video explaining the technology and green credentials behind the clothing, we’re intrigued. I love coffee for the way it tastes, smells and gets me going in the morning – but did you have any idea that incorporating it into textiles could bring other benefits? According to OORR, the introduction of coffee grounds into the cloth construction both reduces odour and increases the refraction of harmful UV rays. That sounds pretty impressive. As one of the sweatiest cyclists in Britain with skin which is very prone to burning, I’d be up for sporting a jersey with those features.
We haven’t tested these products, but we do think they might be worth a punt: watch the video on Kickstarter and tell us what you think in the comments! The campaign runs until Tuesday 29th November and the funding goal is AUD $35,000.
Out of the Rat Race – the Background
OORR founder Tim decided to get into cycling jersey design after becoming fed up of being, in his words, target practice for Sydney drivers. His initial plan was to create some jerseys with a message – gimme some space! – but after some research realised that several other companies had already done it. But during his research, he discovered some alternative fabrics that were becoming available to the market that could be beneficial.
A self confessed greeny, Tim decided to search for eco fabrics suitable for use in cycling and learned that no one else was doing recycled fabric jerseys off the peg. What’s more, he felt that the fabric which was available was uncomfortable, and didn’t look great. He embarked on an ambitious mission: to develop a jersey of superior quality to anything available from big brands, and to do it using recycled materials.
After a lengthy period searching for someone who could produce small batch knits for testing his fabric, he finally found success. The OORR flagship jersey needed to be tough, high performance, wearable year-round and look the part.
While Tim had hoped to create the jersey entirely within Australia and New Zealand, it became apparent to him that the expertise in this industry lay in Asia. When he finally found the right jersey manufacturer it took a further 8 months to refine the look and fit for what would become the OORRiginal jersey.
The OORR team is now developing a wider range of jerseys, bibs and options for women.
The Mantra of the OORR cycling brand is ‘Performance wear for the planet’. Tim believes that demanding performance from your apparel shouldn’t cost the earth – and he doesn’t mean dollars. Looking at what he has achieved so far with OORR, it is clear that using recycled products does not mean there should be any need to sacrifice performance, comfort or style.
The OORR Mission
- To create beautiful apparel and accessories using recycled and/or sustainable resources.
- To challenge consumer perception of recycled materials, and change purchasing habits, effecting a shift in the broader market towards production that is good for the planet.
- To contribute part of our profit to aid social and environmental causes.
The OORR Name
Out Of the Rat Race. You might want to break free of the shackles of society and experience the freedom and breathtaking majesty of the road in solitude. You might want to get ahead of the peloton, and stay there. You might want to ride whenever and wherever you please, leaving your phone and watch behind.
OORR is all about breaking the mould and pursuing the dream. Back yourself. Commit. Get Out Of the Rat Race.
The CSR Credentials
OORR is a certified B Corporation. B Corporations are a new type of company that use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Corp certification is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA Organic certification is to milk.