Standard Issue Black™: A new approach to black
Haglöfs and Polartec present Standard Issue Black™, a new shared standard for black in outdoor apparel. The goal is to eliminate unnecessary color variations between different fabrics and reduce the production complexity associated with dyeing materials.
4Outdoor is also on Whatsapp. Just click here to subscribe to the channel and stay up to date.
Black is one of the most popular colors in the outdoor industry, but it rarely maintains the same hue from one fabric to another. This is because materials are often developed and dyed separately, resulting in numerous variations of black that are visually similar but technically different.
Why standardize black in outdoor
To address this inefficiency, Haglöfs and Polartec collaborated to create Standard Issue Black™, a pre-dyed black designed to streamline the supply chain and reduce the environmental impact of the dyeing process.
During a joint materials review, the two companies identified more than 20 visually similar shades of black used in the original Polartec technical fleece line, one of the most popular in the industry. Each shade required a dedicated dyeing process, with separate production volumes and resources, yet appeared nearly identical to the human eye.
Reducing environmental impact
Standard Issue Black™ aims to eliminate these inefficiencies on a large scale.
Compared to traditional piece-dyed black fabrics, this approach allows for:
- reduce water consumption in production by more than 50%
- achieve a minimum 20% energy saving
According to internal manufacturing evaluations, this new system represents a more efficient way to manage resources for one of the most popular colors in outdoor apparel.
La Black Capsule Collection
The initiative takes shape in the Black Capsule, a limited collection made with existing advanced Polartec fabrics in various shades of black.
Rather than developing new materials, the capsule brings these variations together to highlight the implications of the current fragmented approach and to introduce the context for a future shared standard for the color black in the outdoor industry.
A project open to the entire sector
“By standardizing something as fundamental as black, we can eliminate unnecessary steps in manufacturing and better utilize shared resources,” says Ramesh Kesh, SVP of Milliken & Company and Business Manager of Polartec.
The initiative is intentionally open to the entire industry. The goal is to foster a broader shift toward shared standards in color development and production.
The role of design in sustainability
For Haglöfs, the project reflects a long-term approach to design and product development, where early decisions play a key role in reducing complexity and extending the lifespan of garments.
“Color choices have long-term consequences,” explains Eva Weiss, Head of Design at Haglöfs. “Our approach to color is meticulous, considering how materials and construction influence hue. Working toward a clear standard allows us to eliminate unnecessary variations while maintaining the integrity of the design.”
From concept to production
After years of collaboration, Haglöfs and Polartec see Standard Issue Black™ as a starting point for a broader dialogue within the industry.
The adoption of shared standards can contribute to:
- reduce production complexity
- preserve resources
- promote more responsible product development over time.
The standard will go into production for the first time in the Haglöfs FW26 collection, marking the transition from concept to actual implementation.
Availability of the collection
The Black Capsule Collection will be available online at haglofs.com and in selected Haglöfs stores at:
- Stockholm
- Göteborg
- Helsinki
- Åre
starting March 13th.
