Cridland's 30 Year Sweatshirt Fights Against the Current Fashion World

In fashion, styles come and go quickly, creating clothes that are as instantly desired as they are discarded. British entrepreneur Tom Cridland seeks to offer a practical solution to the constant cycle with his range of sustainable clothing called the "30 Year Sweatshirt."

The 25-year old created his line of sweatshirts as a response to what he calls 'fast fashion.' To make the sweatshirts that could last 30 years, the sweatshirt uses a traditional knitting technique with three yarns of loop-wheeled fabric. That fabric then undergoes a special silicon treatment that will prevent shrinking.

The sweatshirts are made of out 80% heavy, organic cotton mixed with 20% premium polyester to improve the mobility and comfort of the entire garment. Cridland chose to make the sweatshirts at a factory in Portugal who employs craftsmen that have been making sweatshirts for decades.

Glamour wrote about his decision on the factory. "I asked them 'show me the oldest sweatshirt you guys have ever made'. They've been in business since 1964 as a supplier, and they showed me a sweatshirt from the late 1970s which was still in perfect condition."

But to prevent these sweatshirts from shrinking and piling, Cridland has worked with those seamstresses and craftsmen to use their silicon treatment developed there. Cridland was impressed with the level of modernity in the factory, which has improved their equipment to move with the times.

These long-lasting sweatshirts are £55 ($83 USD) and are guaranteed to last for 30 years. The idea was funded by a crowd-sourcing campaign on Indiegogo and raised 316% of their goal.

Cridland hopes to create an alternative for customers that don't want to be stuck in a cycle of buying low-quality clothes at low prices and then are forced to replace them quickly because of it. He also wanted to address the environmental issues that are created from a fast-fashion cycle.

As he told Reuters, "The mere fact that we're guaranteeing the sweatshirts for 30 years implies that the sweatshirts are made really well and, therefore, we're not wasting our natural resources, which is the main reason is why the project is good for the environment"

The fashion designer also wants people to take value in what they buy and when they're tired of it because it still is in good condition, he wants them to donate the clothes instead of throwing them away.

He's also giving 10% of his profits on the sweatshirt to international charity Deki to help entrepreneurs in severe poverty. Deki will give them grants, which will allow them to work on their business ideas. As Cridland's Indiegogo page stated, "These entrepreneurs in developing countries require grants of just an average value of £250 to be able to continue with their businesses, in turn contributing to their communities and economies. They all have a great work ethic and they all deserve the chance to use it."

The sweatshirts are currently only available in men's styles from extra small to XXX-large, but women will probably still want one for themselves. It's a great gift for anyone who loves fashion and wants to support a great cause.