inPhorm: Part Of The Solution
Long Island Tennis Magazine recently asked inPhorm’s creative director, Saad Hajidin, about sustainability and being “eco-forward.”
Why is sustainability important to you?
Call it Global Warming or Climate Change! When we started inPhorm 12 years ago there were skeptics and deniers. Scientists have warned us for years about the harmful effects if we continue down this path. I wanted our company to be part of the solutions, not the problem. I have a grand nephew who is four years old. Every day I think about what I can do to help make the world a better place for him and future generations.
On the notion of Eco-Forward, what do you mean by this?
When I founded inPhorm, I wanted to create a brand dedicated to sustainable production and to empower responsible consumers to choose products that are eco-forward and kinder to the Earth. My spouse, a journalist, coined the word “eco-forward,” because it suited me and my way of thinking. Being “eco-forward” is to think beyond “green” or eco-conscious. To look ahead with new ideas and innovations that contribute to sustainability.
To me, being conscious was not enough. If you talk the talk, then you must walk the walk. It’s been incredibly challenging to run a small company and to be sustainable, and we are taking one step forward every day.
Why is that important?
Preserving our environment is critical. We inherited this precious beauty. It is not only our responsibility and duty to make sure that we preserve it.
How do your customers respond? What are they looking for?
As we evolved, so have our customers. They are much more engaged in the conversation. It used to be a fad to talk about sustainability, but today they demand it. We have consumers who are in tune with what’s going on in the world, and they are smart about it. Our job is to be innovative and to deliver what they’re looking for.
How do you balance performance with sustainability?
There are so many new and exciting technologies in textiles and manufacturing. From day one, inPhorm has always been innovative and forward thinking. We use materials from sustainable and recycled sources. Our factory uses solar panels and recycles its water. We’ve used dry dye technology in our fabrics.
How do you choose new fabrics or technologies to support this?
Through research and staying informed. There are so many new and exciting technologies in textiles and manufacturing. As a small business, we don’t have the luxury of employing every new technology out there. The key is to look for something that can separate us from our competitors.
And we work with companies that are willing to collaborate with us. For example, we are consulting with Acteev, an award-winning, odor-fighting textile, and we’ll soon be launching tennis and golf wear made from fabrics with Acteev antimicrobial technology. Our Fall 2023 Collection will be launched late this month.
