Invertia an interrail with a stop at the UN: this is the first Spanish clothing brand that 'negativizes' its CO2 footprint

If the digitalization has come to stay, it is no less true that the new generations are promoting disruptive impact projects that put the technology at the service of values aimed at building a more just and egalitarian society, including the commitment to the most disadvantaged and theCare of the planet.

Blue Banana is the paradigmatic example that business profitability is not at odds with the construction of a new economic and social model where no one is missed.The Spanish clothing company has closed its fifth year of journey with a turnover of 7.4 million euros, almost double that in 2020.

And the good economic results have come from the hand of a close collaboration with the United Nations to compensate through their participation in social and environmental projects their carbon footprint.

In fact, this is one of the main identity signs of this textile project of the digital era that was created aboard the interrail when its founders did not even reach twenty -in the present they are 25 years old -.

"With 19 years we made a trip in Interrail in Europe and began to devise the project, specifically in Amsterdam.There our famous X originated, the brand logo, which we both tattoo, "explains to D+i Nacho Rivera, one of the Blue Banana drivers.

The beginnings in a storage room

They recognize that, like the rest of the young people in their generation, they were attracted to the brands that were beginning to be known on social networks.With only 3.000 euros, "without any experience, but with great desire" -Matizan- launched to create a brand that transmitted their way of seeing the world.

They find it difficult."We had the garments that a seamstress in Madrid prepared every day," says Rivera.

Or the anecdote of that first Christmas in which they were overwhelmed by orders and had to ask for help from family and friends."It was also fun the year we spent exchange: one in France and the other in Canada managing the brand as we could between class and class and with all the difficulties of the schedule and remoteness of Spain," says Fernández-Strada.

However, a few years later the effort has paid off and Blue Banana has become 2021 in the first Spanish clothing brand to negativize its CO2 footprint.

An omnicanal strategy

The company closed last year with a turnover of 7.4 million euros, which represents a growth of more than 84% sales compared to 2020.The income of the year proceeds to 78% online sales and the remaining 22%, of offline.

These figures underpin their consolidation in the online market after exceeding their digital sales in more than 76% from the previous year.

The brand, which is committed to an omnicanal strategy, has three physical stores located in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.For this 2022, he plans to continue his national growth and reach Seville and Bilbao, in addition to opening a second space in the capital.

On the other hand, it should be noted that for 2021 it began to sell through its ecommerce in France and Germany and this year it plans to consolidate its international expansion in Europe and Latin America.

But the Blue Banana project would not be understood as a whole if we did not descend to its most compromised facet by the surrounding environment and that has led him to collaborate with the United Nations in the construction of a world without so many inequalities.

In fact, one of the most important 2021 milestones for the brand has been collaboration with the Dcycle Environmental Intelligence Startup.

Thanks to this union, it has become the first Spanish clothing firm to negativize its carbon footprint and has achieved it by investing the equivalent of the double emissions in environmental projects endorsed by the United Nations.

This advance and commitment has come from the hand of the launch of its latest AW21 collection, the largest so far that has more than 100 garments made with organic cotton and recycled polyester.

Labor insertion of people with disabilities

Blue Banana has also been involved in other solidarity and sustainable projects such as the reforestation of the Mediterranean coordinates Hidden Deserts, the planting of trees in Africa by Trees.Org, the promotion of the use of ecological fibers and recycled in the textile industry by Pytatex and the insertion in the work world of people with intellectual disabilities leading the Prodis Foundation.

"On the other hand, we have always worked so that the garments are as sustainable as possible, being aware that the road was not going to be easy," says Juan Fernández-Strada.

"The textile is one of the most polluting sectors on the planet," insists Nacho Rivera, "hence the importance of being aware and taking measures so that our footprint is minimized".

It seems an unattainable challenge but from Blue Banana they are convinced that it is possible to achieve it."Obviously they are not simple or economical options, but necessary.We saw that there were brands with similar initiatives to neutralize his CO2 and we thought it was fantastic, but it wasn't enough ".

Blue Banana climbed the bet and was a step further."We decided to compensate for twice our emissions.We are the first clothing firm in Spain that does it, but we hope not to be the only one ".

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