A few months ago, a friend of mine introduced me to a new golf apparel brand called RADMOR. I love golf apparel. You should see my closet. I have things in there most golfers would die for. This is just one of the many incredible benefits of being a golf writer and publishing a magazine. I followed his advice and checked out the website, it looked cool and hip, but when I looked closer at the apparel, I had my doubts. Everything was cotton-based. Who the hell wears cotton on the golf course anymore?
The second fact about me, I live in Central Florida, just northeast of Orlando. Public Service Announcement, it’s hot and humid in Central Florida pretty much year-round, except for a few weeks when I get to rejoice and enjoy a round of golf in sub-70-degree temperatures.
So, I wasn’t too keen on trying out any of the gear from RADMOR. My friend insisted the clothing was breathable, and I needed to give it a shot and promised I would be pleasantly surprised. I gave in! It started with one golf polo.
I grew up playing sports, skateboarding, and listening to bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana. The vibe from RADMOR hit home with me. While I might not have been an initial fan of the fabric, I always loved the designs and color options. The vibe with RADMOR is best described as a relaxed Pacific Northwest golf vibe. So trust me, most guys will love the RADMOR style but question the fabric, especially in warmer climates like Florida.
That first RADMOR polo sent me down a rabbit hole. What’s this all about? Who starts a golf apparel company and doesn’t use moisture-wicking fabrics like Polyester? RADMOR, that’s who. The brand is focused on sustainability and all about the end game.
RADMOR has realized we’re all citizens of the game. They’ve learned that being a good citizen means embracing the idea of doing more, making better choices, and in their case, being more mindful about what materials are used in our clothes.
Isn’t it ironic? (I’m sure you can hear Alanis Morissette)
RADMOR noted the irony around golf being one of the few sports in the world played outdoors – in nature – on a course carved from earth, surrounded by water, trees, sand, and grass – yet it’s played today primarily by golfers wearing plastic from head to toe. Unbeknownst to most, that plastic is called polyester.
CRAZY FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW!!
In the United States, we throw away 10+ million tons of clothing each year (that’s 80 lbs. of clothing a year per person), mostly Polyester. Polyester is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the most common type of oil-based plastic in the world. Polyester clothing takes decades, if not centuries, to decompose in a landfill and is considered harmful to the environment. By comparison, cellulose fibers like cotton, lyocell, modal, and bamboo all break down in a fraction of the time and are considered regenerative for the environment.
Equally challenging is the fact that every time you wear Polyester, whether it’s a round of golf or a trip to the office, as well as every time you wash your garment at home, thousands of plastic microfibers enter the environment, eventually making their way into our oceans, our soil, our water, and our food. These microfibers are the MOST pollutant material found in the ocean today.
NOW YOU GET IT!
RADMOR is the first brand in the golf industry to focus on eliminating using ‘virgin’ polyester on a garment level. So that’s why you don’t find any moisture-wicking polyester-based fabrics in their clothing line.
Instead of using Polyester, RADMOR has revitalized the use of cotton in golf apparel. In particular, they are using Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) Organic and Extra-Long Staple (ELS) Pima cotton in conjunction with more environmentally responsible performance technologies, providing golfers like me apparel that looks great, feels great, and performs in climates as harsh as Central Florida.
So, as I stated upfront, RADMOR is Saving the planet, one piece of apparel at a time. All without having to sacrifice quality, style, or comfort. If you’re ready for change and want to start making a difference for the planet, Give RADMOR a try! Golf Green. Wear RADMOR.