The EVE waterproof jacket: behind the scenes of its eco-responsible manufacturing

Since 2018, the EVE waterproof jacket has been Lagoped’s first iconic garment, a symbol of our commitment to designing durable and environmentally friendly products. Born from long days spent exploring nature for inspiration, the EVE jacket has evolved over the years thanks to your feedback and the expertise of our product team. Recognizable by its iconic sun yellow color, it quickly expanded into 11 other shades to suit every preference. Made from recycled materials and assembled in Europe, the EVE jacket embodies our vision of responsible fashion, where every manufacturing choice aims to protect nature and leave a positive footprint.

We detail the manufacturing process of our waterproof jacket. 

The EVE jacket from Lagoped stands out for its exceptional technical features, making it an ideal ally to face the harshest weather conditions. It is waterproof, windproof, and breathable, thanks to a 20,000 Schmerber waterproof rating and seams sealed with heat-bonded tape. Its helmet-compatible hood is designed to offer maximum protection without creating entry points for water, snow, or wind, while YKK© Aquaguard zippers ensure optimal waterproofing. With a close-fitting cut, slightly longer at the back, and extended sleeves, it offers total freedom of movement, essential for mountain activities. Practical details like side vents and thoughtfully placed pockets make it a top choice for demanding adventurers.

Made with a strong commitment to durability, the EVE jacket is designed from high-quality recycled materials. The fabric consists of three layers of recycled polyester, including a Sympatex membrane also recycled, which ensures optimal breathability and waterproofing. Certified Oeko-Tex® and its Bluesign® membrane, the jacket is free from substances harmful to health and the environment, such as PTFE and perfluorinated hydrocarbons, and uses a fluorocarbon-free water-repellent treatment.

The manufacturing of Lagoped's EVE waterproof jacket takes place exclusively in Europe, thus guaranteeing quality and a deep commitment to responsible practices. Every step, from thread to fabric to finishing, is carefully orchestrated within the European Union, avoiding the risks associated with distant productions often marked by human and environmental disasters. By choosing to stay in Europe, Lagoped ensures not only access to unparalleled textile expertise, since Europe is the birthplace of fashion and mountaineering, but also promotes fair social practices by fairly compensating every actor in the chain and creating local jobs. This choice also helps reduce the carbon footprint through closer production and complies with strict environmental standards, thus demonstrating shared responsibility towards nature.

The design of the waterproof jacket at Lagoped begins in the heart of the French Alps' Venice, Annecy, where the product team tackles a complex but exciting task. Imagining the jacket first means designing a product that combines technical performance and aesthetics. This creative phase results in detailed sketches and the creation of the pattern, an essential guide for the precise cutting of fabrics. 

The process also includes careful research of materials that meet our strict specifications for functionality, durability, and environmental respect. Finding the right partners to transform these materials into high-quality finished products is a crucial step, ensuring that each jacket meets our high standards.

Lagoped has chosen to work with the Italian brand Sinterama, which developed Newlife™ yarn, a 100% recycled polyester made from plastic bottles collected through citizen recycling programs.

Recycling plastic bottles to make polyester yarn is an innovative process that transforms waste into valuable resources. This process begins with the collection and sorting of bottles, which are then cleaned and shredded into flakes. These flakes are melted and extruded to create a continuous recycled polyester yarn called Newlife™. 

Unlike traditional methods, this mechanical process requires neither harsh chemicals nor additional dyes, which significantly reduces environmental impact. The yarn produced is not only durable but also high quality, ensuring garments technical performance comparable to virgin fibers while contributing to reducing plastic waste.

The weaving and dyeing stage of the polyester yarn plays a crucial role in the manufacture of a waterproof jacket. After being processed into yarn, recycled polyester is woven to create a strong and durable fabric, which forms the base of the jacket. This weaving must be done with great precision to ensure not only the fabric's durability but also its waterproofness and breathability, essential for technical clothing. The weaving of the outer layer is done in France, in Ardèche, using NewLife™ yarn. Starting from winter 2024-2025, the weaving of the inner layer will be done in Italy, using another recycled Italian yarn. 

Once the weaving is complete, the fabric is dyed through a rigorous process designed to ensure high UV resistance, so that the color remains vibrant even after prolonged exposure to the elements. These weaving and dyeing steps are therefore crucial to guarantee the quality and longevity of waterproof jackets.

The waterproof membrane used in Lagoped jackets is made by Sympatex, a German partner known for its commitment to sustainable innovation. This membrane is made from recycled polyester, notably from pre-consumer membrane scraps, making it both high-performing and environmentally friendly. Completely free of PTFE and PFC, the Sympatex membrane is not only waterproof but also breathable and windproof, ensuring optimal protection against the elements while allowing water vapor to escape. In addition to being 100% recyclable, this membrane meets the highest environmental certifications, such as Bluesign® and Oeko-Tex®, confirming its reduced ecological impact and safety for health.

The lamination step is essential in the manufacture of a waterproof jacket, as it involves assembling the three layers of materials that give the garment its technical properties. This process combines an outer layer of recycled polyester, a waterproof and breathable membrane (such as Sympatex), and an inner mesh layer, also recycled. Lamination is done by fusing the layers under pressure and high temperature, creating a composite fabric that remains thin while being extremely durable. This process ensures that the waterproof membrane stays firmly fixed between the other two layers, guaranteeing effective protection against water and wind while allowing sweat to escape. The quality of the lamination is crucial for the jacket's durability and performance, as it ensures the layers will not delaminate, even after intense use in extreme conditions.

Applying a water-repellent to the laminated fabric of a waterproof jacket is a crucial step to ensure the garment's hydrophobic performance. This treatment involves applying a thin layer of water-repellent product to the outer surface of the fabric, which causes water to bead up instead of being absorbed. This helps maintain the breathability of the laminate while preventing moisture from penetrating through the fibers.

The Lagoped brand, environmentally conscious, uses a DWR (durable water repellent) finish without fluorocarbons, thus avoiding the use of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) often found in conventional water-repellent treatments. Since 2008, only environmentally friendly DWRs have been applied to Sympatex products, in line with Lagoped’s commitment to sustainable textiles. This innovative approach not only ensures optimal water protection but also minimizes environmental impact, meeting Lagoped’s standards.

The last step in making a waterproof jacket is assembly, where the different pieces of laminated fabric are sewn together to form the final garment. This step requires great precision, as each seam potentially creates entry points for water. 

To ensure the jacket’s complete waterproofing, waterproof tapes are applied to all seams. These tapes, usually made of polyurethane, are heat-bonded to the internal seams, blocking any water or wind infiltration. This process is essential to maintain the jacket’s integrity, especially in extreme weather conditions. The final assembly also includes adding waterproof zippers and storm flaps, which enhance the garment’s overall protection. 

It is this attention to detail in assembly that ensures the waterproof jacket delivers optimal performance, combining comfort, durability, and waterproofing.

The waterproof jacket is then stored in the Alps, waiting to be transported to one of our distributors in France, Switzerland, or Belgium, or directly to you! 

To extend its lifespan, it may sometimes need a repair. In that case, we send it back to Annecy, to our workshop, an expert in outdoor repairs, or to a craftsman near you. 

At Lagoped, we work every day to create clothing that leaves the lightest footprint on Nature. We ask ourselves many questions and take on challenges to reduce, reuse, transport less... in short, to have an eco-design of our products that truly takes into account the overall environmental impact and to confirm that we are right to prioritize “recycled Europe” from thread to garment to move away from the extraction logic. 

We do not claim to “save the planet,” but we provide you with all the information about the sincere efforts we undertake for responsible manufacturing. That is why we are proud to be the first brand in Europe to publish the eco-scores of all our garments.

You will see that this required a lot of energy and work for Lagoped. It’s a bit like having the IPCC glasses on your nose to look at your clothing. And if we managed it with our modest size, we hope it will be a source of inspiration for the fashion sector.

The Lagoped EVE jacket stands out with an exceptional eco-score, achieving an A according to Peftrust's evaluation. This score reflects outstanding performance across several key criteria. In terms of human health, the jacket excels thanks to the absence of harmful chemicals, ensuring the safety of outdoor sports enthusiasts. Regarding natural resources, the use of recycled materials helps reduce the environmental footprint. Moreover, the impact on the ecosystem is minimized thanks to European partners adhering to strict manufacturing standards. Compared to standard products, Lagoped's waterproof jacket asserts itself as the most nature-friendly, offering waterproof protection without compromising environmental ethics.

To preserve the technical qualities of the EVE waterproof jacket, careful maintenance is essential. It is recommended to wash it inside out in the machine at 30°C, with zippers closed, and to limit the frequency of washes as well as the amount of detergent used. Avoid using fabric softener, as the technical fabric does not respond well to it. After washing, it is best to air dry the jacket on a hanger or, if necessary, tumble dry for a maximum of 10 to 15 minutes. It is important never to iron the membrane and to avoid dry cleaning. To maintain water repellency, applying specific PFC-free sprays is recommended.

In conclusion, the EVE waterproof jacket perfectly embodies Lagoped's commitment to sustainable fashion, respectful of the environment and human health. Thanks to thoughtful design, using recycled materials and ethical manufacturing, this jacket shows that it is possible to combine technical performance with ecological responsibility.

By choosing the EVE waterproof jacket, adventurers not only opt for optimal protection against the elements but also make a conscious choice that preserves the planet and supports a more sustainable economy.