This Jacket Will Fully Biodegrade In Just 5 Years

We’ve seen underwear made from seaweed and carbon-cutting denim dye, but what about a piece of clothing that will break down in just five years? That’s the story behind luxury outdoor performance brand Templa’s latest jacket, which is thought to be the first biodegradable down jacket on the high-fashion market.

Designing To Disappear: About The Biodegradable Templa Jacket

Created in collaboration with suppliers ALLIED Feather & Down and Active Apparel Group (AAG), as part of ALLIED’s Future Now: Designing To Disappear Program, the Templa creation has been designed to biodegrade in a short period of time at the end of its life.

The Hyperion jacket bagged itself an ISPO Award (celebrating innovation in sports products and services) last November, having impressed the jury with its sustainability credentials. ‘This jacket proves that luxury fashion, sports and sustainability can coexist without compromise,’ noted the ISPO Award Jury. ‘The biodegradable jacket is stylish, wonderfully light and versatile. Thanks to its unisex fit, it can easily be passed on to be given a second life.’

Other specific highlights the judges mentioned included high-quality workmanship, the use of both natural and biodegradable synthetic materials, and that the jacket is made in a B Corp-certified factory that has received a 100 per cent success rate in a living wage audit.

‘ALLIED is proud to kick off our new Future Now: program with AAG and Templa and the Designing to Disappear project, and what better way to do so than with an ISPO award,’ said Matthew Betcher, ALLIED Creative Director. ‘As a renewable, biodegradable by-product of the food supply chain, down is supremely suited for use in any sustainability-minded apparel program. Not only is it biodegradable, but it is recyclable and boasts an exceedingly low carbon footprint as a raw material. It’s the perfect insulation to combine with biodegradable fabrics and trims.’

‘We are truly honored to accept the ISPO Award for Future Now: Designing to Disappear – The Biodegradable Project,’ added Anati Rakocz, Founding Partner with Templa. ‘For us, this project is more than just an interesting silhouette or new technology; it is about making responsible choices for meaningful change. And we’re grateful that our efforts, alongside AAG and Allied Feather + Down, have been acknowledged by our industry leaders, reinforcing our belief in the power of collaboration for the greater good.’

The jacket itself is made with biodegradable 800 fill power down insulation, in combination with biodegradable synthetic fabrics and trims sourced by B Corp-certified Active Apparel Group. It has also been designed to disappear completely from the planet when placed in an anaerobic environment for five years.

‘As the lines between performance outdoor apparel and fashion continue to blur, and an ever increasing need for more sustainable products drives innovation, we decided it was time to bring these elements together in our Future Now: Designing to Disappear jacket,’ explained Lori Oscher, Group Chief Design Officer, Active Apparel Group. ‘With AAG’s recent B Corp certification, ALLIED’s dedication to sustainable, ethically sourced down, and Templa’s unparalleled ability to design fashion-forward performance wear, we knew we were onto something truly unique and we couldn’t be happier that the ISPO judges agreed.’

As mentioned, Templa’s signature silhouettes also guided the design process – resulting in a stylish puffer jacket that the team notes is also ‘a truly thoughtful and sustainable garment that will leave this planet without a trace.’

Will The Jacket Be Available For Purchase?

Templa showcased the Hyperion jacket as part of its Fall/Winter 2025 collection – available in stone, blush and black, and priced at $1650 – and said that we can expect it to see it in stores this September. templaprojects.com

Images courtesy of Templa