Station attendants working at Helios House, BP’s eco-friendly gas station in Los Angeles, have Earnest Sewn to thank for their uniforms.
Helios House opened last month and BP bills it as “a green experiment at the pump.” The giant oil and energy company said it was the first U.S. gas station that had applied for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification, which is issued by the U.S. Green Building Council. The station was constructed of recycled materials, uses sustainable water and light systems and is said to use 16 percent less electricity than other stations.
Scott Morrison, president and founder of Earnest Sewn, admitted having some reservations when BP representatives approached him about six months ago and asked him to submit ideas. Morrison said the label was one of a handful asked to come up with the uniform.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” he said. “You’ve got a company that traditionally has been in an industry that doesn’t have any environmental sensibility whatsoever, so it’s a neat thing for us to be involved with a company that wants to make a small step.”
Workers at the station have been trained to offer tips on how customers can reduce their impact on the environment. They’ll also wear Earnest Sewn’s uniform, a one-piece garment that was inspired by gas station uniforms of the Fifties. Morrison wanted to include a racing feel to the uniforms, “hence, the racing stripe,” he said.
Each garment is hand-sewn at the company’s Meatpacking District studio in Manhattan, and is made of what Morrison described as a “beefy twill.” About 24 pieces have been made for BP.
Morrison said he continually fields questions about how Earnest Sewn can produce more environmentally friendly products. The limited quantity of eco-friendly fabrics makes it a challenge.
“The consumer doesn’t realize that it’s not just about us; it’s the fabric supplier,” he said. “They have to start producing it in quantity….It’s a tall chore at this point in the game, but for the fabrics we’re selecting, especially if they’re environmentally friendly, the fabric up-charge can be between 25 and 45 percent.”
As a result, Morrison doesn’t expect overnight change from BP or even the garment industry.
Related Articles
You May Also Like
“Change takes a lot of time and it’s baby steps,” he added. “This is a good kickoff.”