Sustainability
Design & Development
High-quality gloves that stand the test of time
When creating a new glove, our top priority is to deliver high quality and longevity, while also focusing on comfort and more sustainable manufacturing.
DURABLE GLOVES IN TIMELESS DESIGN
At Hestra, we design gloves of high quality, durability and functionality. Our products are made to meet real needs: to warm and protect peoples hands and to give dexterity in varied environments and activities. We strive to develop gloves that can be used for many years, which includes the selection of highly-durable materials, the repairability of our products and the replaceable inner glove that prolong a glove’s lifetime. Even the aesthetic design including colours and other visual details is intended to be timeless. This long-term philosophy has a significant impact on the environmental footprint of our products and company.
CAREFUL INNOVATION AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW DESIGNS
Design at Hestra is very much about many small steps and improvements. 80 per cent of the range is carried over from one season to the next, and often no more than 2–3 new colours are introduced each year. This has many benefits: Stability for our suppliers, more manageable production, less waste, quality improvements, and less need for our retailers to clear out and replace their stock each season. When we introduce a new product, it is after careful patternmaking and comprehensive testing. Prototypes are thoroughly scrutinised, both in the design studio and in the field, sometimes with assistance from our network of experts – professional skiers and bikers, mountain guides and other outdoor experts. Field testing is unparalleled when it comes to determining whether gloves will perform in real-life situations and withstand the demands of heavy use.
Fält Guide Glove.
THOROUGH EVALUATION OF MATERIALS
In general, we favour leather, wool and proven synthetic materials that can enhance the longevity and performance of a glove. Elements considered in the material selection process include material composition and sustainability performance. Functional performance is tested in laboratories, both in-house and at accredited third-party laboratories. Among other things, we simulate abrasion by rubbing the material against an abrasive surface in the Martindale machine. The sustainability evaluation is based on factors such as water consumption, chemical use and proximity between supplier and factory. We aim to replace materials with more sustainable (e.g. recycled) alternatives. A key requirement is that the quality and durability is better than or at least equivalent to the original material, and that the recycled fibres come from verifiable sources.
REPAIRABILITY AND REPLACEABLE INNER GLOVES
With the right care, materials, seams and features, our gloves can last for many years. But in the long run, intensive use inevitably leads to wear and tear, even on the most durable of our products. That is why we take repairability into account right from the design stage. This makes it easier to replace damaged or worn parts. An important goal is to create more and more models where the inner glove can be replaced while the main glove remains in use (70 models in 2023/2024, read more on the Care & Repair page).
Fält Guide Glove with removable liner.