ROOTS
In 2014 we set out to design and craft a unique apparel collection within a 150-mile radius of our San Francisco Bay Area headquarters. While we didn’t meet our strict start-to-finish production goal, we did successfully collaborate with local farmers, producers and craftsmen to create something truly worth celebrating.
In 2015 we challenged ourselves to grow the Backyard Project collection and significantly increase the quantity of products made through new relationships and collaborations within the American textile industry.
In 2016 we will begin piloting the programme in Europe. Check back soon for expansion updates.
Crafted in the USA
Grown: Arizona, USA
It all starts with brown cotton from The Natural Hue Company farm in Arizona. The company is run by cotton experts Jim Olvey and his son, Mike, who started researching and breeding colored cotton with his father full-time after graduating college.
Processed: South Carolina, USA
Our cotton was spun into high-quality yarn by Tuscarora Yarns, Inc. (founded in 1899), the oldest specialty yarn manufacturer in America.
Sewn: California, USA
The garments come together in Los Angeles, the domestic hub of fabric development, garment dyeing and clothing production.
Meet the Makers
To scale the Backyard Project we formed new partnerships with family-run businesses in Los Angeles, California with decades of experience each.
Meet the Makers
Fabric on circular knitting machines at Antex Knitting Mills in Los Angeles. Established in Los Angeles in 1973, Antex Knitting Mills produces over 1.5 million yards of fabric per week. Their highly trained staff is up to date on the latest advances in the industry and constantly strives to maintain and improve their level of expertise.
Meet the Makers
An employee at JC Industries cutting out pattern pieces. JC Industries is one of Los Angeles’ leading garment manufacturers with in-house cutting, sewing and screen printing capabilities. Eric Shin, the president, sees their investment in automation and new technology as a leverage point for garment manufacturing in Los Angeles.
Meet the Makers
An employee at JC Industries sewing a Backyard Project men’s t-shirt. JC Industries started over 45 years ago making custom trims and has expanded their operations over the years to offer vertical manufacturing.
Meet the Makers
Backyard Project hoodies in the dye machines at Care-Tex Industries in Los Angeles. Due to a pretreatment on some of the cotton fibers, the dye process was more efficient, using significantly less chemicals during the process. Paul Kang, the director, whose grandfather co-founded the dye house 29 years ago, views his work at Care-Tex as a ‘very delicate balance between art and science.’