Pictured here are SustainU’s VP of Production/Product Development, Patrick Adrian and CEO, Chris Yura, both wearing MLB by SustainU Tees at a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park.
How long have you been in business?
7 Years
What inspired you to start making sustainable MLB t-shirts?
I wanted to create a tangible way for people to wear the values that they hold most dear. I felt that if I created a brand that used sustainable materials, U.S. workers and a better supply chain, it could eventually also provide the perfect canvas for highly valuable trademarks in sports. Sports are a unique cross-cultural medium that can help progress sustainability, like few other categories. I also could not find any apparel companies in sports-licensed products that approached sustainability through three important lenses: social, environmental and economic progression. Therefore, I decided to create one: MLB by SustainU.
What is your company’s mission?
SustainU is predicated on creating jobs through the use of 100% recycled materials and domestic manufacturing.
MLB by SustainU featuring the St. Louis Cardinals
Do you have a 5 or 10-year vision for your company that you could share with us?
We are constantly looking to become even more sustainable through our internal practices and product development. I don’t like to put a ceiling on our potential, but I can say that we will be internalizing more of our supply chain to be the leader in sustainable sports-licensed apparel.
Who is your customer?
Our products appeal to a wide range audience, from those choosing to live consciously to sports lovers, but we ultimately target the millennial generation in design and presentation of our line.
What’s the most challenging thing about running a sustainable business?
The most challenging thing for any new business in a newer market segment is the initial trailblazing. Once you are able to properly showcase your product, it becomes much easier to gain traction.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you or your company?
We are based in Appalachia and this is very important to me. My family is from West Virginia, and we are very proud to represent the ingenuity and creativity of our state as we build SustainU.
Cubs fan wearing the MLB by SustainU featuring REALTREE® Camo Chicago Cubs Tee during the week of Opening Day
Just For Fun
What’s your favorite color?
Navy Blue
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