CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers are continuing their commitment toward environmental progress at Rocket Arena and in northeast Ohio by producing one of the first fully traceable and sustainable merchandise lines in professional sports.

What You Need To Know

The Cleveland Cavaliers partnered with Cleveland-based Found Surface to create a fully traceable and sustainable merchandise line

Over 100 pounds of material waste were composted locally and all dye-process water was recycled during the manufacturing process

The Cavaliers are one of the first professional sports teams to have a fully traceable and sustainable retail line

Inside a warehouse in The Flats, you’ll hear the sounds of cutting, sewing, and tagging. 

“It’s a very rigorous process,” Found Surface’s Christian Marcano said. “All the way from the start to the end.”

Marcano works for the Cleveland-based company Found Surface. He said making each piece of clothing is an art form.

“We try to be intricate and just making sure that this is not a machine press to start way to get our clothes out,” said Marcano. “It’s a lot of craftsmanship involved.”

That craftsmanship can now be seen inside Rocket Arena.

“We are the first, and as far as I know, the only professional sports team to have a fully domestically traceable retail line,” said Cavaliers Vice President of Sustainability and Environmental Services Danielle Doza. 

Doza said partnering with Found Surface was an easy decision because of the environmental benefits. The organic cotton was grown in Texas and made its way to Cleveland, where the clothing was made. 

“Through the manufacturing process, the waste from this process is actually composted locally,” Doza said. “All of that waste is turned into soil and kept right here in northeast Ohio. The process uses a low-enzyme dye, and all that water is recycled and used in the next batch of manufacturing.”

Cleveland Cavaliers director of retail marketing Amy Armstrong thinks the merchandise line helps bring the team and community closer.

“We’re really strengthening and elevating this community by just working with all of these local partners that we have here,” said Armstrong. “With Found Surface being right down the street, they’re the manufacturer for us. All of the designs are inspired by our Metro parks. It’s a great way to strengthen and uplift this community in Cleveland.”

Marcano hopes Found Surface can continue making a difference and that the partnership with the Cavs will give them the opportunity to do just that.

“We just want to continue to be sustainable and just show that we can make anything for anyone,” he said. “I know for me, along with everybody else at Found Surface, this has got to be a dream come true. Being able to put the ‘Made in Cleveland’ tags on these pieces is super important.”