ECO Apparel is an apparel design and manufacturing company located in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. Founded by CEO Mark Trotzuk in 1996, ECO Apparel specializes in custom manufacturing and technical, fashionable and low-impact clothing solutions.
Since 2001, ECO Apparel has focused innovation and research into ECO materials and processes. With the launch of the bluesign® safety Collection, ECO Apparel is at the leading edge of ECO fabrics, processes, audits, supply chain transparency, accountability and knowledge within the clothing and textile field. All of the items in the current catalog offering are made from environmentally friendly fabrics; rayon from bamboo, organically grown cotton, recycled polyester, recycled cotton, Tencel (made from wood pulp) and Eco-charcoal (made from ground-up coconut shells). ECO Apparel uses independant, third-party auditing agencies to certify its supply-chain start to finish, and donates 1% of net revenue back to environmental organizations in alliance with 1% For The Planet.
ECO Apparel sells it’s apparel primarily into the promotional products industry. The apparel is negotiated and sold by ECO Apparel to an advertising-specialty sales agent, who in turn sells the product to a company or corporation. ECO Apparel sells its apparel blank and then decorates the apparel with the end user’s logo or artwork. For more information about the advertising specialty/promotional products industry, please visit www.ppai.org & www.promocan.com.
ECO Apparel is unique because most of the apparel-all of the custom made, 48 unit orders-are manufactured in Canada. In a market where most clothing is made in overseas factories at large volumes, ECO Apparel still maintains a Canadian factory, and can offer low-minimum, quick turn-around custom clothing manufacturing, where others cannot. The apparel is NAFTA-friendly; no difficulties or delays getting it across the border. ECO Apparel does sell more than 70% of its products into the US.
To fulfill repeat orders, and to be competitive in an in-stock economy, ECO Apparel does have 22 apparel items in-stock, in three to four color-ways each. The in-stock items are manufactured in audited, socially compliant / fair-trade factories in Vietnam and China.
In addition to providing in-stock and custom apparel to the promotional products industry, ECO Apparel does manufacture apparel as private label to established brands and retailers. Private label manufacturing is a separate design and manufacturing division within ECO Apparel.
ECO Apparel’s primary goal is to manufacture clothing-and to be part of the solution - in respect to the impact of clothing and textiles on the environment, and worker health and safety. ECO Apparel has always been recognized as a leading provider of high quality, fashion-forward and technical clothing, and appreciated for providing friendly service, value-added sales and planning, and care.
Mark Trotzuk
President
Mark is co-owner of Boardroom ECO Apparel. His team describes him as the visionary, high-energy, marketing and strategy guru of the business. Born and raised in Vancouver BC, Mark is alumni of the University of British Columbia’s Agriculture and Economics program (1987). After University, Mark spent a year playing professional hockey in Germany (he currently plays forward on UBC’s Alumni team - go T-Birds!). After Germany, he returned to Vancouver and settled into a position as financial risk advisor for The Royal Bank. Nine years later, Mark started Boardroom Custom Clothing and the rest is history.
Mark’s goal as a business owner is to provide a safe, fun and rewarding place to work, and to manufacture apparel in the most low-impact way possible. Mark brought the ECO///® concept to Boardroom - long before anyone else in the field - and is always pushing for higher accountability, better fabrics, better processes and more education. As an entrepreneur, Mark is aware of the importance of staying flexible, thinking big, taking risks and leading by example. Mark has an infectiously energetic personality and a real passion for bringing clean, green clothing to corporations, government organizations and the general consumer. In addition to being the ECO Apparel brand ambassador, Mark volunteers his time as a presenter for Al Gore’s Climate Project, and the Dr. David Suzuki At Work Ambassador program.
Davy LamSenior Account Manager; U.S. Sales
Davy has been with Boardroom ECO Apparel since 2002, and for many of our customers he hardly needs an introduction. Born in Vietnam and raised in Vancouver BC, Davy worked as an Insurance agent and a financial planner before joining the promotional products industry as an account manager for ECO Apparel. Davy is the primary contact person for all of our U.S. customers and works on both overseas and domestic corporate and private-label programs – working with our clients from the initial concept and design stage, through to production and delivery. Davy’s commitment to client satisfaction has earned him the alternate job title of “CEO of getting it done”, and many of our customers tell us that he is friendly, patient and a pleasure to work with.
Outside of the office, Davy enjoys spending time with friends and family, golfing and travelling.
Melissa Miralles
Account Manager and Design Assistant
Melissa has been working with Boardroom ECO Apparel since 2010. Born in Vancouver and raised in both Argentina and Canada, she brings a flair for fashion and a strong eye for color to the team. Melissa has a Bachelor of Applied Design in Fashion Design from Kwantlen Polytechnic (2003). Before joining ECO Apparel, Melissa worked as a fashion designer and visual merchandiser for Mac & Jac and Hudson’s Bay Company. A team player, Melissa is always prepared to roll up her sleeves and help our customers in any way she can. With a great knowledge of fit and pattern and excellent communication skills, Melissa works simultaneously with the sales and production staff to plan and deliver crafted apparel programs for our corporate and private label customers.
Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, preparing meals for friends and family, and reading. If you are interested in learning more about how ECO Apparel can provide a custom solution for your corporate or private-label clothing project, Melissa can answer all of your questions (and she can answer in Spanish)!
Jason Neve
Graphic Designer and Art Director
Jason has been with Boardroom ECO Apparel since 2002, before we moved to our fancy new office and showroom, and even before we went ECO! Born in Stuttgart, Germany, and raised in Ottawa, Jason attended Trent University in Peterborough Ontario and has a diploma in Graphic Design and Illustration from Capilano University in North Vancouver, BC. Before coming to work for ECO Apparel, Jason was a university student, a tree planter, a construction worker, a ski bum, a prep cook, a professional painter, a bagel-maker, a high-rise renovation worker, and then finally an art school graduate. While at ECO Apparel, Jason has taken on everything from the graphic design and marketing, to technical writing and research, and customer service.
As an urban environmentalist, Jason is proud to be part of a company that is doing its part for climate change and the green economy. When not desk-bound and pushing a stylus, he likes to travel by bike throughout Vancouver visiting the patios and beaches, spending time with friends and family, pointing his camera at stuff, skiing, skateboarding, travelling, cooking, making music and making stuff. Jason is responsible for the Boardroom ECO Apparel catalog, the website, marketing materials, apparel trims and signage, and is an important member of our customer service and business development teams. If you want to request a virtual sample or any print or web-related marketing asset, Jason is your go-to guy (and he can answer in English, French or German)!
Lan Tran; Co-owner and Production Manager
Olivia Lau; Chief Controlling Officer
Phalyn Turcotte: Fashion Designer; Echo Rain Eco Apparel
