We’re Karina and Sam Seljak from Seljak Brand. ?

We work with mills around Australia and Europe to transform their textiles waste into beautiful new blankets.

Our blankets are for people that value versatility and longevity in the products they buy – the blankets are cozy and durable and can be taken from cuddling on the couch to a camping adventure.

Once the blankets come to the end of their useful life, they can be remanufactured into new blankets. 

In a world of fast fashion, and more generally overconsumption, we wanted to respond to the growing waste issue and consider alternatives for managing resources. We began to research various models and came across the circular economy framework, which cycles waste through continuous loops like care, repair, recycle and remanufacture.

We started Seljak Brand in 2016 with the intention of discovering new ways of making things that are regenerative by design, and sharing this journey with consumers. Because, after all, it’s in the use phase of a garment that most environmental impacts are made, like washing and drying, so engaging people in the whole lifecycle of a product is very important. 

When starting the business, the biggest challenge was to innovate an entirely new product, which would have required a new manufacturing process, before we launched.

Because we don’t operate our own mill, instead we needed to launch with an existing product, and innovate with our mill partners as our relationship deepened. As we proved the concept that recycled wool blankets are desirable by being live on the market, more mill partners were willing to work with us on a variety of more ambitious projects. 

Things have changed a lot since 2016! The idea of using waste to make new products is totally mainstream, and we see this from swimwear made from recycled PET to high end furniture made from recycled concrete, wood and other materials. 

We’re most proud of contributing to raising consciousness around not only the impact of fashion but that there are other possible ways of making and consuming things. To be an inspiration to other young designers is our greatest achievement in our eyes – when folks approach us after speaking events sharing their own ambitions to start waste-free initiatives, we feel like we’ve achieved what we set out to do. 

We’re most proud of contributing to raising consciousness around not only the impact of fashion but that there are other possible ways of making and consuming things.

We have fairly tight criteria when we create new blankets and work with new mills, and have implemented independent auditing and certification to stay accountable to the industry beyond aligning with our own values. Also, after scoping many other product options to expand our range, we decided doing one thing well was a more genuine exploration of our concept and stuck with blankets!

It’s fantastic to see the uptake of using waste as a resource but greenwashing has become rife, with many entrants on the market making misleading claims about the ‘sustainability’ of their products. So consumers are both more educated and discerning, but potentially more confused!

Being an authentic brand is the most important thing

Being an authentic brand is the most important thing here, where doing what you say you do is paramount to gaining and maintaining trust of consumers. We do this by sharing step-by-step manufacturing processes, and care and repair guides, with our audiences. Transparency and education is how consumers are empowered with the correct information to make their own informed choices. 

Initially, we wanted to make everything in Australia but in 2019 we introduced our Lithuanian supplier because we had outgrown the scale that our Australian mill could produce.

Although it seemed antithetical to what we were trying to do, we were inspired by what the global market could achieve. The Lithuanian mill we work with collects the textiles production offcuts from 16 mills around Europe to create beautiful blankets!

When it comes to products specifically, educating yourself about how things are made is the first step. As you learn (overtime, not overnight!), you can create your own list of qualities that are important to you, for instance products that are built to last, made locally, made by artisans with fair trade agreements, able to be repaired, able to be recycled or composted and so on.

Having your own clear values and sticking to them is not only motivating and satisfying but inspiring to the people around you! 

We want to say a huge thank you to Karina and Sam Seljak from Seljak brand!
Make sure you check out the brand’s incredible sustainable blankets here!

The post From Waste to Weave: The Seljak Brand Story Told by its Founders appeared first on Ecothes.

Today we chat with Sallina, the founder of the refreshingly innovative children’s swimwear brand Ina Swim. Sallina gives us an insight into herself and her brand, and we discuss the values behind her brand.

Join us as we chat about all things swimwear, including materials, sustainability, and tips for a more conscious lifestyle.

Hello! Can you tell us about yourself and the brand you run?

Let’s start with I am a Mother. I have a beautiful little, now nearly 2 year old boy. I am a Wife. Home to my beautiful husband. I am also a Step Mom to 3 beautiful children. Running a household with 4 children, YES that is me. It is safe to say I like a great challenge in life. 

Life is hectic, rough but also as much enjoyable, filled with laughter and much love that it makes all the hard work soo worth it. 

If I had to describe myself I would say I am ever changing like the wind. As an air star sign I am an ever changing personality. This makes life very entertaining and also challenging. NO day is the same. But for those that know me it is important to say that I have a heart as big as a mountain. I like helping, giving and supporting those that really need it. I always believe in Karma and that whatever great things we do, the earth and the people will give back and treat you kindly. 

“It is our responsibility to guide our children to live meaningful and sustainable lives. Through minimising our impact and making mindful changes, we can preserve the natural beauty of our planet for our children” – Sallina, Ina Swim.

Talking about Ina Swim. 

Ina Swim is a brand that strongly believes in the good in the world, the people and its surroundings.

We create sustainable and ethical produced swimwear for moms, bubs and children aged 6 months to 8 years.

The fibres that we use, in the form of swimwear fabric, were made of post consumer waste such as fishing nets and plastic bottles. 

Our swimwear is 2 times more resistant to chlorine, oils and suntans and has a UPF50+ rating, achieved with no harmful chemicals. 

We believe that beautiful products can be designed without causing harm to the environment or anyone involved in the process. 

We take great care of our products by ensuring we only use the bare minimum of what is needed. We try to reduce our waste where possible, do not use any harmful chemicals at all during any stage of our manufacturing, sourcing and finalisation of our products. We also ensure that all of our sourced fabric is appropriately certified with OEKO TEX Standard 100, GOTS and that even the management is certified with ISO standards. 

Ina Swim cares for its workers as much as for the customers that support us. 

Ina has a strong relationship with its workers, suppliers and helpers. 

What elements of Ina Swim are important to you which illustrate your own values?

All of them. I know it sounds cheeky but if the brand is not what you 100% believe in then why sell it. I believe that the more good we can do and the more we can look after all of our arms of our business (people, product, customers) the more great we can create.

It is our most core value to ensure we make meaningful decisions on a daily basis, support those that do the right thing and try and get the message out to people that sustainable, organic and recycled is the new today and is so much better.

In your eyes, what’s the biggest achievement or milestone so far?

The fact that Ina has now a great following of loyal customers. Our brand awareness is fantastic when it comes to recognition of product, materials and signature items such as the Mesa Trunks, Mara Onesie and Lumi Swim Nappy. 

“Our customers are what makes us great.” – Sallina

Can you tell us about the materials you’ve chosen to use and why?

Ina Swim is curated with both design and sustainability in mind. We are proud to have created a product that is 100% sustainable, recycled and ethically produced. We have teamed up with a global network of suppliers to ensure our environmental impact at a raw material level remains minimal.

Fabric education is important to us as the people behind the brand. It is important to understand what your ina piece is made of and how to care for your item so it can be worn time and time again.

ECONYL is a synthetic fibre – Made from pre and post- consumer waste products, like fishing nets, fabric scraps and carpet flooring from industrial landfills and oceans around the globe, Econyl processes recycled nylon into a quality material that can be recreated and remoulded again and again.

So basically, we’ve been able to create new products for you without having to use new resources. With no sacrifice to the quality of our swimwear, our fabric is two times more resistant to chlorine, suntan creams and oils, proven to be UPF 50+, beautiful to see and feel and it keeps our oceans just that little bit cleaner.

Another fibre we have been using is called REPREVE. Billions of plastic bottles go into landfills every year. But now we are doing something about it. REPREVE is the leading, most trusted, branded performance fibre made from recycled materials (including plastic bottles). REPREVE transforms plastic bottles into high-quality and high-performing products. The contents of your recycling bin become thermo-regulating pants for hikers, moisture-wicking apparel such as swimwear for athletes, odour control tees for teens, fire-resistant sofas for loungers, and water-repellent phone cases for accident-prone environmentalists.

So the next time you recycle a plastic bottle, remember this: Together, we’re making a difference for our planet, for the good of tomorrow.

We also use LYCRA- SPANDEX FIBRE. Since its invention over sixty years ago, LYCRA  fibre has set the standard as the world’s best-known spandex fibre brand. Lightweight and nearly invisible, LYCRA fibre became the active ingredient in our clothes and revolutionised the way we wore them.

Whenever it’s used in fabrics, LYCRA fibre transforms garments into better-fitting, durable clothes that move with our bodies, delivering fit, shape and comfort that lasts. Day after day. Wash after wash. Swim after swim.

It is most important for Ina to only use fabrics and materials that are 100% OEKO TEX 100 Standard certified. We quality check and certificate check each of our suppliers and all received materials. We also ensure no chemicals have been used in the treatment, processing and creating of our products. 

If our material is organic, rest assured it is GOTS certified. 

Do you have any advice for people looking to be more sustainable in their consumption habits and lifestyle?

I always think less is soo much more. 

Think less…

• Less shopping – be mindful of what you need and what you take…We don’t need much to survive. We have grown into expecting so much from our home, garden, lifestyle and people. 
• Think of what you really need in life. 
• Buy plastic free. Support your local stores and community. Buy from organic markets. Recycle where you can. Use your water wisely. Green your home. 
• Plant a herb, fruit and vegetable garden. This is a great way to teach children where our food comes from and how much work sits behind each food we consume. 
• Use less energy. Open up your curtains and let the air and light in. Only use energy when really needed.
• Drive less and walk wherever you can. Or choose to ride a bike. Moving is beneficial for your health.

There is so so much we can do in our day to day living and our daily choices. 

What does the future hold for Ina Swim?

We are working hard on establishing a good international presence. We want to spread the word about sustainable slow and long living fashion.

We always hope to have an impact in people’s choices to live and choose sustainability over mass consumption, reducing wastage and impact as we grow and ensuring we support our community wherever we can. 

We want to say a huge thank you to Sallina for taking the time to share insight into her brand, Ina swim.
If you’re looking for sustainable swimwear for yourself or your little one, they’re a fantastic brand to support.

To discover more from our Sustainable Founder Series, check out our interviews with the founders behind amazing brands like Votch, Paneros, and Thought.

The post Meet Sallina from Ina Swim: The Sustainable Kids Swimwear Brand appeared first on Ecothes.

In today’s Sustainable Founder Series, we chat with Lauren, founder of the slow fashion brand Paneros.

She takes us through her thoughts and processes when designing her bespoke collections and the advice she’d give her former self.

Hello! Who are you, what brand do you run, what products do you create?

Hi, my name is Lauren DeCarli-Till and I am the founder and chief creative director of Paneros Clothing. I design beautiful slow fashion pieces that are ethically crafted with luxurious, eco-friendly fabrics by our amazing team of artisans in Bali. 

Why did you start your company? What inspired you?

After being a top selling designer for a wholesale fashion company for 10 years producing a new collection every month, I set out to create a better alternative: producing beautiful slow fashion clothing made the way it should be, and designed to be worn not just for one season, but year after year so that you can look great while making a positive impact on the world.

I want to rebuild that connection to the amazing artisans who handcraft our styles, and an appreciation for the earth that provides the materials. Visiting Bali many years ago and seeing all of the incredible artisans and their work as well as cultivating a connection to the island inspired me to want to start my business there.

Can you tell us more about the materials you use and why?

At Paneros, we only use eco-friendly deadstock fabrics that come from a natural origin or natural based stock fabrics.

We pledge to never use any fully synthetic materials such as polyester, acrylic, or nylon and we use non plastic materials for trims such as real shell or coconut shell buttons. The reason for this choice is to be more environmentally friendly.

“By using existing materials, we keep them out of landfills and reduce industry waste.”

By using existing materials, we keep them out of landfills and reduce industry waste. Additionally, we have pledged to only use materials from a natural origin because we strongly believe in reducing the use of polyester and plastics to create a healthier planet and to keep plastics off of our bodies.

It is estimated that 70 million barrels of oil are used every year to produce polyester clothing and the microplastics from washing polyester clothing are now being found in our waterways, in the seafood we eat, and most recently in human blood. We pride ourselves in selecting high quality eco-friendly fabrics and trims to create long lasting clothing for our customers. 

Can you tell us more about who makes Paneros clothing?

We have an incredible team that we work with in Bali who handcraft all of our amazing pieces. I have the pleasure of working hands on with two small manufacturers who have so much passion for their craft.

We spend a lot of time together getting to know each, each other’s families and they both feel like family.

Each worker sets their own wages and most of the artisans we work with are able to work from home so that they don’t have to travel far from their village and can take care of their family. We proudly share their stories on our website’s blog so that our customers can get to know who made the pieces we create.

Where does the inspiration behind your designs come from?

Because we don’t produce new materials and only use deadstock fabrics, a lot of times it’s the beautiful fabrics that inspire me. The fabric will dictate what you can and can’t do with it and I love hand selecting our fabrics.

Along with being inspired by the actual fabrics, I’m always inspired by vintage garments and details as well as all of my travels. I truly do my best to design timeless, but not basic styles with quality construction that our customers can style in many different ways and will want to wear forever. 

Do you have any advice for your former self now that you wished you’d known when you first started your business?

I would tell my former self to start sooner, not to be afraid of making everything perfect, and to start building a community before launching your business.

As a small business owner, you’re competing with large brands who have a larger marketing budget so if you can start building a community of potential customers who share your values and interests, you’re already in a better place than most small businesses when they start out.

“I would tell my former self to start sooner, not to be afraid of making everything perfect!”

What do you think are the main challenges around sustainability in the fashion industry today? How do you approach these on a day-to-day basis?

That’s a great question- I think there is a desire to always have something new and have the latest trend which drives mass consumerism. I also think with fast fashion, clothing is looked at as being disposable because of it being poorly made with cheap materials and an inexpensive price tag. I believe a lot of consumers have gotten used to clothing being a certain price point and not valuing all of the work that goes into making one garment.

Everytime I design a style, I think about how I can make a great quality product that our customer will love to wear for years and that can be styled in different ways so that it can feel new in a different way without it being boring.

Using deadstock fabrics and ones that are not 100% synthetic can be limiting. Sometimes I find a beautiful fabric, but there are only 25 yards left so designing the perfect style for it that we can get a small batch of pieces is challenging.

You’re limited to your prints and colours when you use deadstock, but I always find a selection that feels on brand and that I love. It’s harder to offer products at their true price point, and I feel our prices reflect the true cost of the garment and quality that we offer.

We have received many reviews and notes from customers about the amazing quality of our pieces. When I explain the reasoning behind our price point (ie: sustainable materials, ethical manufacturing, high quality construction) they embrace and appreciate our values and mission. 

Do you have a favourite piece from your new collection?

It’s hard to just pick one piece, since I love them all but I am really loving our Diana Pointelle Cardigan.

It’s an update on our more basic Diana Cardigans with the beautiful pointelle stitching.

It’s a piece I will have forever and I love knowing that it’s handmade with so much love by our amazing knitting artisans. 

Have you tried a product from another sustainable brand you love?

I don’t have a specific brand that I can think of, but I love shopping at my local farmer’s markets for sustainable items such as small batches, handmade candles, all natural soaps, and natural loofahs for the shower and other home goods. Supporting other small businesses that hand make their products is important to me. 

“Supporting other small businesses that hand make their products is important to me.”

What does the future look like for your brand?

We recently launched on Madewell’s Labels We Love and hope to partner with other retailers who support sustainable and ethical small businesses.

We also have some new product categories launching for Spring/ Summer which I’m very excited about. They’re all artisan made in Bali using natural materials and will compliment our current clothing pieces.

We are also happy to be working with more boutiques that share our values so that we can offer our sustainable styles to more consumers across the globe. I’m manifesting a small boutique in Bali as well which would be so exciting to have our own brick and mortar store, where the brand began. 

The post How Paneros Founder Lauren is Slowing Down Fashion appeared first on Ecothes.

How Plant Faced Clothing Is Redefining Vegan Streetwear

In this sustainable founder Q&A series, we catch up with Charlie McEvoy, the founder of the ultra-cool vegan streetwear brand Plant Faced Clothing. We discuss the inspiration behind the brand’s cool designs, how they stay true to their mission, and how being vegan has impacted their life.

Hello! Can you tell us about yourself and the brand you run?

A New Zealand native, entrepreneur, designer, vegan food fanatic and world traveler. I am the founder of Plant Faced Clothing, a vegan streetwear apparel brand. I am passionate about fashion, design, food, wellness, personal growth, and growth in an entrepreneurial setting. 

Plant Faced Clothing is an ethical clothing brand which holds the core value of ‘no exploitation – humans, animals, or plants’.

The core idea of the brand is to spread the cruelty-free message with awesome designs in a way that’s unique and subtle, using garments that are ethically made, using conscious fabrics and printing methods.

“Plant Faced Clothing is an ethical clothing brand which holds the core value of ‘no exploitation – humans, animals, or plants’.”

What inspired you to start Plant Faced?

I sort of always had an entrepreneurial spirit and was always on the lookout for inspiration and ideas.

Anyway I had recently turned plant based and wanted a way to spread this message/plant seeds for other people in a way that wasn’t too in your face, or screaming the word “vegan”; I was particularly into streetwear and I just couldn’t find anything on the market with the kind of style I wanted to wear.

My background is in graphic design and I had a passion for fashion so this lightbulb sort of went off that it was the perfect marriage. 

Where do you get the inspiration behind your designs?

I love to travel and do so frequently so I think this brings a big source of inspiration — being exposed to so many new perspectives both visually and mentally. As well as this I like to stay in touch with the fashion, art and design world, always saving things I like which helps me to piece together and spark ideas.

In your eyes, what’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your business journey?

Resilience — it takes a lot of grit to carry on as a business owner even through all the obstacles and struggles, the biggest challenge and really lesson overall has been finding persistence even when things don’t seem to be going the way you want them to.

You just have to get good enough at reminding yourself of the bigger picture and keeping a positive outlook that if you keep on pushing through then it will eventually pay off.

“The biggest challenge and really lesson overall has been finding persistence even when things don’t seem to be going the way you want them to.”

How do you ensure your company stays true to your mission as you grow?

By always staying true to our values such as only choosing ethically made garments, trying to choose sustainable fabrics whenever possible (e.g. organic, recycled, etc), using water based inks, and of course, everything vegan.

Some extra little ways I try to ensure our company stays true to the mission are spreading the plant based message via our channels, whether that be through informational posts, memes or inspiring stories. And thinking about the extra details such as all our packaging — ensuring this is all eco-friendly so no plastic on anything that touches our products

How has being vegan impacted your life?

So many ways — the best one being that I don’t have to feel guilty about any meal I ate having harmed any animals. But as well as that, it definitely gave me a love for food and cooking that was unlike anything I’d had before going vegan — it makes the whole experience so much more exciting and creative.

It also has connected me with so many new people I may not have otherwise just through being in this community of like-minded people, and of course, it even informed my career trajectory! 

“Being Vegan has connected me with so many new people I may not have otherwise just through being in this community of like-minded people, and of course, it even informed my career trajectory!”

Do you have a favorite piece from the new Plant Faced Collection?

I think our new Oat Is The Goat hoodies are super fun!

Have you tried a product from another sustainable brand that you love?

I am obsessed with the bamboo underwear by Boody — soo comfortable and long lasting!

What does the future look like for your brand?

To keep getting better and better at what we do; bringing out more awesome new designs and products, cool content and just generally doing cool things in the plant based world.

If you enjoyed the behind the scenes look at Plant Faced Clothing, make sure you check out our other founder series with bother great vegan brands like Votch, Terra Thread, and Valani.

The post Meet Charlie – Founder of Plant Faced Clothing – The Brand Redefining Vegan Streetwear appeared first on Ecothes.

Hello! Can you tell us a bit about yourselves and the brand you run?

Hi, guamayu is run by the queer couple Elliot and Ruben. We started guamayu in spring 2022 in Berlin, but the roots of the brand are reaching far back.

Elliot grew up in challenging conditions in Guatemala but had the luck of receiving a fellowship for a private school. This way he was able to receive a good education and could move to Germany to study product design. Once he started a new life in Germany, he had the wish to give back to people in need in Guatemala. That was the starting point for the brand guamayu. 

Since his parents are working in the garment industry in Guatemala, a clothing brand was the perfect choice. His parents are managing the production process in Guatemala making sure the products are made under fair conditions. 

Guamayu is built on the concept of solidarity: We are donating 10% of every purchase to NPOs in Guatemala. For our solidarity intro collection we chose the NPO MAIA Impact, since they are running the first female and indigenous led secondary school in Central America and are helping indigenous girls receive a good education – like Elliot was able to receive through his scholarship. 

The second principle guamayu is built on is playfulness: we want to create cheerful pieces to counterbalance the severe topics in Guatemala we are talking about. This is done through collaborations with artists, creating playful illustrations and fun products. Ruben helps Elliot support his vision for guamayu by providing money and workforce for the start.

What was your inspiration behind starting Guamayu?

Our main inspiration were the challenging conditions in Guatemala.

The society is far back compared to developed countries, especially in respect to equality. Gender, race, sexuality and identity are main reasons for major discrimination within the country.

We want to change this with our brand guamayu by educating about these problems through our products and illustrations and by providing resources to NPOs working in this field.

For our first collection we focused on gender and race inequality by helping indigenous girls in rural areas which are affected by huge amount of discrimination within the Guatemalan society. 

What were the main challenges and learnings you had when you first started? 

We planned on starting a brand using the hand woven traditional fabrics often used in Guatemalan culture.

But after trying to build a supply chain built on these informal run weaving collectives was quite challenging. Their homes are in rural areas in Guatemala without major infrastructure we are used to.

The COVID pandemic combined with the strict curfew in Guatemala made communication mostly impossible. We learned that we can’t rely on a supply chain being that vulnerable, especially from far away in Germany. So we started with easier accessible products using the network of Elliot’s parents.

What elements of your brand are important to you which illustrate your brand values and culture?

The most important values of our brand are:

• Solidarity
• Playfulness
• Inclusiveness
• Equality
• Transparency

These values are represented by our donation principle to NPOs, the playful illustrations made in collaboration with artists, using models showing different skin colours, gender and gender identity (in the future) and being transparent about our production and supply chain.

Can you tell us about how Guamayu helps to support social projects in Guatemala?

For the beginning we selected NPOs in Guatemala to achieve our goal. We carefully looked into different candidates and paid attention to transparency and being open and available for exchange. We visited the NPOs in Guatemala and built up a strong connection. We also make sure that it is a small organisation being able to transfer most of the donated money to the project itself.

For our first collection, we collaborated with MAIA, a non-profit organisation founded in 2017 in Guatemala. MAIA was created with a focus on the younger generation of women born into a combination of four different levels of discrimination: poverty, gender, race and habitat. Their core mission is to lift women out of these limiting factors. Through their MAIA Impact School, family engagement, systemic change and a COVID-response plan, MAIA’s impact has reached more than 450 young women in the rural areas of Sololá, Guatemala.

Looking further into the future, we plan on founding our one charity starting social projects in Guatemala.

Your products feature unique designs, can you tell us the design process behind your products?

We focus on a co-creative design process in collaboration with illustrators and artists. Our collaborative process starts with the design of each collection that is initially limited to one challenging topic in Guatemala. In participation with the illustrators, the topic is explained, critically analysed and illustrated in visual form.

For our first collection we collaborated with studio nunc, a Berlin based design studio (where Elliot is also a partner and designer). 

The illustrations of our introductory collection were mainly created by Jonas and Max. Jonas is passionate about shapes and colours, creating expressive illustrations that combine inclusivity and diversity. Max is very detail oriented, brings a lot of fun to his illustrations and is socially committed to the core. 

Do you have any advice for people looking to be more sustainable in their consumption habits and lifestyle?

My major advice would be only to consume when you really need something. I think our main problem is overconsumption. The fact that our economy is based on constant growth and spending money is causing the environmental problems we are facing today and in the future. Consuming less would have the biggest impact in my opinion. And repairing stuff instead of throwing it away.

Have you tried a product from another ethical brand that you love?

I like the products of Conscious Step. They are supporting great causes with the purchase of their products!

Do you have a piece of advice for our readers you’d like to share? 

As the famous Drag Queen RuPaul said: “Don’t take life too seriously and have fun!” 

I think this is great advice for the challenging time we currently live in. And it fits perfectly the brand values of guamayu. Although we are tackling serious social problems, we are having fun with our products and our visual identity.  

What does the next 12 months look like for Guamayu? Do you have any new exciting product launches coming?

We currently focus on the Christmas season and created special gift bundles consisting of our products, a playfully designed card for your greetings and our signature wrapping paper. Looking into next year, we plan on creating a marketplace selling handmade products from Guatemalan Artisans and accessories made of traditional hand woven Guatemalan fabrics.

Wrapping Up

We want to give a huge thank you to Elliot and Ruben for taking the time to chat with us about their brand, guamayu.

We love the guamayu gift bundles so much, we’ve featured them in our gift guide!

If you enjoyed reading guamayu’s story, why not check out other sustainable brand founders like Erem, Votch, and Thought.

The post Meet guamayu – The Playful Brand Advocating for Social Change appeared first on Ecothes.

Hello! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and the brand you run?

I am Vizan Giri, co-founder of Terra Thread. Terra Thread is a sustainable bag and apparel brand with a mission to lead a transformation in organic cotton farming, and give consumers better, more planet-friendly choices for everyday essentials.

Terra Thread backpacks and bags are created for conscious consumers, corporations and NGOs who are looking to make a positive impact on the world with their purchase. Terra Thread puts people and the planet first, every step of the way from organic farms to your arms.

Why did you start your company? What inspired you?

My father, Vik Giri, and I started Terra Thread. Throughout college, I worked at my father’s company, Gallant International, a certified B Corp that supplies businesses with sustainable promotional and retail products. Between Gallant’s business practices and trips to visit partners in India, I saw what it means for a company to take responsibility for their supply chains, as well as the growing demand for – and the need for – ethical products. 

Something that stood out to me is that the backpacks and accessories space was full of polyester-based products which rely on oil.

I wanted to produce something different, that gave more business to organic cotton, and helped us move away from oil-based materials. 

With our passion for social and environmental justice, coupled with the realization that there was an almost total lack of sustainably-produced backpacks and bags on the market, we were inspired to create a product that could have a long-lasting positive impact on the planet. 

Why have you chosen the materials you work with?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that cotton averages about 25 percent of the total fiber used worldwide, making it one of the most important textile fibers in the world. It fills our homes and our wardrobes: our clothes, furniture, bedding, and so many small accessories are made of cotton.

However, the environmental impact of conventional cotton is huge: in places like Central Asia, we’ve seen the Aral Sea deplete down to 10% of its original volume, due to cotton production. According to Fairtrade International, around 100 million rural households are engaged in cotton production in more than 75 countries around the globe. Yet how are they benefiting from this production of cotton? Many farmers often turn to Genetically Modified Seeds (GMOs), in hopes of increasing yields — though that comes with its own challenges of having to buy seeds every year, and then the exposure to chemicals in growing those seeds into plants. 

This is why we have chosen to make our products from ORGANIC and FAIRTRADE cotton grown by family farmers in India. The organic cotton used in our products is grown without using GMOs, and harmful and toxic inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. It means a healthy life for farmers, workers and consumers as they are not exposed to toxicity and runoff, which also contaminates food systems and waterways. 

All our products are made at a Fair Trade Certified^TM facility. The Fair Trade Certification ensures that all workers receive:

• Legal wages and benefits.
• Improved livelihoods.
• Safe and healthy workplaces.
• Gender equality.
• Women’s rights.
• A responsible workplace throughout the entire supply chain

What elements of your brand are important to you which illustrate your brand values and culture?

Demand for cotton is high, and fast fashion brands play a major role in this demand, but the farmers are the ones who experience the pressure of that demand and turn to GM seeds and pesticides. Particularly in India, where we source all our organic cotton from, we have seen that conventional growers face increased debts (pesticides and GMO seeds each season are not cheap) and some have even faced total economic ruin. 

All this gets hidden from consumers in today’s fast fashion world- intentionally or not. Farmers are forgotten in the web of supply chains but are often doing the most important work. They also play a crucial role in solving the climate crisis.

Soil and farmers are at the forefront of our business. We want to change the conventional way customers see a product – that there is a story behind it, and it goes all the way back to the farm. 

What’s the biggest achievement or milestone of your brand so far?

In Feb 2022, with our parent company Gallant and our factory partners, over 3500 acres of land were successfully transitioned to Regenerative Organic Certified^® making it one of the largest ROC^TM projects in cotton globally.

We hope this achievement will inspire other brands to join our mission to lead a transformation in organic cotton farming, and give consumers better, more planet-friendly choices for everyday essentials.

How do you ensure your company stays true to your vision as you grow?

In the market, sustainable products are priced higher, making them unaffordable for many. We wanted to offer customers a greener choice at an affordable price. Our products are fairly priced, and we offer free shipping to our customers, no matter their order size. 

We have been conscious about the new products we bring in and the way we fulfill the orders. We launched our laptop sleeves after customer recommendations. We do not use any unnecessary packaging and have even switched to biodegradable mailers and reusable boxes to ship our products. These are just small steps we take to stay true to our vision.

What do you think are the main challenges around growing your business in the sustainable sector?

It is a slower growth process because we must consider many environmentally and socially sound factors. There’s also the cost issue. Some of these eco-friendlier options are frustratingly more expensive.

For example, we use YKK lead-free metal zippers, which are recyclable, instead of commonly used nylon zippers that are not. This decision increases our cost and delays our preferred timeline. 

Do you have any advice for someone who may be interested in starting a sustainable business?

There may be more leg work to start an environmentally and socially conscious business, but the work you will be doing is crucial to the betterment of the future. Patience will be your greatest tool, as being in the sustainable business sector can take time for your brand to grow to where you want it to be. 

Why are third-party certifications important?

Third-party certifications encourage brands to be responsible for the claims that they make. It can also be used as a benchmark by brands that want to go beyond the standards set forth by the certification bodies. 

Most importantly, these certifications give consumers options for products verified by these standards. 

Can you give an example of something you do outside of work that helps you live more sustainably?

Having met the farmers, factory workers and those involved in Terra Thread’s supply chain, I understand the importance of the everyday choices we make as consumers. This is something I consider when I need to make a purchase. I’ve become very thoughtful about what I choose to bring into my home and my wardrobe, because I’m aware of what it takes– on people and the planet.

Have you tried a product from another sustainable/ethical brand that you think our audience should know about?

I recently purchased a pair of trousers from Seasalt Cornwall to replace an old pair. I appreciate what they’re doing: investing in more natural organic materials, shifting their entire supply chain to organic cotton, and being really transparent about the whole process. You can read about all their goals, benchmarks, and new projects in sustainability on their website. Transparency is a big part of the answer, if we’re going to build fairer supply chains.

What does the future look like for your brand?

Every day we strive to do even better, and we constantly have our eyes on ways we can make the brand even more sustainable.

Soon we’d like to run the factory on entirely solar energy. We are looking at investing in fruit trees to support our farmers for them to have additional income. We also want to implement a repair/recycling program for products that experience natural wear and tear over time.

Sustainability is a journey; it’s rarely achieved overnight, so we are in it for the long haul. 

Wrapping Up

Thank you Vizan for taking us behind the scenes of Terra Thread. It’s fantastic to see a brand fully committed to improving social standards, environmental production, and transparency.

The post Meet Vizan Giri Co-Founder of Terra Thread appeared first on Ecothes.

In the next of our Sustainable Founder series, we catch up with Ginew founders Erik & Amanda to find out where the inspiration for their brand started, and how they’re ensuring their brand is kind to Humanity and the Earth.

Hello! Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves and the brand you run?

Ginew is Native Americana. We explore our family histories and through this exploration, we express our American Indian identities in a contemporary context and share this with the world through our collection.

We design and create durable, heirloom-quality garments and goods that incorporate stories of our ancestors and culture. We invite others to understand the history that is sewn into our collection. When our collection is created, it carries our history – once worn by our customers, the garments start recording theirs.

What elements of your brand are important to you which illustrate your own values and culture?

The traditional elements we use in the Ginew collection are our tribal values, family stories, symbols, and traditional textiles. We include symbols from our Oneida, Stockbridge-Munsee, and Ojibwe heritage. 

An example of this is the white oak leaf on the back of our fasteners to the incorporation of the traditional symbols of the Oneida Skydome (creation story) and Ojibwe dwelling/house. We include select symbols from our tribes in our designs so that we – as contemporary Indigenous people – can wear clothes daily which contain elements that are dear and special to us. 

Other extremely important elements to us include transforming the clothing-manufacturing industry – transforming the historical representation of Native culture. Ginew is story-born. Our storytelling takes the reader to a place where understanding is made. Our stories inspire curiosity about the work we do and the garment collection we create.

What advice do you have for non-Native-American consumers to ensure they aren’t supporting the cultural appropriation shown by much of the fashion industry?

The easiest solution would be for people to buy from Native-owned businesses. There are a lot of options – Native businesses creating garments, jewelry, crafts, art, housewares, furniture, and a lot more. 

Can you tell us why you chose to use a local supply chain for most of your products?

We care about our ecosystem: from our employees and designers to our customers. Our supply chain community shares our standards and values. And, when choosing our collaborators, we are focused on relationships, not just transactional interaction. Many are friends first or become friends fast.  

Why did you start Ginew? What inspired you?

Ginew originally grew out of our wedding ceremony. Erik’s father shot a buffalo for the wedding and we prepared the hide from the buffalo in the garage. We wanted to give a more meaningful gift to those who helped with the ceremony and decided on buffalo belts made from our wedding buffalo. One thing led to another, and we ended up starting a tiny leather goods business in our apartment. 

The apparel label…that’s a story in itself! While Amanda was training in Houston, TX she was working long, long hours and we needed a break. No better place to take a break than far out, in West Texas in Marfa at El Cosmico.

One frigid February morning, Amanda and Stinky (our dog) stayed in the comfort of the heated safari tent, while I went in search of coffee. I found coffee…maybe too much coffee…and started on a thought experiment about the transition my great-great grandfather made from hunter-gatherer to agrarian.

I was thinking about what that experience may have been like – what might have gone through his mind – what he looked back on vs what he looked to in the moment…and I thought about what he might have been wearing in those moments. How it would need to be utilitarian, functional, sturdy – but perhaps what he might have included in the coat had he chosen design elements to represent both worlds he was living in during this transition.

Coffee…coffee…coffee…and there born was the Heritage Coat – our first apparel item – on a napkin in the common space at El Cosmico.

We took about 2-3 weeks to identify the necessary components, pattern, and factory – made enough for ourselves and some friends – thinking we were done.

Then came an invitation from Lightning and CLUTCH magazines to “show our collection” at the CLUTCH Collection Show in Tokyo, Japan after they noticed a post on social media about our Heritage Coat. Thus, Ginew apparel was born! 

Do you each have a favorite piece from the Ginew collection and why?

Our favorite items from the collection are those we see worn out in public by people we do not know personally. Brings a smile to our faces every time! 

Do you have any advice for people looking to be more sustainable in their consumption habits and lifestyle?

We are excited about many peoples’ transition towards heirloom-quality garments and goods. Durable goods that last and last and that can be handed down. This means buying less since it lasts longer.

Slow fashion is better for the environment and it is part of our brand essence. We’d suggest people really understand where their clothing comes from and start considering slow fashion, heirloom-quality goods. We understand that garments that are sustainable cost more – but the cost of disposable/fast-fashion to Earth is something we all need to consider. People may want to start slowly, but include more heirloom-quality items in their wardrobes.  

Have you tried a product from another great brand that you love?

Many of our collection collaborators and our Ginew+ collection represent artisans that have businesses of their own. We suggest checking them all out! 

Juggling the running of the brand with your jobs as doctors must be difficult, how do you stay grounded and keep going day to day?

Having a clear purpose and intent guides us daily and in all areas of our lives. That drives our relationships and roles including being doctors, parents, business owners, friends, and family members. Staying close to what is important to us helps guide where time is spent – keeping us true to ourselves and how we want to live our lives. 

What does the future look like for Ginew?

We expand our brand reach and collection thoughtfully. We are looking to expand retail locations, domestically and internationally which is very exciting.

We are looking to expand our jewelry options, and also creating new apparel items expanding our all-gender options. A lot of exciting activity that we are looking forward to sharing with the Ginew Community.  

Wrapping Up: Ginew Q&A

Thank you to Erik & Amanda for taking the time to tell us about their incredible brand Ginew. Make sure you check out their collection which features a range of made-in-the-USA heirloom-quality garments and goods.

The post Meet Ginew The Brand Defining Native Americana appeared first on Ecothes.

Let’s dive in.

Hello! Can you tell us about yourself and your brand?

Hi there! My name is Kayla and I run Arrow + Phoenix, a sustainable lifestyle brand with an emphasis on swimwear, skincare, and activewear.

Why did you start Arrow and Phoenix? What inspired you?

I started A+P because I didn’t feel there was a size inclusive, US based sustainable swimwear brand that offered options both stylish and comfortable.

I was petite with a 38DDD bra cup size and it was nearly impossible to find anything I liked style wise but also was comfortable. From there, I decided to make my own.

Where sustainability is concerned, I’ve always been an advocate for the earth and the people of it. What good is a bikini if we have no beach to wear it to due to global warming? Fashion can be cool and conscious. 

What were the main challenges and learnings you had? How do things compare today to when you first started?

I started A+P at a pretty young age so most manufacturers didn’t take me seriously which was frustrating but I persevered nevertheless. Today, almost twelve years later, there are so many inclusive swimwear brands and there’s far more swimwear brands that have a sustainable component, which is great!

What were the drivers behind choosing the materials you use?

I look for sustainability first and comfort second. I test the fit of each piece on my own body first long before I put it on any of the models, the site, or anything.

I look for sustainability first and comfort second. I test the fit of each piece on my own body first long before I put it on any of the models.

Practicality and sustainability are also at the forefront when sourcing packaging materials as well.

In your eyes, what’s the biggest achievement or milestone so far?

There have been so many and I’m immensely thankful for each and every one.

Being featured in Sports Illustrated repeatedly is always a big one but this year, partnering with the Virgin Hotel in New Orleans for our brand’s 504 day campaign meant so much to me. To celebrate women from my hometown in the name of swim was incredible and I cannot wait to do it again next year. 

What elements of your brand are important to you which illustrate your brand values and culture?

Sustainability is at the heart of our brand ethics but we’re also very proud to be a brand that has everything made here in the US. We also want it to be clear that there’s no such thing as a “bikini body” because every body is a bikini body. We celebrate all shapes, sizes, and creeds at A+P.

How do you ensure Arrow and Phoenix is as inclusive as possible?

We offer a wide variety of sizes and use real women as models. All of the models you see on our website are everyday women, not agency models.

We have our photoshoots in real settings, we don’t edit out stretch marks or body folds and rolls, and we don’t use a typical fit model at a size range of 0-4 to base our sizing off of. 

How do you ensure your company stays true to your mission as you grow?

Thus far, I feel that we’ve grown at a pace we can handle and that’s been a beautiful thing. We will always be transparent and keep our core values at the center of everything we do.

Have you tried a product from another brand that you love?

In the spirit of keeping things beach based, two of my favorite sustainable brands are Coola and Conscious Coconut.

What does the future hold for your brand?

We’ll be available in stores pretty soon and that is what I’m most excited about. Bringing A+P offline and directly to customers in a way that allows them to try pieces on, feel the texture and stretch in person, and see how vibrant the colors are.

I’m really thrilled that we’ll soon be sold in stores worldwide. In addition to that, our 2023 collections and community initiatives are also near to my heart so I’m excited to launch those as well.

The post Arrow + Phoenix Q&A: We Dive Behind the Scenes with Kayla Bell appeared first on Ecothes.

Join us as we chat with 8000kicks founder Bernardo as he describes why he’s on a mission to bring hemp back into the 21st century.

Can you tell us more about yourself and the brand you run?

I am Bernardo, I am a 29year old entrepreneur from Portugal and together with my 79th year old grandma we started 8000Kicks, which sells the world’s 1st waterproof hemp shoes and the world’s 1st waterproof hemp backpacks.

Our goal is to bring back hemp and make it mainstream, because that’s the  way to make the fashion industry sustainable.

Well, what makes hemp so special?

One of the biggest KPIs when picking materials is the Carbon footprint. The Carbon Footprint consists of the amount of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere. Let’s compare the 3 fibers:

• Polyester – 9.52Kg of CO2 emissions per ton of spun fiber
• Cotton – 5.90kg of CO2 emissions per ton of spun fiber
• Hemp – 4.05Kg of CO2 emissions per ton of spun fiber

Just for you to have an idea, leather fits a whole new scale with almost 110kg of CO2 per m2 of leather, especially due to cattle farming. Crazy right?

But besides being a low emissions fiber, Hemp has other advantages:

Requires no pesticides to grow

• Cleans the soils
• Absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere
• Requires 5 times less water than cotton
• Super strong and durable (even more than steel).
• How Dope is a pair of cannabis kicks?

10% Off – Use code ECOTHES for 10% off a pair of 8000kicks!

What were the biggest challenges you’ve faced when starting out? How did you overcome these challenges?

Hemp is a natural fiber, and that is in itself a whole new game, which means that we need to adjust when making products. For instance, the dyes will “attach” as easily compared to leather or synthetic fibers. But in general, hemp is a challenging fiber because we, humans, lost the knowledge of how it is done as we spent 50 years without doing it, and we have to relearn how to work with it.

Also, having started in 2019 with our Kickstarter campaign, there were obviously tough times with the COVID-19 effects. We had to look for alternatives and were able to produce hemp masks, which served the population’s needs and kept us in the market. We also supplied thousands of those to our local institutions.

You also use algae blooms for your soles, how did you come up with this idea and why did you choose to use this instead of rubber or other alternatives?

Phenomenons like eutrophication can destroy entire marine ecosystems if not controlled.

We partnered up with Bloom Foam to create a super light algae bottom with increased durability while sponsoring the removal of harmful algae.

The best of both worlds!

Can you tell us more about your manufacturing? How do you ensure your shoes are created ethically as well as sustainably?

In order to make this planet a better place, we took a 360º approach to define our own responsibility as a business. This means empowering customers to opt-in for a more sustainable lifestyle by providing a superior eco friendly footwear solution.

It means caring to protect the most needed members of our community, by providing them comfortable and durable hemp products.

It means looking at our own footprint but also our partners’, to minimize our carbon emissions.

Regarding our supply chain, we demand that they pay fair wages, control the water waste and use renewable energy sources for production. To ensure that, we visit the factory’s and growers every time before working with them.

On the other hand, we also make sure to use sustainable materials (such as hemp, recycled rubber and plastic and algae blooms) that are also 100% vegan.

How does the carbon footprint of 8000kicks differ from regular shoes on the market? Are you working to reduce your emissions further?

Several parts are taken into account during the calculation such as raw materials, manufacturing and transportation. Each one is different but all of them equally important to deliver the best quality product and service.
Although Hemp grows almost organically and it helps clean the soil and the air, unlike cotton or polyester, there is still a big amount of energy required to process the fiber.

• Raw materials: 2.1 Kg of CO2
• Manufacturing: 1.8Kg of CO2
• Transportation: 0.2Kg of CO2

8000 Kicks estimated carbon footprint is 4.1 Kg of CO2

To reduce this, we do it in two ways. The direct way is by working with our factory partners to increase the dependency on renewable energy sources.

The other way is by investing in capturing CO2 with hemp farms and the plantation of trees. Every newly planted plant removes an average of 50 kilograms of CO2 from the atmosphere each year during its growth period of 20–50 years.

Bloom is our CO2 capture and water cleaning partner which mission we sponsor with our sales – they do this by collecting the algae bloom we use in the outsoles of our shoes.

How do you balance the fast growth your brand has seen, with ensuring you keep producing as sustainable as possible?

Actually, our fast growth is opening new possibilities to make an even more sustainable product. Scale means we can invest in more sustainable processes and materials.

Have you tried a product from another brand that you love?

You guys should talk to Rita Dobrões, from Musa – a brand doing glitter cream. They have a great product.

Do you have a favorite 8000kicks product you can’t live without?

We can’t live without our waterproof Hemp Shoes, but the everyday backpack is a must everytime we leave the house or the office!

Is your packaging sustainable?

We have created a sustainable packaging to carry our sustainable shoes.

1- Recycled cardboard. All our shoes, backpacks, wallets, hats and socks come in cardboard boxes that have been made using recycled cardboard, which allows us to close the circle in terms of sustainability

2- Corn starch mailer bags. All our products are shipped inside a corn starch mailer bag that is fully biodegradable and can be disposed of by simply dropping them in the compost bin.

What does the future look like for 8000kicks?

We have been quietly working on some new products that we want to launch later this year, in the winter, but I cannot reveal anything yet.

Very exciting times are coming. Also, we have a new backpack coming soon. I cannot give much details, but I can confidently say that we are finally bringing hemp to the XXI century in terms of rivalling with other synthetic fibers.

Wrapping Up: 8000kicks interview

We want to say a huge thank you to Bernardo and the 8000kicks team for chatting with us!

If you want to go behind the scenes of other sustainable brands like Baabuk, Votch, Neem, and Thought, check out our articles today.

The post Q&A 8000kicks: The Shoes Bringing Hemp Back into the 21st Century appeared first on Ecothes.

We’re a big fan of UK-based sustainable clothing brand Thought and how they’re driving change within the fashion industry. That’s why we’re delighted to bring you behind the scenes of the brand as we chat with co-founder Rachel.
We look at what materials the brand uses, their challenges, and how they’ve remained true to their values over the years to become market leaders in sustainable fashion.

Hello! Who are you, what brand do you run, what kind of products do you create?

I’m Rachel, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Thought. I run the business with my husband and our small, family owned brand is looking to spread the joy of dressing more responsibly.

Our small, family owned brand is looking to spread the joy of dressing more responsibly.

We sell a wide range of sustainable clothing and accessories, from wardrobe basics and underwear, to party-dresses and nearly everything in-between.

What was the inspiration behind Thought? 

We love this business but we wanted to be able to operate in a different way. When we started 20 years ago, operating with a focus on sustainability or responsibility wasn’t such a desirable attribute for most businesses, and we’ve worked hard to turn that around.

Our inspiration is in the everyday aspects – our relationships with our team who are breathtakingly talented and committed, our manufacturing partners who we have deep and long lasting partnerships with and our customers – who at the end of the day are the reason we’re able to do what we love. We’re passionate about Thought and giving this brand every opportunity to exist in this competitive landscape.

What were the main challenges and learnings you had when you first started? How do things compare today?

My husband John likes to remind me that business is problem solving, and that every day is an opportunity to be taught a new lesson.

We’re constantly navigating a hugely competitive landscape without the tools and advantages of our larger contemporaries so our challenges and learnings are never ending.

Our big and consistent messages are to keep close and true to your core values both as a brand and as a leader, be nimble and relentless in your pursuit of your goals. John and I couldn’t run the business without each other, our abilities and personalities cross over and compliment and I’m grateful that we get to do this together. 

Thought’s clothing is vibrant and unique, can you tell us more about how and why you choose the fabrics you work with? 

We edit and review our fabrics through the lens of responsibility. Our fabrics need to match our criteria of natural first and if not natural then innovative and leading in responsible manufacturing. They need to be desirable for our customers and fit for purpose in a busy woman’s wardrobe.

In your eyes, what’s the biggest achievement or milestone so far?

Oh gosh! Have we got one?! Working with my husband while getting married, and raising 3 small children and looking to ensure Thought has a legacy and history beyond us is a huge achievement. Being excited about going to work every day is a huge privilege. 

How have you ensured Thought has stayed true to its mission as you’ve grown over the years?

There’s no choice, it’s our DNA and is never up for discussion or debate. Our whole team is committed to what we are trying to do – spreading the joy of dressing responsibly.

We filter every decision through this lens and over the years we’ve had to sacrifice development or growth to make sure we work within that framework. It’s our cause, it’s our passion and we love the challenge!

Do you have a favourite Thought piece you can’t live without?

I rely heavily on our dresses every season, for their fit, their exuberance of colour and pattern and the way they brighten any day or occasion. From my underwear drawer to my coats to see me through Winter.

Thought is the cornerstone of my wardrobe – I’d have to say I can’t live without any of it!

 Thought is the cornerstone of my wardrobe – I’d have to say I can’t live without any of it!

What do you think are the main challenges around the sustainable fashion industry today? How do you approach these on a day-to-day basis?

We believe the main challenge is around defining what sustainability means – to a brand, to a customer, to the wider population. The generalisation of the term is becoming a problem and you need to have a tenacity in research to truly get to the core of the question.

We approach this by trying to be clear on what responsible production means for us – the pillars that anchor our decision making – choosing fabrics with a reduced impact, working with partners who manufacture responsibly, designing beautiful long lasting products and showing our customer how to wear, love, mend, and pass clothing on ( our circularity mission).

Have you seen a shift in consumers’ mindsets when it comes to the sustainable clothing industry in recent years?

Oh absolutely – we used to spend an enormous amount of time working against the negative preconceptions of sustainable fashion. Constantly communicating with our customers on our positive attributes outside of our sustainable messages – our high quality, beautiful designs, accessible price points. The shift in consumer sentiment has allowed our heritage in the sustainable space to shine through so that we can stand proudly as a market leader.

Do you have any advice for people looking to be more sustainable in their consumption habits and lifestyle?

Don’t let the big, difficult issue of our environmental future get in the way of the small, every day decisions you can make to instigate change. Act small and you can make an impact.

Change your body wash to a soap bar, update the washing detergent that you use, have a meat free day or two – these everyday changes can have a huge impact and you should feel empowered to make them in your day to day life.

Have you tried a product from another brand that you think our audience should know about?

I am the biggest fan and walking advert for Nuud, the responsibly produced, natural deodorant brand. Both John and I use this product religiously, and while we were sceptics at the start of our adoption we can say without hesitation that this product works and makes a difference.

What does the future look like for Thought?

We’re working really hard to navigate the most complex and treacherous time in our industry – we want to make sure that Thought is here to stay for the long road. Post Brexit, Covid, Inflation, Cost of living crisis and huge amounts of uncertainty mean we are wanting to remain focused, smart and nimble as we try and spread our message. Supporting small businesses during this time can make all the difference.

Wrapping Up: Thought Interview

We hope you enjoyed the article, and we want to thank Rachel for taking the time to chat with us about Thought.

Make sure you check out their new season collection and everyday essentials range; they’re the perfect sustainable wardrobe staple made from natural and organic materials.

Join us in our Q&A series as we go behind the scenes of our favorite sustainable brands, including Votch, Kitty & Vibe, Neem, and more.

The post Pause for Thought – In Conversation With Thought Founder Rachel Kelly appeared first on Ecothes.

Hello! Can you tell us a little more about yourself and your brand?

Hi! I’m Laura, a busy mum of two small humans and a dog called Rolo! I live by the sea in Brighton with my family and own and run Votch. We are a cruelty free watch and accessories company that gives back!

What inspired you to start Votch?

Votch began a few years back when I was struck down with a condition called Topic Steroid Withdrawal, a condition that saw all my skin fall off. During the years it took me to recover, I turned to documentaries and educated myself on various subjects regarding animal welfare, including facts about the leather industry that truly shocked me. 

Seeing the suffering that animals endured simply for fashion, and having felt the pain of losing my own skin, I vowed never to wear the skin of another being again. When I recovered, and with a new-found vegan perspective on life, I knew I had to create something where I could make a change in this world. 

Finding accessories that are stylish but cruelty free isn’t always that easy, and when an old watch strap broke and finding a watch I liked that was simple and stylish, but with a faux leather strap was pretty impossible, the lightbulb moment happened and Votch was born!

What were the main challenges you faced when first starting Votch?

My biggest challenge to date was learning a new skill set and industry. Prior to launching Votch I produced TV commercials – whilst this had many transferable skills, time management, budget controlling etc – actually creating and manufacturing a product was a whole new world to me.

I launched Votch with a small business loan and personal investment so funding to date has been hard at times, especially for covering stock, however – as someone who always likes to push and challenge myself we are currently in our first round of fundraising to enable us to launch new collections and ranges to meet demand.

Can you tell us more about the materials you use? How do you ensure they have little impact on the environment as well as animals?

Our values are simple, and that is to continually do the best we can do. We are always striving as a company to do better and to create a product that inflicts no harm to animals with the smallest footprint for the environment. 

We are forever researching the most innovative fabrics possible for our watch straps, and this push for progress is matched by our desire to develop our designs and durability. 

We currently use the most innovative and sustainable materials we can, such as Piñatex and AppleSkin and are always trialling and testing more.

We want to show that you don’t need to be cruel to be cool.

We want to make cruelty free accessories more readily available to all, and to show that you don’t need to be cruel to be cool.

As we continually evolve, we are always searching of ways to reduce our impact on the planet. With every order purchased on our website, we plant a mangrove in Madagascar! Mangroves are fantastic carbon sinks, stabilise the soil and improve the quality of the water.

Planting these wonderful trees also provides a natural habitat for wildlife and an income for local villagers. We also have a recycling scheme to put to use people’s old and broken watches to avoid them being sent to landfill.

The need for clear, credible climate action from all organisations is essential. This is our way of supporting climate solutions and limiting our impact on the planet.

In your eyes, what’s the biggest achievement or milestone of Votch so far?

Showcasing Votch on Dragons’ Den was a huge achievement for me, we received such wonderful feedback on the brand and product – whilst we didn’t receive investment it was a great way to showcase Votch and show the world how vegan fashion has and is evolving!

Have you seen a shift in consumer perception in recent years to Veganism? How has this impacted your brand?

When I first launched Votch, vegan fashion was still deemed as very different to what it is now – it was seen as unstylish and cheap PVC vegan leathers.

The rise of materials like Pinatex and Appleskin have pushed vegan fashion into a new world of sustainable and stylish brands.

We have many customers who aren’t necessarily vegan, but want to take steps and changes in being more sustainable by making more considered choices.

How do you ensure your company stays true to your mission as you grow?

I always stay at the core of every decision we make, my ethos and morals have been thoroughly revolved around animal rights since I was a small child – so whilst I am running the company, and I hope to always be, our mission will always be one of showing the world you don’t need to harm animals for fashion.

What’s your favourite Votch style and why?

I am absolutely in love with our new crossbody bag!

I have been obsessed with making watches for the last 6 years, but making a new bag was so exciting, especially its versatility with the two different, interchangeable straps!

Our customers love it too, it’s been our best-selling item since we launched it!

Do you have any advice for people looking to be more sustainable in their consumption habits and lifestyle?

Make small changes and they will eventually become a habit – don’t put too much pressure on yourself to change everything overnight. Support ethical brands, shop in charity shops and preloved stores – and always get refills where you can!

Have you tried a product from another sustainable vegan brand that you think our audience should know about?

I love my Flamingo trainers – I wear them everyday and they have lasted brilliantly! 

What does the future look like for Votch?

We are working on a new watch design currently and hope to expand on our bag offering in the new year.

Wrapping Up

We want to say a huge thank you to Laura, for taking time to discuss her brand Votch with us.

We’ve named Votch as one of our top 10 sustainable watch brands out there, and we wish Laura all the best with her brand.

If you enjoyed looking behind the scenes of this sustainable brand, check out our other interviews with founders from Kitty and Vibe, Floral Street, Pantee, and more!

Want to discover more watches? Check out our guide on American-made watch brands.

The post Q&A: Meet Votch – The Watch Brand That Gives Back appeared first on Ecothes.

In today’s Q&A, we sit down with Nick Reed, founder of the refreshingly new sustainable menswear brand Neem London.

Neem London is the new menswear brand on the block, offering men a smarter and more conscious way to shop.

The brand focuses on circularity, sustainable materials, and traceability.
We catch up with Nick to discuss his brand’s challenges and successes and how Neem contributes to sustainable innovations within the fashion landscape.

Hello! Can you tell us a little more about yourself and your brand?

I’m Nick Reed, founder of Neem London – we are a modern menswear brand focussed on low emitting and low waste yet stylish products.

We are targeting gen X, that’s 40 – 60 year olds who want a smart, versatile and comfortable product. We’re designing for the new hybrid workplace.

Why did you start your company? What inspired you?

I was increasingly appalled by the treatment of the large scale retailers towards factories in Bangladesh, India and elsewhere (I’ve spent the last 20 years on a plane visiting factories all over the world).

The pandemic heightened this, whereby retailers saw it as an opportunity to profit, cancelling orders, discounting orders, paying late then moving production and flying stock in.

It brought out the worst in people and all this was happening whilst emissions in fashion increased.

I was inspired to bring a brand to market that had sustainability hardcoded into the brand.

I was inspired to bring a brand to market that had sustainability hardcoded into the brand, I believe no brand can truly be low emitting without building it from day 1.

How is your brand adding to and innovating the sustainable fashion market?

We use a number of new bits of technology to facilitate our move towards low emissions products.

1. We use cutting edge 3D design – To reduce the need for samples and allow us to take pre order.

2. LCA analysis – To allow us to measure the emissions of the product, with as much data as we can gather.

3. Pre order technology – So we can take orders to reduce waste.

4. QR Codes with a track and trace technology in all our products 

5. We’ve set up a take back scheme of any brand to keep waste out of landfill. Plus, we’re working with the first automated colour and fibre sorter in the UK to recycle pre-loved fabrics back into clothing.

What were the main challenges and learnings you had when you started the company?

The challenges were finding people and suppliers to support you and doing almost everything yourself. I’m a 40 something with 3 kids so the challenge has also been that I’m not a standard mould “East London early 30 something with no kids”. 

Additionally to find recycled fusing, thread and buttons was hard, then gathering all the data for the life cycle assessments took time.

Things have improved, we now have a steady customer base and believe there is a really big market and as we run pop ups, expand and improve the range we can target our customer with even greater focus.

In your eyes, what’s the biggest achievement or milestone of Neem London so far?

£15k in sales in June was big for us and appearing in GQ, Esquire, and the Independent is pleasing.

However, it’s simply every time we sell one thing, there is a whoop of joy – most days you give up so to have a support network that keeps us and me going is really important.

How do you ensure your company stays true to your mission as you grow?

We want to make the lowest emitting shirt in the world, I think as we grow this will actually be easier as we can really go deep on all aspects of the production.

Do you find yourself faced with eco-anxiety? If so, how do you approach this on a day-to-day basis?

Yes, I try not to read James Lovelock too much…..or Jason Hiekel – but joking aside being confident that Neem is better than buying a shirt from others due to the way in which we operate. 

Do you have any advice for people looking to be more sustainable in their consumption habits and lifestyle?

Of course if you are buying new, buy Neem.

Send us your old clothing, any brand in any condition

Cut down on meat and join the veganuary tribe in January and look inside labels – I still can’t believe retailers put another 10% on their composition labels – massive red signal.

Many brands are doing the wrong thing right now, hiring heads of sustainability whilst still flying stock in….hypocrisy.

Look at what the brands are standing for and ask questions of them.

Have you tried a product from another sustainable/ethical brand that you think our audience should know about?

I rather like Finisterre and I still like buying 2nd hand.

What does the future look like for Neem London?

We’re running a pop up in November in St James’ and we have just launched a regenerative cotton shirt, now on pre order. 

Wrapping Up: Neem London

We want to say a huge thank you to Nick for chatting with us about his brand Neem London. It’s refreshing to see a brand building sustainability into its hardware from day one.

If you want to discover the full collection, check out the Neem online store.

Related Posts: Brands Like Neem

We hope you enjoyed the interview with Nick, we’ve named Neem as one of our favorite sustainable menswear brands.

If you want to go behind the scenes of other sustainable brands, check out the rest of our Q&A series, featuring brands such as Baabuk, Presca, and Erem.

The post How Neem London is Reinventing Sustainable Menswear appeared first on Ecothes.

Founded by fourth-generation shoemaker Noah Swartz, Erem^® is a refreshingly different footwear brand on a mission to transform the outdoor performance industry and take footwear back to the earth.

We catch up with Noah as he takes us behind the scenes of his brand Erem^®, discussing the challenges the brand has faced, what sets Erem^® apart from other brands, and his hopes for the future.

Hello! Who are you, what brand do you run, what kind of product do you create?

My name is Noah Swartz, I am a fourth generation shoe maker, and I am the founder of Erem^®: a new outdoor performance brand. 

We make hiking footwear that is setting new standards in performance and sustainability. Our first products are the Xerocole^® and Xerocole Expedition^® hiking boots specifically built to handle the extreme conditions of desert terrain. They are also the world’s first Biocircular hiking boots – a concept never used in hiking footwear before. Biocircular means the products are made from materials that can return to nature, and that we will take them back at the end of their long life to be re-streamed into responsible next lives.

We also just launched a Kickstarter campaign for our newest product – the Gila sandal, which we believe is the world’s best performing and  most sustainable adventure sandal. 

Why did you start Erem? What inspired you?

I started Erem for two reasons. The first is because I couldn’t find footwear that performed adequately in the desert, a landscape that I fell in love with. 

The desert presents extreme temperature swings, exceptionally abrasive terrain, sudden and powerful storms, and more. This is why at Erem we design each of our products explicitly to a ‘desert standard,’ because if they perform in the desert, they will outperform everywhere else. 

We design each of our products explicitly to a ‘desert standard’

The second reason I started Erem is because I believe that as a fourth generation shoe maker there is another model for how products should be made and businesses should be run. At Erem we believe it is our job to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of our products, rather than just to the point of sale, which is currently the gold standard within our industry. 

Linear consumerism has largely fueled the global mess we find ourselves in; I believe that Erem can help pave the way to a better and more sustainable model. 

What were the main challenges and learnings you had when founding Erem? 

Sustainably building a physical product in a remote environment during a global pandemic was extremely challenging. 

If you’re trying to innovate on performance and sustainability in footwear, you can’t just outsource the product to a factory halfway across the world (which is what much of the industry does).

For example, we took a 3 month delay on our launch to prove that we could use linen thread to sew the outsoles to the upper of our Xerocole^® collection. This reflects a stubbornness on our part as the outsole thread by mass is only .03% of our boot, but the other option didn’t meet our environmental standard.

 Solving this challenge involved sourcing a new thread supplier, connecting a supplier and a factory that didn’t know each other, recalibrating factory-grade sewing machines, field testing, and then iterating to improve on the initial results — all remotely.  Just this one example took a lot of patience and follow-through and is indicative of the challenges that come with product innovation in a time like this.

Can you tell us about the materials you’ve selected for your signature hiking boot, and the drivers behind choosing these materials? 

Every material in our Xerocole hiking boot collection was selected for two reasons: (1) its outstanding performance qualities and (2) because it meets a Biocircular standard, meaning it can return back to the earth and be re-streamed into a responsible next life. 

I envision a world where this dual sourcing criteria isn’t an accomplishment or a novelty, but is the norm. Consumers are rightfully aware about the issue around single use plastic water bottles.

Not many people realize that 300 million shoes are thrown out each year in America alone, and that basically all of those shoes are condemned to 1,000 years in a landfill. 

By making a product that performs better and has a longer lifespan, and that then has a responsible next life inherently built into it, we seek to change this. 

Examples of some of the materials in our products include brass hardware, that we also use for aglets (lace tips). The majority of boots on the market use plastic hardware and aglets. Brass is infinitely recyclable and more durable, meaning it performs better than plastic.

Another example is the leather we use, which comes from a gold rated tannery, and is tanned with food-grade tannins, which can be turned into organic fertilizer at the end of its life. The leather is also metal-free and extremely durable and protective; it is a more premium article than what is used in most hiking boots.

Another example is that our insoles are made from cork. Cork is a carbon negative material that is exceptionally lightweight, never packs out, provides underfoot protection, and will mold to your foot over time.

Comparing this with the industry standard petroleum based foams that are typically used, the Xerocoles perform better and are better for the planet. 

In your eyes, what’s the biggest achievement or milestone so far?

Releasing a no-compromise product that has competitive pricing is a hallmark performance, groundbreaking sustainability, and achievement for our brand.

That being said, our company’s logo is a depiction of a remarkable saguaro cactus I encountered on a hike in the Sonoran wilds.

Saguaro cacti are remarkable for many reasons. They can live for hundreds of years, but when they flower, their flowers only last for a day at a time.

Our logo is a depiction of a remarkable saguaro cactus I encountered on a hike in the sonoran wilds.

To me, that perfectly represents the idea of a general outlook but with a daily urgency, which is what we are all about at Erem.

So I would say that our biggest achievements definitely sit in front of us, because I believe this outlook is critical for driving real impact and change.

How do you ensure your company stays true to your mission as you grow?

Our team meets every week to review how we’ve lived our company values. While we are a small company now, that practice is never going to change even as we grow.

Without constant focus on mission and values, I do believe that drift is a real possibility. That said, I think one thing that is easier for Erem is that our mission is in our DNA; we were founded for an explicit, mission driven purpose. 

What do you think are the main challenges around sustainability in the footwear industry today? How do you approach these challenges with solutions?

There are many challenges in the footwear industry, but two I will highlight are 1) an uneven playing field and 2) limited shared resources. 

An uneven playing field means that our market economy currently does a poor job pricing environmental externalities. This means that it is often cheaper for a company to produce a pollutive product than a sustainable one, which means that customers can end up having to choose between price and sustainability. 

Erem cannot produce hiking boots at the same cost as some of our competitors for two reasons:

1. Because we offer premium performance features.
2. Other brands use materials that we think are not environmentally acceptable. For now, this translates to an advantage to our competitors as they can make more profit per unit or sell to customers for less. However, we believe that over time, the balance will flip the other way because consumers don’t want to have to choose between price and their values. 

As more people discover Erem, I think our model is going to be an advantage because today’s savvy & sustainability-minded consumers will respect our focus on environmental mission. 

The second challenge is shared resources. What that means is that there is no single market for sustainable sourcing. Erem took on the difficult challenge of building our supply chain from scratch. Collectively, we would have so many more sustainable products if finding a sustainable linen outsole thread was as easy as buying something on Amazon.

There is no shared directory or menu that exists for sustainable materials and factories. For a lot of brands, this information is proprietary and treated as a competitive advantage. Part of me understands this – that if a brand has invested time in developing an asset, giving it away to your competitors perhaps isn’t the wisest business strategy. But at the same time, choosing not to cooperate misses the big picture and is detrimental to our shared environment. If we don’t cooperate, we are going to destroy our planet. 

While I think there should be a company that exists specifically to provide this sustainable sourcing information to others, in the interim, Erem is forthcoming with this information and will continue to recommend any supplier we work with to any brand or person that wants to know. 

Biocircular is an important achievement for Erem, but it’s a much better achievement if other companies  join us in this standard. To do this, brands are going to need to help each other with sourcing. 

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to launch a sustainable brand?  

Definitely. There is a growing community of values-aligned, mission driven entrepreneurs and brand builders in almost every industry.

Get involved in the community – it will make your job easier in so many different ways! Building a network of people trying to do similar things with similar values is a huge shortcut to success.

Have you tried a product from another sustainable/ethical brand that you think our audience should know about?

I was gifted a sweatshirt from a brand called Industry of All Nations. I was impressed with their packaging, messaging, and the intentionality of the product. Check them out.

What does the future look like for your brand?

We are just getting started!

We have plans to release a number of new footwear products that all hit at the intersection of performance and sustainability in the next 6 months. This includes a camp shoe, our All-Weather line, and much more.

Wrapping Up: Erem Q&A

We want to say a huge thank you to Noah for taking the time to chat with us about his brand Erem.

We wish Erem the best for the future and love the vision and ethos behind the brand.

If you want to check out the brand visit their website here.

If you enjoyed this article and want to go behind the scenes of other great sustainable brands, check out our interviews with the founds behind brands like Presca, Floral Street, Kitty & Vibe, and Valani.

If you think of questions you want us to ask our next founder, let us know in the comments below!

The post In Conversation with Erem Founder Noah Swartz appeared first on Ecothes.

Hello! Who are you, what brand do you run, and what kind of products do you create?

I’m Vanni, founder of VALANI. VALANI is a sustainable, ethical, plant-based, vegan clothing line based in California. We design dreamy clothing for women who want a fun, flirty, and beautiful wardrobe without harming the planet.

Why did you start your company? What inspired you?

VALANI has been my way of expressing creativity and filling a gap that I saw in the sustainable clothing niche.

Most sustainable brands that I found were neutral colored, boxy or boring. I wanted something fun, flirty, bold and feminine.

However, my focus on sustainable fashion stems from my vegan lifestyle. Veganism is a plant-based life built on compassion and respect for everything, and so I wanted my clothes and brand to share the same values.

What core elements of VALANI are important to you which illustrate your brand values and culture?

Being 100% vegan, sustainable and cruelty free are so important.  You hear a lot about people being against the use of fur and exotic skins, but not so much about other animal-based textiles in the fashion industry. 

Being 100% vegan, sustainable and cruelty free are so important. 

We don’t use wool, silk or leather in our products because there are better cruelty free alternatives available.  We’re all interconnected, so it’s important to respect the Earth and all of its inhabitants.

What were the main challenges and learnings you had when starting VALANI? How do things compare today to when you first started?

As a small business, spreading awareness of our brand and mission are huge challenges. Operating in a sustainable and ethical process along with quality fabrics is much more costly than operating as a fast fashion brand. We don’t have a huge budget like the big boys, but we aim to do our best via organic means.

We’ve been able to spread brand awareness through organic reach, social media and press mentions.  It takes time for the press to take notice and we’re so glad when it happens!

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to start a sustainable business?

It takes a lot of time and effort to do things more sustainably and will cost more money. 

Be prepared for the extra costs and efforts in educating consumers. It’s a long, complicated journey, so be prepared to have a great team to support you.

In your eyes, what’s the biggest achievement or milestone so far?

I’m proud of being a vegan, BIPOC woman owned, sustainable clothing brand. 

VALANI has been recognized by a few big publications so far and it’s great knowing that our brand awareness is increasing.

How do you ensure your company stays true to your mission as you grow?

As our team grows, I’ve been pretty selective in onboarding people who believe in our mission. I’ve been a vegan for 25+ years, and will continue to stay true to my core values. VALANI is an extension to my vegan lifestyle, so providing quality vegan, plant-based options to consumers will always be top priority.

What do you think are the main challenges around sustainability today? How do you approach these on a day-to-day basis?

The biggest challenge is the rising costs throughout the supply chain as well as  labor costs. Of course, this is a shared challenge across every industry this year.  Sustainable products are usually presented at a higher cost, which may be a barrier for some consumers.

Do you have any advice for people looking to be more sustainable in their consumption habits and lifestyle?

Sustainable products generally require higher upfront costs in comparison to fast fashion. However, I encourage people to look at cost per wear and quality.

Fast fashion items are created with the intention to be worn a few times and disposed of. Sustainable fashion is the opposite – it’s created with better fabrics and quality construction to last along with fair wages and eco-friendly production.

If things aren’t in your budget, secondhand clothing is another sustainable method and if you’re considering something new – buy sustainable products if possible.

Have you tried a product from another sustainable and ethical brand that you recommend?

I love the coconut shell jewelry from Coco & Souls – natural, simple yet stunning. Local artisans in El Salvador repurpose coconut shells to create these beautiful pieces. Otherwise, these shells typically go to waste. Check them out here.

What does the future look like for your brand?

We are so excited to be expanding our product offerings to include a zero waste, vegan skincare line. It’s currently in the works, so stay tuned!

We hope you enjoyed this Q&A series, we want to say a huge thank you to Vanni for chatting with us.

If you loved this Q&A, check out the rest of our series and dive behind the scenes of brands like Kitty & Vibe, Lark & Berry, and more.

The post Meet Vanni The Founder Behind Vegan Clothing Brand VALANI appeared first on Ecothes.

Hello! Who are you, what brand do you run, what kind of products do you create?

My name is Laura Chavez, and I’m the founder of Lark & Berry, the first fine designer jewellery brand in the world to use only cultured diamonds and stones in all our pieces (also known as lab-grown diamonds).

Since our launch in early 2018, Lark & Berry has only used cultured stones, and we will always use only cultured stones. We’re a design-focused brand first and foremost, but the commitment to only creating pieces with sustainable stones is a passionate one for us.

Cultured stones are much safer for the planet versus what it takes to mine for the very same stones, and cultured diamonds are the only diamonds on Earth always 100% guaranteed to be conflict-free.

What inspired you to create Lark & Berry? 

I was completing my MBA at London Business School, and one of my forms of recreation during my last semester or two was to take a class outside of school just for fun.

I took a history of jewellery course, and I learned that diamonds and other luxury gemstones can now be lab-grown. And not just that, but they were the very same quality, or better than mined stones, and with none of the mining, groundwater pollution, displacing of wildlife, and perhaps most importantly, lab-grown were 100% guaranteed to be conflict-free.

I’ve always loved jewellery but have certainly not loved the controversial history of how diamonds were sourced.

I was sold. I knew I could finally start a jewellery brand, which I’d always wanted to do, without worrying about where the diamonds were coming from or worrying that someone was hurt in the process. That was it. Lark & Berry was born.  

Did you always know you wanted to be a jewellery designer?

I have always loved jewellery and design in general, yes. As I started to get older, those two loves began to coalesce into a one-in-the-same kind of passion, and I even found myself beginning to sketch out jewellery designs on my iPad while in some of my university classes before I even started taking the history of jewellery course I mentioned.

My grandmother was very independent and strong-willed, I had great respect for her, and when I was very young, I remember being totally awestruck by all the beautiful fine jewellery she bought herself. I would think, ‘I want to be like her and look like her someday…’

She also had a love for our planet and nature, which I like to think I inherited. Had lab-grown diamonds been an option back then, I know she would have loved them and totally supported this disrupting alternative.

It wasn’t really until around 2006 I’d say, when ‘Blood Diamond’ came out, that the lid was blown off just how harmful diamond mining had been, and people started to become aware in a mass sense. I know that movie really affected me personally.

So, all these influences from childhood, becoming more socially and environmentally aware, and yes, my love of jewellery and design and drawing – it all sort of came together in a big bang epiphany during my last year of my MBA program, and then shortly after, Lark & Berry came to be.

How are Lark & Berry’s cultured diamonds created?

To create a cultured diamond, lab engineers must replicate the same high heat and pressure conditions that occur underground, causing diamonds to form. Most often, one of two methods are utilised in labs to mimic these conditions, either HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) or CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition – this is the newer method of the two).

In the CVD method, a diamond seed, extracted from the purest diamond from a previous batch, is placed inside a growth chamber. The chamber is then filled with carbon-rich gasses, and the seed is exposed to incredible amounts of heat and constant pressure.

In the HPHT method, created diamonds are produced from carbon material in apparatuses that mimic the high pressure, high temperature conditions of natural diamond formation in the earth. 

Culturing diamonds still requires large amounts of energy, how do you ensure that Lark & Berry Diamonds are created as sustainably as possible?

As I mentioned, there are always more and more labs emerging all the time utilising new methods to produce carbon negative diamonds. That means the energy they did use to create the diamonds is totally offset by other means of production.

Labs are also growing diamonds with 100% renewable energy, and there’s even labs now that can grab excess carbon from the sky and convert that into a diamond. That, to me, is beyond sustainable. It’s all a matter of choosing the right labs to work with.  

Have you seen a shift in consumers’ perception towards cultured diamonds in recent years as social awareness grows about the ethics and environmental issues behind mined diamonds?

Yes, I could even equate it to my own cultured diamonds awakening, so to speak. Like I’ve said, I didn’t know about culturing diamonds before I took that class around 2017, but technically, science has been attempting it since the 1950’s (the first breakthrough was made then by General Electric).

From there, it took decades to get the lab-grown diamonds to gem-quality status, and it’s only been since around 2005 that they’ve begun to emerge in fine jewellery in the market – and even more recently, like really in the last few years, that lab-grown diamonds engagement rings, the most competitive area of jewellery, have made a big mark. I can speak for that personally, too – during the lockdowns period of the COVID pandemic, we saw our engagement rings sales increase 1,000%.  

I know from analyzing our market though – that increase in sales wasn’t just people having more time to shop being stuck at home, it’s a trend that is ever-progressing.

As more and more of us accept the reality that if we don’t act now to combat climate change by acting definitively in how we live, travel, buy, all of it – we just simply won’t have a livable planet to pass on to future generations. People are realizing all of it now, and they’re seeking sustainable alternatives, including fine jewellery, like what Lark & Berry offers.

I love sharing this as an example of the change I see happening all the time – we had a family of 3 generations come into our London Flagship location a little while back – daughter, mom and grandmother, and they all wanted to get piercings together.

It was so inspiring to see three people spanning that many generations excited about sharing an experience Lark & Berry could create for them. We were not only offering beautiful jewellery to them, we were creating a familial memory. I see that as a sign that lab-grown diamonds are starting to go mainstream. That’s the goal, of course – to see the day when lab-grown are just called “diamonds” the same way no one calls pearls “cultured pearls” even though nearly all of them are grown these days. It’s just the norm and it’s better for the planet.

What elements of your brand are important to you which illustrate your brand values and culture?

Everything we do at Lark & Berry is proudly waving the flag of championing and practicing sustainable causes. Of course there’s our stones – always cultured, never mined.

And we even have a shipping program that offsets all our already minimal carbon emissions. We’re also set to soon debut 100% recycled gift packaging for all our orders.

Since shortly after launch, we also plant fresh trees in areas around the world that need them most per every Lark & Berry purchase.

Do you have a favourite piece of the Lark & Berry collection?

I love our new Summer Piercings Collection for 2022. I’m just getting really into ear-stacking with piercings myself, and I love to see it out there thriving as a trend.

We have lots of fun, edgy labrets and hoops in this new collection, like our Mini Shooting Star, our Lightning Strike Labret and our Marquise-set Knife Edged Hoop.

They’re all sure to get you noticed, I can speak for that!

Have you tried a product from another sustainable and ethical brand that you love?

I support all sustainable brands who are making a difference for our planet regardless of market sector.

We did brand podcasts a while back featuring Pistol Lake and LA Relaxed, both out of the Los Angeles area. Both companies are creating great sustainable fashion for men and women respectively.

As far as jewellery goes, I would like to take this opportunity to mention Lark & Berry’s sister brand Alondra. It’s very new, we launched in just the last few months.

 With Alondra pieces, we’re able to use the very same lab-grown diamonds and gemstones that are used in Lark & Berry pieces. The only difference, as far as materials, is that Alondra pieces are made with silver and 18K gold vermeil. This simple difference allows our widest audience yet the opportunity to buy designer jewellery made with the most sustainable diamonds on the planet.

Desire from this wide audience not yet ready to invest in solid gold pieces has grown rapidly since Lark & Berry launched, so we’re thrilled to be able to meet that demand.

Design-wise, Alondra allows us to try ideas, concepts and designs that are different from the Lark & Berry style. With Alondra, we’re focusing specifically on creating generally larger-sized conversation pieces with a modern, edgy flair to really make your personal style pop.

What does the future look like for Lark & Berry?

We will continue designing new collections always with the same ethos in mind – to never use mined diamonds and to find creative ways to keep educating the public on the merits of lab-grown diamonds and stones. We’re also looking to expand into making some sustainable fashion accessories as well!

We want to say a huge thank you to Laura for taking the time to give us an insight into her brand.

We’ve included Lark & Berry in our favorite sustainable and ethical jewellery guide. Plus, If you enjoyed this interview, check out more of our Q&A series including an interviews with sustainable sneaker brand Baabuk, and ethical lingerie brand ColieCo.

The post Q&A Lark & Berry: How Laura Chavez is Transforming The Fine Jewellery Industry appeared first on Ecothes.