Zero Waste, Zero Hype
As all makers do, we end up with short ends and scraps. All of ours are carefully repurposed - into hangers, bags, lavender bags and hairbands. No waste, and work here.
Repurposing our textile waste is not just an afterthought – minimising waste and our environmental impact more generally is central to our way of working and has been since our inception. We do not boast a sustainability policy – but that is intentional. We simply aim to be properly sustainable and transparent in everything we do.
Label waste is rarely spoken of – but must account for a significant portion not just of textile waste, but of the resulting environmental harm. More often than not care and brand labels are printed or woven on synthetic fibres and over-ordering is rife owing to scale discounting – especially that offered by overseas providers.
We have been especially fortunate to have been able to find an embroiderer adjacent to our London workshop who will literally make our labels one by one. At inception this was key – as who knew whether we would need just a few labels or eventually several hundred.
Similarly we have been hugely lucky to have found a label maker in Wales who will kindly print us Care Labels in minute quantities. A huge bother for them – but vital for us to ensure we don't over-source the different composition and care labels we need to offer all the varieties of outer and lining materials and combinations thereof. National Weaving in Neath is a treasure, and one we really couldn't do without.
Packaging is another major polluter in the clothing industry. Much of it is sourced from China, is plastic coated and contains a heap of chemicals. After ploughing through the inevitable slew of mis-statements and dross thrown up by Google, we eventually found W MacCarthy & Sons in Woolwich – a family-owned business that will make us stapled boxes in recycled cardboard – both beautiful and hugely long lasting. If you really insist, you can remove the staples and they are compostable – but we would strongly recommend re-using them, not least because they will last for a century or more.
Our bags and carriers are, of course, another form of packaging.
Our bags are made from compostable jute, hemp and hessian and are stencilled in Wales.
Our carriers are sourced in small quantities from a delightful UK maker – Concept Covers. A family-owned company based in the Midlands, they make ours in a high-quality, durable fabric that will last and last – and, as importantly, protect the waistcoats they carry for years to come.
Because we don't over-produce, we have scant need for massive discounting. But we do of course produce samples and on the odd occasion have need to eliminate a piece from our collection. These we send up to Pop Up Crisis on Savile Row. A wonderful volunteer-led fundraising initiative that takes place annually in the home of British tailoring, supports Crisis, the national homelessness charity. Founded in 2018, it brings together the fashion and classic menswear community, alongside entrepreneurs, creatives and DJs, to raise vital funds at one of the most challenging times of year for people experiencing homelessness. We are delighted to be part of it.
Sourcing and making small and locally is undoubtedly the biggest way in which we can minimise our environmental impact. For this reason we do. This undoubtedly translates into lower profit margins – but in our view it is the only way to operate.
