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 It would be great if we
could produce these gorgeous clothes without affecting the environment, but of
course we can’t. The next best thing is
for us to identify the impact we are making so we can find ways to reduce it. We have therefore given a footprint rating to
each of our garments (affectionately known to us as the ‘goose print’).
To determine the footprint
we consider 5 aspects of the lifecycle of the garment.
- Growing.
How the crop is grown; is it certified organic, organic in
conversion or another sustainable crop such as bamboo.
- Processing.
How the crop is picked, spun, woven and dyed, and what type of
environmental processes the manufacturers have in place.
- Transportation. Are the fabric and garments made locally,
are they transported directly from the manufacturer or through a third
party? We consider the type of
transport used and the option to buy carbon credits to offset the environmental
impact.
- Manufacturing.
Where and how the garments ares sewn.
Is the manufacturing certified, fair trade or sweat shop free and does
the manufacturer incorporate environmentally friendly practices into their
business?
- The social and ethical impact across the lifecycle.
Who is involved in each step of the process and how are workers and
communities supported.
Our footprint is
represented through the five little geese on the back of the swing tag of each
garment. The number of geese shaded corresponds
to the footprint for that garment.
Our process for
determining the footprint rating is still in its early stages. We will continue to refine this process to
provide you with clearer and more detailed information.
We hope the footprint
makes it easier for our customers to make informed and conscious choices. Remember:
fewer the footprints, the better it is for the environment.
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