I posted today a list of reasons on Instagram on why it's good to shop small and more specially shop with us. I wanted to go into more detail and explain what some of these things meant. Below are a list of definitions and some links with even more info.
Slow-fashion
'In addition to caring for the planet through thoughtful design, slow fashion brands produce clothing in-house or locally, allowing for full control over the supply chain process and labor conditions. There's no rush to scale quickly or create items to please the masses.' (The Good Trade)
Sustainable & Ethical Fashion
'Sustainable fashion encompasses consideration for people, the planet, and the rest of the living world (animals, plants, etc.)'. (consciouslifeandstyle.com)
Transportation of fashion goods is a huge contributor to the carbon footprint, because everything at Custard Cloth is made in the UK, I'm not shipping over from factories in the far east. I source all materials including packaging from the UK.
Further reading Sustainable Jungle
Handmade in the UK & Ethically made
Unlike larger brands our products are not mass produced by underpaid workers in factories in the far east. I make orders myself and more recently I have been using local seamstresses to help me out, I pay them prices they have set out for themselves, so no one is being mistreated and I can keep a direct eye on how things are made ethically.
Made to Order
This means when your order comes in, I then go and make them, meaning I'm not sitting on 100 of pieces of unsold stock. My seamstresses have a few pieces ready for me, mainly of the bestsellers, but these are still small amounts. I'm not having to discard any surplus stock. It also means if I have left over fabric, I can use this to make something else.
Eco-Friendly Packaging
All your lovely orders will arrive in either a recyclable box or a recyclable eco-mailer. None of that horrible plastic packaging. Everything is recyclable, including the tissue paper, the washi tape and the business card!
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
'Fabrics that are OEKO-TEX 100 certified have been independently tested to ensure they do not contain over 300 harmful substances. The certification covers every stage of production up until the point it reaches our factory.' (Prinfab)
Read more from OEKO-TEX
OEKO-TEX Eco Passport Certified Ink
'All our fabrics are printed using OEKO-TEX Eco Passport certified ink. This means they have been independently checked to ensure they do not contain chemicals that are harmful to human health.' (Prinfab)
ECOCERT GOTS Certified Ink
'Fabrics that are GOTS certified have been independently tested to ensure every part of production is sustainable and environmentally friendly. The certification covers every stage of production up until the point it is prepared for printing.' (Prinfab)
Woman-owned
'When you support Women Owned businesses, you are investing in women's economic empowerment, gender parity in commerce, vibrant communities, and the growth of the economy overall. Buying Women Owned is both socially conscious and economically sound.' (womenownedlogo.com)
Supporting my dreams
Every time I receive an order for you guys, I feel so happy, I'm being believed in and I can keep on fulfilling my dream. There is no way an induvial person at amazon is jumping up and down when you place an order. I thank you for this!
I'm trying to do my part in not negatively impacting the environment whilst trying to fulfil my dreams, I'm always open to your ideas and feedback and I'm constantly trying to learn and improve.
Lucy x