#Intro
The long term
Sustainability is a word that is used a lot in the clothing industry.
For us it is not about one material, one certification or one choice. It is about the sum of many different decisions.
About where raw materials come from. How products are made. How long they last. And what impact those choices have on people and the environment.
The more we look into it, the clearer it becomes that a perfect answer rarely exists.
#The Reality
Over the past decades, clothing has become cheaper, more trend-driven and more short-lived.
That has brought a lot. But it has also meant that clothing is bought and replaced more and more often.
We think clothing is allowed to be worth more than that.
A garment that is worn for years ultimately holds more value than one that disappears from view after a short time.
Consumption
On average we buy 60 garments per person per year.
16% of the wardrobe in the Netherlands is never worn.
On average we throw away 12.1 kilos of textiles per person per year.
Production
Worldwide, around 40% of all clothing produced is never sold, and therefore never worn.
#The Choices
What that means for us
We think lifespan matters. At the same time, we don’t believe you can fully predict years of use.
That is why we look at material choice, construction and quality. How a product
holds up over the years only really shows in practice.
We think lifespan matters. At the same time, we don’t believe you can fully predict years of use.
That is why we look at material choice, construction and quality. How a product holds up over the years only really shows in practice.
No material scores best on everything.
That is why we don’t look at a single property, but at the whole picture. Comfort,
quality, availability, production and impact all play a role.
We would rather produce too little than too much. That way we avoid making products without a clear destination.
We would rather focus on long-term use than on fast-changing trends.
#The Development
Learning by making
The choices we make today are not the same choices we made yesterday.
That is why we think it matters to show not only the end result, but also how our products develop.
Fels.01 was developed as a crowdfunding product and was available exclusively to investors.
Because the shirt was produced entirely made to order, we depended on fabrics that were suitable for small quantities. Many suppliers of the fabrics we preferred work with longer lead times and minimum order quantities that did not fit this product.
That is why we chose an organic cotton fabric that was available within those conditions.
Afterwards it
also turned out that the supplier did not want to give any further
transparency about the origin of the organic cotton. That was a
shame, because gaining more insight into the chain was exactly what
we were after.
What we learned
During the development of Fels.01 we discovered where improvements were possible.
We wanted more insight into the origin of materials. More time for material research. And more grip on the choices made further back in the chain.
Those insights became the starting point for Fels.02.
Specifications
Fels.02 is the first product that actually goes on sale, and with that it forms the basis for future products.
Thanks to the longer preparation time and the larger run, we were able to make different choices when it came to materials and sourcing.
Through Organic Cotton Colours we gained access to regenerative organic cotton that is normally only available from larger orders onwards. Because they were willing to think along with us, we were still able to order below the minimum order quantities.
In addition, we use one colour that comes from the natural colour of the cotton itself. As a result, this fabric does not need to be dyed.
What changed?
- More insight into the origin of raw materials
- Collaboration with Organic Cotton Colours
- Access to regenerative organic cotton
- Use of natural cotton colours, without a dyeing process
Specifications
For us, Fels.02 is not the end point of that development. It is the next step.
#Materials
Why organic cotton?
For the first two products we chose organic cotton. At that moment, the most logical choice.
For part of the cotton we work with suppliers who source their raw materials from Turkey.
What appeals to us is that they look beyond cotton production alone. Farmers receive fair pay for their work and are supported in regenerative agriculture.
As a result, alongside cotton they can also grow food and generate extra income for their community.
Not every future product will have the same supplier or origin. That is why we try to show as clearly as possible, for each product, where the materials come from.
#Not Perfect
Not perfect
Some choices have been made; about others we still have our doubts. That is precisely why we think it matters to also share where we are not yet.
What we already do
- We choose regenerative organic cotton
- We produce in the Netherlands
What we are still working on
- Researching which fabrics are the best choice in the long term.
- Gaining more insight into the lifespan of recycled materials.
- Exploring what a repair service for Fels could look like.
- Finding out whether a recycling or take-back programme is feasible