You guys! This has been one of the most enjoyable and inspiring collaborations I've ever been part of. Alas the Label has quickly become one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE brands and I want you to love them just as much as I do. I'm all about athletic wear and tees. And I'm all about brands that are truly making a difference in the world by providing ethically and sustainably made clothing. This brand doesn't disappoint and has made me one happy human. As you can see in the photos, they so kindly sent me the black panel leggings, the waves leggings, and the colour block basic tee. I have worn them out and about and love the fit of each piece, design and the fact that they are so versatile. The tee has that perfect slouchy fit and the leggings fit me like a glove and are so soft and silky. Here is the story of their brand as shared on their website: Kelly Elkin, and Betony Dircks. We met in 2004 on the first day of our Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and immediately connected over our mutual love for bright colours and prints. It went deeper than this however, and we soon realized we also shared a staunch commitment to our environment and the people who live in it. It seemed only natural that with our core values aligned, we would continue to work together for what has now been 10 years (and counting!).Since our humble beginnings in 2011, ALAS has built a reputation around the world for our well designed, high quality, sustainably produced sleepwear. All ALAS prints are created by us and guest designers we love, with each clothing item made from seed to cloth in India under fair trade standards. We now have a resume of well-regarded boutiques internationally and online such as GOOP, Shopbop, and we’re pretty chuffed to count Tavi Gevinson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sophie Lowe asfans of our sleepwear and pyjama collections. We have been passionate advocates for sustainability and ethical clothing production practices our whole lives, and as we see the community grow, we feel excited and privileged to be a part of this important movement. Their Producers: WOVENS FACTORY: In 2013, we went spent a month traversing all over India in search of a new, Fair Trade woven garment producer, and Jaipur is where we struck gold! We paid a visit to the factory, and quickly discovered their commitment to fair manufacturing standards and a dedication to quality, and got them to begin sampling our designs right away. Now, we can happily say that all of our woven garments are produced in this big-hearted, but small-sized production unit in Jaipur. All garments are made in-house using sweatshop-free, fair labour standards. They also implement all of the below standards:
We are also supporting a work environment that encourages respect, women's equality and skill development, all of which makes us very happy. KNITS FACTORY:We have been working with our knitwear factory in Tiruppur since 2012. The two owners are a similar age to us, and we have connected with them from day one, in the professional sense but also on the level that they are small business owners, just like us. With their production unit that employs 30 local machinists, patternmakers and garment checkers, they pay close attention to detail and focus on creating a positive and productive working environment. The production unit is certified by SA 8000 for social accreditation and also commit to the below standards:
THEIR FABRICS:
High Quality Organic CottonAll of our garments are constructed with only the highest quality GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton, which means that the cotton that has been farmed without dangerous chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers and genetically modified seeds. The standard covers the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, trading and distribution of all textiles made from at least 70% certified organic natural fibres. For more detail on GOTS, check out their website. Handwoven Organic ChambrayHandloomed woven cloth has a rich and long history in South India, which is why we travelled there when looking for a chambray to add to our fabrications. It’s been spun, woven, and dyed there since prehistoric times, and is an ancient industry for the area. The process starts with raw GOTS certified 100% organic cotton yarn, which is then dyed by hand in the two colours used in our fabric; indigo in the warp, and white in the weft. The warp yarn is then stretched out onto a loom to the desired length of the fabric, and the weft yarn is woven back and forth to create the cloth. The fabric is easy to care and durable, but also incredibly comfortable and soft. You’ll find as it ages, it becomes even softer in handle. It’s a beautiful process, and your chambray garments will become a part of your story every time you wear them. Why Organic?The production process for conventional (non-organic) cotton uses more insecticides than any other crop, 25% of the world's total usage, in fact. Pesticides contaminate local waterways, destroying the environment and harming animals. Pests build a resistance to the chemicals used, so new pesticides are continuously developed, resulting in greater pesticide use and perpetually increasing costs for farmers.In addition to the environmental factors, food and water supplies can also be contaminated from runoff which in turn can create suffering through disease, illness and birth defects in local communities. The benefits of using organic cotton are therefore apparent. It means that the health of all people involved in the supply chain is improved and local communities can benefit from relatively clean water and food supplies. In addition, organic cotton farmers generally have a longer cotton commodity lifespan because chemical-free agricultural land stays fertile much longer than land which is damaged by the use of pesticides. Organic farmers often utilise companion planting (cotton with coconut trees and mango trees with chilli and onion plants, for example) which supports the soil structure and gives them yielding crops over different timeframes. Recycled PET PolyesterWe use a blend of polyester that uses recycled plastic items like PET water bottles, and other single use plastics to create a fibre that's perfect for our activewear. The fabric in our MOVE range uses 70% less water, energy, and heat compared to traditional polyester processing methods; a far more sustainable way to produce a fabric that has longevity and strength. Interested in what PET is, and how we turn it into a fabric? Also known as Polyethylene Terephthalate, PET is a clear, tough plastic that’s commonly used in water bottles and moulded consumer product containers. It’s been recycled for use in the carpet industry for years, and it’s now gaining popularity as an apparel textile fibre. These post-consumer water and soft drink bottles are shredded into tiny chips, which are then re-processed into tiny fibres that are spun into a yarn. This yarn is then knitted with elastane (for stretch) into the fabric that we are using for our leggings and crop tops. Dyeing and PrintingAfter the weaving and knitting processes, the organic cotton fabrics are then dyed and printed using methods that avoid toxic heavy metals, AZOs and formaldehyde. This is highly beneficial for the employees working in the dye and print houses, as well as the end consumer, whose skin comes into contact with the fabric in its final use! All waste water from the dye and print units is treated for future agricultural use. Recycled PackagingAll of our packaging, swing tags and business cards are recycled and recyclable. Garment After CareA large amount of energy goes into the after care of clothing, so please be mindful. You can machine wash your ALAS garment in cool water, and line dry to reduce energy consumption. Avoid wasting water by not washing your garments unnecessarily - spot clean where possible.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |