Fashion Revolution Week is here!
Monday 20th April marks the start of Fashion Revolution Week which sees brands and producers demonstrate transparency in their supply chain using the hashtag #imadeyourclothes.
The seven-day initiative has been created by Fashion Revolution - a movement that runs all year long, celebrating fashion as a positive influence whilst raising awareness of the issues that are within the fashion industry. Fashion Revolution Week commemorates the tragic factory collapse of Rana Plaza in 2013, where 1,138 people lost their lives and over 2500 people were injured. Many of these people were women and children who were working in unsafe conditions making clothes for some of the world’s biggest fashion brands. Fashion Revolution was born after this, and since then, it has campaigned for fair and safe working conditions to unite the fashion industry and change the way our clothes are sourced, produced and purchased.
We share the same ideas and values as Fashion Revolution, and believe that manufacturing should be done responsibly in order to look after the environment and the people involved. Fashion Revolution urges people to think about who made their clothes, how much they’re paid and what their lives are like. At MAiK, we know who makes our products and where the materials come from; we make sure to only work with manufacturers who support their local communities and source their materials responsibly. So this week we’re sharing more about our wonderful manufacturers and our ethics and encourage others to consider #whomademyclothes?
Textiles
Nina Falk of Kalopsia Collective
Our current range of textiles includes make-up bags and weekend bags which are handmade in Edinburgh by Kalopsia Collective, run by Nina Falk and Adam Robertson. Kalopsia is an ethical batch manufacturer who focus on making textile products more ethically and sustainably.
Adam Robertson of Kalopsia Collective
Kalopsia believe that simple is better and each of their product shapes are designed to be as versatile and long lasting as possible – values we can get on board with! Their collection of product shapes are ones which you can rely on year after year, improving the environmental, social and economic impact of their manufacturing and that of their clients.
Placemats and Coasters
Our placemats and coasters are manufactured in England by a two-generation family team who are committed to producing high-quality products from sustainable sourced material. All the materials for the placemats are sustainably sourced; the wooden base is made from eucalyptus and the top layer is powdered melamine (melamine is an organic compound that is food safe). The back of our placemats is made out of cork, which is hard wearing and non-slip so they will ensure to stay put! The English company pride themselves on the services they offer, which are of an exceptional standard – which is evident through their maintained ISO 9001 certification since 2004. They work hard to ensure their service is the best it possibly can be and are currently working toward their ISO 14001 certification.
Socks
Our socks are manufactured in the heartlands of France by a family-run business who have been making socks and hosiery for three generations! Thanks to their ‘savoir-faire’ (French for know-how), we’re able to offer high-quality socks made from yarn which has been sourced responsibly and ethically from an Italian company that sourced their cotton from Egypt. The company is a member of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) and put the procurement of raw materials and full traceability at the forefront of their business.
The cotton is 100% sourced at the original carried out under the ‘Cottonforlife’ initiative. After this, the fibre is then processed and dyed with environmental friendly and safe substances, which means your socks are warm, comfy and will last a long time! The company is also certified STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX - a label that guarantees the absence of harmful substances to protect your health and the environment.
Trays
Our birch serving trays are made in a small family-run factory on an island east of Sweden, who have been operating for over 30 years. Their aim is to have minimal impact on the environment, with their production processes using no water or solvents.
Each of trays is made in the traditional way by laying birch veneer and all the wood for our comes from either FSC- or PEFC-certified suppliers (from forests that are cultivated responsibly and with a long-term view).
Will you be thinking more about manufacturing this week? Make sure to use the hashtag #whomademyclothes to share.