ImagesMagUK_December_2021

www.images-magazine.com DECEMBER 2021 images 37 From our beginning we have been re-imagining and building the future of responsible apparel manufacturing. We’re making apparel better with respect to human rights and the environment. Owning the vast majority of our supply chain gives us unique oversight into everything from safe working conditions to water treatment. We’re proud that each product is made with respect: respect for our people who make it, how we make it, and what we make it with. That’s how we’re ‘Making Apparel Better’, 30 years and counting. Gildan KB MARKET INTELLIGENCE We define sustainability as individual and collective actions that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The concept of sustainability is composed of three pillars: economic, environmental, and social – also known informally as profits, planet, and people – the triple bottom line. We believe strongly in the importance of the triple bottom line. The highest independently verified standard for environmental and social performance is from B Corp, the fast-growing social responsibility accreditation. The rigorous assessment tool is free of charge and can be undertaken without pursuing B Corp accreditation, and we urge all businesses to do it. We also urge all organisations to measure and reduce their carbon footprint and to pay the real Living Wage to colleagues, as a real start to becoming more sustainable. In a nutshell, sustainability is about being kinder to people and the planet and, interestingly, the kinder we are, the more our profits have increased! We’ve all damaged the planet and people in pursuit of profits and it’s time to redress the imbalance and make a positive change, before it’s too late. Donald Moore, One+All Sustainability has become an important topic over recent years, but it’s always been a priority for us at Beechfield Brands. We believe that being sustainable and having a lower impact on the environment starts with reducing user consumption. And that’s why purposeful design, quality sustainable fabrics, durability and longevity are really important to us. We create products that people love; that they will want to keep and use day after day, year after year. Of course, our ever-increasing use of sustainable materials is important too. In recent years we’ve introduced a number of styles in eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton and recycled polyester and we are continuing with this into 2022 with the introduction of additional eco-friendly versions of our bestselling styles, without compromise on quality or durability. As an industry, we can do a lot within our own businesses, but it’s crucial to support wider projects too. For example, our Westford Mill brand is a member of the 1% for the Planet initiative and we are also long-term supporters of the Carbon Literacy Project. Yes, sustainability is about the big, bold decisions, but it’s also a journey, one that will continue to evolve year after year. Beechfield Brands Combining sustainability with fashion is the new way forward to build a better future for our planet without compromising on style. Staying on trend and minimising our impact on the environment is important not only for us at AWDis, but also for our customers. Throughout the design and development process we ensure efficient use of natural resources and research the latest innovations in materials and productions. AWDis offers sustainable options on a variety of our brands, and we only work with certified factories to make sure we are doing what we can to help make a difference. AWDis Is using organic or recycled materials enough? Certainly the use of recycled materials and organic yarns will be of limited benefit if the garments they’re being used to make are of poor quality. We need to look beyond the label and focus on the manufacturing process and make-up of a garment to achieve true sustainability. Kustom Kit firmly believes that quality over quantity is the right approach and producing well-made, ethically sourced garments is the best way to slow down material flow and reduce overconsumption, whilst also addressing environmental changes. In the battle for sustainability, reducing garment turnover will ultimately lead to avoiding CO 2 emissions, waste output and water usage. Through our ‘Buy Less, Buy Better’ campaign, we want to show that only using quality elements in the manufacturing process can make a real difference. All aspects of our garment construction are designed to ensure longevity and value for the wearer – the exact opposite of what is typically found in throwaway fashion. Kustom Kit factories are fully accredited and all components in every garment hold Oeko-Tex certification, among other accreditations. No harmful chemicals are used at any stage of production and only quality yarn is utilised to create superior garments. Everything is ethically manufactured and tested to British standards, ensuring the quality make- up of garments that are made to last. Clare Dwyer, KustomKit