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OUR VISION-A NOTE ON SUSTAINABILITY
Fast fashion has changed the way our clothing is made, and our barn clothes are no exception. The fashion industry generates more pollution than international flights and maritime shipping combined. That's 8-10% of global carbon emissions and 20% of wastewater. This could be dramatically reduced if we changed the way we produce our clothing. We love our horses, and this planet, and want to do our part to make it better. Now, on a rapidly warming Earth, it's more important than ever. We plan to continue to grow in a way that supports our values and respects the need for better practices in the apparel sector.
Our Strategy
Our business decisions are guided by our values. In order to meet our goals to create the most sustainable barn clothes possible, we created a plan that addresses 3 primary areas of concern: better materials, improved labor practices, and smart design to reduce harm wherever possible.
The principles of harm reduction seek to mitigate the severe environmental and human rights impacts of the industry. It can be really hard to run a sustainable fashion label, but we really try our best to make the best choices we can given our means and size, at every stage of the process.
Most riding gear today is made of virgin polyesters/nylons, which are derived from petroleum. This use of fossil fuels comes at a high environmental cost.Still, these fibers have their place, especially in breeches, which take incredible amounts of friction. That's why we chose differently: when we use these fibers we choose the recycled or regenerated options that come from items that would otherwise be discarded, like tires. This reduces our reliance on petroleum as a source of raw material, utilizes waste and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing. Plus, by using recycled materials, we can promote new recycling streams.
If we use a semi-syntheic material, we prioritize the use of closed loop semi-synthetic materials which reduce chemical waste and water pollution.
We will never greenwashyou, by using generic or confusing terms like "bamboo." (Surpise! That's usually just rayon). The world of sustainable fiber manufacturing can be confusing, and we will always tell you exactly what something is.
When a garment does not require the use of synthetic fibers for stretch or strength, we do not use them. Instead we prioritize use natural fibers such as GOTS certified cotton or wool sourced responsibly from suppliers we trust.
If you'd like to know more about fibers and their properties, please sign up for our email list, or feel free to ask us.
We continually review our choices and always strive to make the best choices possible.
We do not chase the cheapest option for production. We instead work within our budgets to find the best manufacturers we can and build long term relationships with them. Many of our production partners are smaller to medium sized business, and it is important to treat them fairly, which contributes to prosperity and stability in the communities things are made in. Manufacturing is complex and requires many human hands, and it is important to use that we approach our factory partners as active parts of our business rather than entities to extract from.
We alwaysavoid manufacturing in regions with known and documented histories of human rights abuses and seek out production partners that have known histories of compliance with audits and fair labor practices. We visit many of our production partners in order to get an accurate picture of the factory floor and those working on it.
We also engage with partners that are also actively seeking to improve their operation through integration of solar power, additional certifications, or safety upgrades.
We seek to design with circularity and longevity in mind, using the frameworks of the EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). At this time, we believe we are the first (and only, so far) equestrian focused brand to do so. This informs every decision we make regarding design - from use of a zipper versus a snap, to the percentage of a particular fiber in a garment, which can affect it's recyclability.
We prioritize use of materials that can be most easily recycled and never chase trends, making items that can be used season after season.
We also choose to produce in smaller volumes, despite higher cost. This allows us to avoid overproduction, which is a serious problem in fashion - 92 million tonnes of textiles are discarded worldwide each year, much of which is burned, put into a landfill, or exported to places in the global south with no environmental protection standards. (Source: UN Environment Programme). Smaller volumes mean less waste. As we grow, our aim is to do so in a way that continues to let us avoid the negative practices associated with overproduction.
We are actively working to develop processes for upcycling and reuse in the coming seasons. We are also thinking actively about solution management of microplastics and are excited to share our progress with you as we grow.
Of course, our products will always and forever be free of animal fur, wild animal skins, and feathers.