More often than not, responsibility for improving purchasing practices is left to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) teams of brands and retailers. However, this flawed approach is doomed to fail, because what is required is a joint effort between leadership teams, commercial teams, and CSR teams. Often, CSR/Sustainability teams struggle to get enough attention for the topic, align KPIs, and ensure that the company is in a position to make real and meaningful changes. This is a lost opportunity.
Implementing responsible purchasing practices not only benefits the environment and society, but it can also benefit the company's bottom line. By working closely with suppliers to improve their sustainability practices, companies can reduce the risk of negative publicity or legal consequences due to unethical practices. In addition, by implementing sustainable sourcing practices, companies can improve the resilience of their supply chains, reduce waste, and increase efficiency. Sustainable sourcing can also lead to cost savings, as suppliers with better sustainability practices tend to have lower production costs in the long run.
Today’s consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable and ethical products, and implementing responsible purchasing practices can help companies stay competitive and meet customer expectations.
It is crucial to understand that responsible purchasing is not a one-time task but requires a continuous effort to build and maintain sustainable purchasing practices.
In order to move towards responsible purchasing practices, supplier voice is critical. It is important not only when providing feedback on purchasing practices but also in designing solutions together and examining whether these solutions are having the have desired effect and impact. Involving suppliers will help organisations to gain insights into the supplier's sustainability practices and how they are managing labour rights and environmental impacts. This information can help brands and retailers to make more informed decisions regarding the best suppliers to work with, and how they can help suppliers improve their practices.
Organisations must have a real understanding of their own purchasing practices and assess these with the support of suppliers, Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) sources, and appropriate external stakeholders. The assessment should look into areas including labour rights, environmental impact, and supplier diversity. Based on the assessment, organisations should plan and execute improvements in collaboration with suppliers. This can include setting KPIs for suppliers, requiring regular reporting on sustainability practices, and providing support to help suppliers improve their practices. These steps are the essential building blocks required in order to begin the transition towards improved purchasing practices.
Moving towards responsible purchasing practices is critical to building an ethical and sustainable fashion industry. The industry has been grappling with sustainability and ethical issues for a long time, but there is hope on the horizon. With increasing awareness and demand for sustainable and ethical fashion, there is a growing momentum towards responsible purchasing practices. With the commitment and joint efforts of the leadership teams, commercial teams, and CSR teams of brands and retailers, and by working closely with suppliers, companies can make significant progress towards building a more ethical and sustainable industry. Moreover, adopting responsible purchasing practices not only benefits the environment and society but also offers cost savings and helps companies stay competitive. As the industry moves towards more responsible purchasing practices, we can look forward to a brighter future where fashion is not just a symbol of style, but also of sustainability and social responsibility.
The MSI Working Group on Responsible Purchasing Practices, which includes representatives from the ETI, Ethical Trade Norway, Fair Wear, the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (PST) and the Dutch Agreement for Sustainable Garments (AGT/NGA), has collated a summary of training that is available to companies on the topic of Responsible Purchasing Practices (RPP).
It can be downloaded here: https://tinyurl.com/5n79z7x9
]]>Have you ever given much thought to the good, fast, cheap rule?
The basis of this rule is that when looking to procure or produce a product or service, it is not possible to prioritise speed, price, and quality at the same time, and in any given scenario, only two out of three are achievable, at the expense of the third.
At THE-CØDED, we believe that we need to start thinking differently.
We have reimagined this rule for the fashion industry using the 3 Ps of People, Planet and Profit.
Now most people will likely tell you that just as with the good, fast, cheap rule, you cannot successfully prioritise all 3 and still operate a successful business. At THE-CØDED, we believe otherwise. And in fact, where businesses do prioritise all 3, that is where the real magic happens.
The secret of this model lies in our ability to carefully reimagine our definitions of both profit and of sustainability.
Let’s talk about sustainability first.
It is our experience that when talking about sustainability, including within the fashion industry, most people (and therefore organisations) focus almost exclusively on the environmental aspects. This means that PEOPLE are not equally considered in the equation.
When it comes to profit, the traditional definition is usually monetary, and business basics 101 teaches that companies are setup and operated with a view to maximising returns to shareholders.
We need to rethink this definition. Can profit also be calculated in other ways? Can profit be about measuring the social good which an organisation does, or about how it does something that can benefit PEOPLE as well as the planet and its shareholders?
Don’t get us wrong. There are many organisations out there with good intentions who are trying to do the right thing. The problem is that the way that most companies are set up does not allow them a great degree of flexibility in the way that they operate.
At THE-CØDED, we believe that true sustainability cannot (and will not) happen without simultaneously focusing on human-sustainability alongside the environmental. It is for this reason that we are putting PEOPLE in fashion first.
The central premise of THE-CØDED has always been to use our various platforms to become a mouthpiece for great factories, and to celebrate the amazing and talented people who work there, and to ensure their fair and equitable participation in the fashion industry supply chain. We want to tell their stories and share these with the world.
Our ambition is to empower the fashion industry to move progressively towards a more sustainable future. We are doing this by engaging with industry role players to define the moral compass for stakeholders throughout the supply chain, and to guide more sustainable choices and define what is truly sustainable.
Will you Join Us?
]]>Being transparent as a fashion brand is important because it creates trust between consumer and company, and allows customers to feel more engaged with the brand. At THE-CØDED, we believe that being transparent about where our clothes come from, how they're made, and who makes them, allows our customers to make more ethical and sustainable choices when shopping online.
So what do we mean when we talk about transparent fashion, and how can fashion brands adopt a transparent business model for success?
You may have heard of the term 'transparency' before, whether it was from a THE-CØDED blog post or through a Transparency Index Score report. But when we talk about transparent fashion, we don't mean see-through dresses and shirts!
No, transparency in fashion is about being open with your customers, letting them know exactly how your products are made, where they come from, and the impact they have on the environment and the people who make them.
Here at THE-CØDED, it’s easy to find out our stance on sustainable clothing and where our clothes are made. We believe in transparency and working towards giving back to the communities where our factory partner are located.
To be transparent, fashion brands should be clear with their customers about the following:
Being transparent about your supply chain includes being open about who makes your clothes and what materials you're using to manufacture them. There's a growing community of eco-conscious shoppers who want to know exactly where their clothes come from and the impact they can have on the environment. By providing your customers with this information, you can help them make more informed decisions about their shopping habits, building trust between them and your brand.
At THE-CØDED, we've built strong relationships with all of our manufacturers, allowing them to connect directly to their customers who buy their products and designs. As a result, we've created a community and supply chain that is truly transparent.
This is definitely an area that the whole fashion industry needs to improve in. Many fashion companies still struggle to be more transparent about their policies, with many practises of fashion brands remaining concealed - especially when it comes to disclosing information on workers in the supply chain and on the environment.
When it comes to transparent fashion platforms, start by being honest about your brand's policies, which can include things such as your environmental stance and the amount your factory partners pay their workers, suppliers and partners. Here at THE-CØDED, all of our factory partners’ workers are paid a fair, living wage for producing the clothing you see on our website. We also believe in quality over quantity, encouraging all of our customers to make more sustainable choices when it comes to shopping.
Having credible partners with strong CSR (corporate social responsibility) commitments makes it easy to be transparent as a company. Working with like-minded manufacturers and suppliers, who have the same stance on things like ethical practises and sustainability, is important if you want to make a real positive impact on the fashion industry.
Here at THE-CØDED, we only partner with manufacturers who have ethical practises at the forefront of their work. This can be seen in the very concept of our business through the cøde system we have with all of our factories. Many of them support local communities and charities, and/or instil policies that are focused on protecting the environment. Take 010 for example, who are working with local firefighters in their area to help supply first aid within their community!
The transparent manner in which all of our manufacturers operate has seen these relationships flourish, whilst also enabling us to showcase the process of where our clothes are coming from.
Learn more about our brand's transparency, including the factories we work with, and join us on our journey for ethical and sustainable fashion. Shop our ethically-made womenswear and menswear collections for pieces you will wear over and over again.
As a transparent shopping platform, we can also connect you as a fashion brand to our supply chain. Get in touch for more information.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram for all the latest news and updates.
]]>To help you feel more in control and make a real difference through your buying habits, we’ve put together a few things you should look out for when trying to shop ethically online.
Finding out what clothing brands actually stand for and having clear brand values is the first step to shopping ethically. Choose issues that you personally care about, and that way you’ll feel good about shopping with a brand that holds the same values as you. If you care about fair wages for workers or plastic pollution, for example, you could contact the brand directly and challenge them if they haven’t made it clear on where they stand on the issue.
At THE-CØDED, we have a clear set of values when it comes to shopping ethically online. We work closely with manufacturing partners who ensure that their workers receive a fair living wage. We believe that this is the new way. Whatever the conditions, our objective is to ensure a long-term, fairer, and more sustainable future for fashion manufacturers and their great people worldwide.
When you buy directly from the manufacturer, you can be confident they’re receiving a fair share of the profits. However, it’s not always easy to buy stylish fashion straight from the manufacturer these days.
At THE-CØDED, we’re here to change that. By shaking things up a little, for the first time ever, manufacturers can offer their own garments and designs directly to the customer on our website. Anyone, anywhere can also find out exactly where their clothes have come from, and who has made them.
Our aim is to offer a completely transparent shopping experience. Just look out for manufacturer cødes and bios next to every product and collection on our website.
Invest in pieces that will stay in your wardrobe forever, not just a season. If you only buy clothes when they are really necessary and spend your money on higher-quality products, you can reduce your carbon footprint, stretch your budget, and support the causes you care about.
We all need new clothes from time to time. If you do, make sure that what you purchase is long-lasting and made from environmentally-friendly materials wherever possible. Polyester has nearly twice the carbon footprint of cotton, so buy natural and organic when you can. We encourage our factory partners to try to use natural materials as much as possible in the ethical clothing lines they produce.
Read more about THE-CØDED’s story and why our innovative new way of online shopping is the right step into a more ethical fashion future. You can find out how our factories work and, if you’re a manufacturer interested in working with us, we’d love to hear from you. No labels, just a cøde and a unique story behind each piece.
To get started, browse our ethically-made womenswear and menswear collections.
]]>Machine washable garments made of 100 percent cotton should be laundered every two to three wears, based on how soiled the item becomes. Check the care labels on your clothes before placing them in the washer
While cotton is washable, some clothing , such as linings and interfacings in tailored coats and blazers, may feature non-washable materials that provide structural support. Other cotton garments may be sensitive and require the delicate cycle or hand washing. So, if you come across a tag that reads "dry clean only," pay attention and follow the directions.
Dry cleaning is a good alternative if you have dark cotton jeans or blazers that you don't want to fade. A skilled cleaner will know how to properly care for the fabric. You can also use a home dry cleaning kit to refresh and protect dark-coloured cotton.
When cleaned, some cotton textiles wrinkle excessively or form curled hem edges, meaning you might need to iron them. Always iron cotton fabric on the inside with a medium-hot iron. Use a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric for added protection. Cellulosic fibres can be scorched by ironing at extremely high temperatures. As the fibres begin to burn, they sear or turn yellow.
Spray with laundry starch or sizing while ironing for a crisp finish. Liquid starch is required for stiff laundry-starched garments. To effectively remove wrinkling, use a clothes steamer or hang cotton items in a steamy bathroom. This will not result in a precise finish, but it will eliminate large creases.
To avoid permanent damage, treat stains on cotton items as soon as possible, just as you would any other type of fabric. For optimal results, follow the stain remover's directions and let the cotton item sit for at least 10 minutes before washing.
Avoid using chlorine bleach that hasn't been diluted because it might weaken fibres and create holes in cotton fabrics. For stain removal and whitening, a dilute solution can be used safely on cotton or cellulosic fabrics. Always read and follow the guidelines on the bleach label. If applied too regularly to whiten clothing, even dilute solutions will weaken cotton fibres, causing them to rip and wear out.
An oxygen-based bleach is a better option for lightening and brightening white and coloured cotton materials. Because oxygen bleaches take longer to work than chlorine bleaches, soaking the clothes for at least one hour will yield the best results. Always read the product labels and stick to the instructions.
Our innovative online shopping experience allows you the consumer to find out exactly where your clothes are made, and by whom. We work with various manufacturers that specialise in cotton clothing. Many of these manufacturers produce the same quality clothing for designer brands, only without the labels for THE-CØDED.
Shop our menswear and womenswear collections to find ethical cotton clothing which you can wear from season to season.
If you have any questions about our cotton clothing or how to care for certain items, please get in touch.]]>As soon as you notice a new stain on your coat, spot clean it right away. The longer you wait to remove a stain, the more difficult it will become to remove.
You shouldn't have to clean your coat until the end of the season if you don't have any stains to deal with. Overcoats will stay much cleaner for longer because they don’t often come into direct contact with your skin. However, if your wool coat has an odour or appears to be unclean, make sure you wash it.
The safest way to clean a wool coat is to wash it by hand and follow these simple steps:
Wool coats come in a variety of consistencies and colours, but even the best quality wool jackets can eventually see some wear and tear. Dirt, fabric friction, and poor storage methods all contribute to the appearance of a dull wool coat. Making your wool coat appear brand new again necessitates a combination of home treatments and professional processes, but it is unquestionably less expensive than purchasing a new coat.
Using a suede brush, restore the smoothness of your wool coat. The woollen strands cluster together when your wool jacket ages, giving it a segmented appearance. After removing the lint and pills, gently brushing your jacket with a suede brush regenerates the fibres, giving your coat the smooth appearance of a new wool jacket.
Unlike a wool coat, it’s possible to machine wash a wool jumper without causing any damage to the fibres - but do be careful.
Here are three helpful tips to ensure you get the best out of your wool garments and don’t risk causing any damage to the incredibly delicate material. By following this advice, and looking after your wool clothes like the garments from our 019 collection, your clothes should last a lifetime and you’ll be part of the sustainable fashion movement!
If you opt to hand wash your woollen garments, make sure not to soak them because this will damage the wool. Alternatively, if you wash your wool clothing in the machine, hang them up as soon as they are done so they don't become damp in the machine.
You can hang your woollen garments to dry on a laundry line or a drying rack. While it may be tempting to wring out all of the water initially, this may wear the wool out prematurely and put stress on the seams.
Wool has the amazing capacity to clean itself. Grease and dirt have a hard time sticking to natural wool fibres, therefore you don't have to wash woollen clothing very often. If your wool items begin to smell, hang them outside to air it out completely before washing - you might find this resolves the issue alone.
We pride ourselves on offering ethical fashion that will last a lifetime - and being openly transparent about where every single garment is made. You can find out more about this by reading all about how the codes work.
We’re really proud of our wool jackets and coats collection by 019. They are based in Romania and specialise in wool coats and jackets. They're a family business which has been handed down over two generations. We think you’ll really love the quality and style of their products as much as we do!
Don’t forget to check out our entire womenswear and menswear collections for clothes that will last a lifetime.
If you’re an established fashion brand or are in the process of creating one, there’s a good chance you’re considering what positive impact you can make on the industry. We’re here to offer advice for how to add ethical elements to your business model.
The first question you should be asking yourself is who is your customer? Create a spreadsheet on who your customer is to define their demographics. Take into account the following:
Once this information has been collated, use it to inform your business choices and values. A lot of consumers are moving away from the fast fashion movement due to its impact on people and the environment, so you can focus on unique, expertly crafted pieces which will last a lot longer than most fast fashion garments and can be reworn again and again. If you find that your customer is concerned about the cost of ethically sourced fashion, you can reiterate to them that a garment purchased from your brand may be more expensive than the high street, but in the long term, they will be saving money by re-wearing items.
You should work with a factory that is eager to answer enquiries and be completely honest about its production methods. This could be a red flag if they can't offer you a clear answer about how their people are treated and their production managed. The facility that provides sampling, pattern making, cut and sew services, knitting services, and, in some situations, design consulting, will be your manufacturer. You'll want to make sure the manufacturing facility you're working with follows all safety regulations, implements ethical manufacturing practices, and pays their employees a decent and fair living wage.
At THE-CØDED, we are fully transparent about where our clothes come from and how they are made, and we offer this information to our consumers. By doing so, our consumers are making an informed choice about where they are purchasing their fashion from, and contributing to the ethical fashion movement. A fashion brand will benefit from displaying information about how the garments are made and who by, as it gives the customer a personal insight into your brand values. Make sure to dedicate a page on your website to explaining the values behind your brand, and most importantly, where your clothes are coming from.
You need to get the materials right, as this will define whether consumers will want to buy your product. Does it look and feel well-made? It's vital to be meticulous while looking for the perfect textiles to construct your products. Examine certificates, authenticity, and quality. How does it drape, and is it comfortable to the touch? In 5 years, how will the cloth hold up? You might choose to use organic materials, such as organic cotton, linen, hemp and soya fabrics, to name a few. By using these materials and promoting it as part of your brand values, you’ll be taken seriously as a sustainable brand. Organic clothing is produced safely and without chemicals, which makes it eco-friendly and is a huge selling-point in the ethical fashion movement.
The garment itself is what your customer will be buying. By getting the materials and the branding right, your business will benefit from being a reputable brand for years to come.
The most important thing you can do to support factories is to ensure they are getting a fair price from the profit you make from the garments they produce for you. This should be discussed directly with factories before any manufacturing processes take place. Communication is key. Make sure you are offering your factory support and address any issues that they may have. Our ethos is to always put our factories first.
At THE CØDED, we partner with a large number of factories. We can connect your brand to talented partners, who hold values similar to your own, and who work in a way that you will find easy to collaborate with. You can find out more about our directory here. Work with us and join the ethical fashion revolution. Contact us through our online form for any other queries.
We invite you to read our story and learn what we want to do, and why we want to do it. We hope you’ll be joining us on our journey.
In recent years, there have been calls to raise the ethical standards of the fashion industry as a whole. As consumer demand has grown, so too has the popularity of the fast fashion trend. Affordable clothing produced in high volumes provides convenience to the consumer, but in most cases, it has a negative impact on factory workers, animals and the environment. This is a global phenomenon .
Research from the World Health Organization shows the average life expectancy of those in low-income countries is around 62 years of age, whereas in high-income countries, the average life expectancy sits at around 81 years of age. What’s more, the richest 1% of the global population owns 45% of all the wealth in the world, while many others receive less than the living wage. As a result, they find it difficult to improve the living and working conditions for themselves, their families and their communities. THE-CØDED wants to change this.
The ethical fashion movement also strives for sustainability, which means prioritising environmentally-friendly practices throughout production, and making a product that has a lower impact on the environment. Clothing is made from eco-friendly materials, such as organic cottons, which are safer for people and the environment. Where possible, garments are produced using natural energy sources, which avoid air and noise pollution.
Here at THE-CØDED, we want to showcase the amazing skills of factory workers around the world - the people who make your clothes. Every item you see on our website has been designed and manufactured by talented factory teams, the same teams who make garments for well-known designer andfashion brands. It is our goal to ensure these manufacturers receive their fair share of the profits, to reflect the time, effort and pride that they put into producing these clothes for you. We hope that our vision can contribute to improving the living conditions of these workers and their communities in time.
Many of the manufacturers we are working with have been known to work with several popular fashion brands They account for a proportion of the people involved with creating the clothes seen on the high street, online, and on the catwalk. We want to celebrate the people responsible for creating the garments you love to wear.
That’s why we have assigned a cøde to each one of our partners, as well as publishing a detailed biography for each of the factories we work with. This is our way of focusing on the people who make our clothes, the skills they possess, and the values they apply to their manufacturing processes.
We fully embrace the ethical fashion movement and we want to take it further than ever before. Our factory partners are at the heart of our mission. We listen, we trust and we talk. We have more information about how THE-CØDED works, should you wish to read more about our collaboration with factories worldwide.
To keep up to date with our latest factory collections and company news, make sure to follow us on Instagram @the.coded. Alternatively, sign up to our newsletter for announcements and exclusive offers.
Looking for clothes made from quality materials is a good starting point, but as a buyer, there’s also a responsibility to care for these clothing materials.
To get started, read our guide on how to care for the most common clothing materials, from cotton and linen to leather and wool.
Cotton is the world's most extensively used natural fabric. As there are so many different types of cotton, you should always refer to the care label before washing. Caring for cotton is simple if you take a little bit of extra time in your washing routines. As cotton is prone to shrinking, try these simple steps to keep your clothes looking as good as new for longer:
If you follow the above, cotton clothes often won’t need ironing. However, if you feel like ironing is necessary then you should refer to the care label to find out what temperature should be used on the garment. Try to iron just using the steam setting, or when your clothes are still slightly damp - this should reduce the possibility of any heat damage.
Caring for leather clothes can be slightly trickier - it’s less about cleaning and more about preserving and storing correctly. Check your garment's care label to see what kind of leather it's made from, what finishes it has, and how the manufacturer suggests you wash it.
There are many sorts of leather cleaners for different types of leather, so be sure to use the right one. To make sure they're safe to use, run a patch test in a discreet spot (usually on the inside of the garment) and wait a few hours. Even though shoe polish is designed for leather shoes, never use it on leather apparel. If your leather garment gets wet, allow it to dry naturally and never in direct sunlight. Never dry your leather garments on a radiator or in front of a heater or fire.
The best way to keep leather clean is to take it to a reputable and specialist cleaner, who will likely be experts in removing any stains without causing damage to the leather. Otherwise, you can wipe leather clean with a damp cloth, and store in a cool, dry and well ventilated area, preferably on a padded hanger. At THE-CØDED, we provide detailed care and washing instructions with all the leather garments that we sell.
After each wash, linen becomes softer and more absorbent, which is an ideal perk. Linen should be washed at low temperatures in lukewarm or cold water. To maintain the fibres, use the gentle machine cycle and a moderate detergent. To be sure, always read the specific manufacturer's care recommendations. You can tumble dry linen garments on low temperatures, but make sure to remove them when the garments are still slightly damp so the material doesn’t become stiff. Hang up in a well ventilated area until fully dry.
Wool garments are another difficult material to care for, as machine washing can often damage the fragile material. Wool coats and jackets should be brushed and put on a curved or padded hanger to air out after washing. We always recommend that wool coats and jackets are professionally dry cleaned where possible.
Other wool clothing can usually be hand washed in lukewarm water with a light soap or detergent. However, read the care labels before washing to see if there are any warnings about non-washable trimmings or blended fabrics. Wool clothing should be stored folded and flat, or for larger garments, hang them on a padded hanger in a dark wardrobe to prevent colour from fading.
At THE-CØDED, we’re on a mission to source ethical materials of the highest standards, so that you can re-wear our pieces over and over again. Many of the items you see on our platform are made using natural fibres where possible.
You’ll also notice that we have no labels, just a cøde, meaning you can buy directly from our talented manufacturers and follow the journey of your garment. Browse our menswear and womenswear for all the latest trends in ethical fashion, and keep an eye out on our new arrivals for our newest collaborations.
Read more about THE-CØDED values and how it works, to find out more about our ethical fashion mission.]]>The black leather jacket is a wardrobe must-have. It adds the perfect finishing touch to any ensemble. It is adaptable and suitable for every season, whether it is a bomber jacket or a blazer. In the colder months, layer a leather jacket over a sweater or sweatshirt; in the warmer months, a floral dress with a rocky edge or a pair of jeans would work. When it comes to styling a black leather jacket, the possibilities are infinite; it's a staple for a reason!
The leather skirt, a once-popular texture among punk subcultures in the 1970s, reappears every autumn-winter. The leather skirt is the adaptable essential you need if you're looking for a style classic to revolve your day-to-night looks around. Intended to be worn with a feeling of empowerment and defiance, a black leather skirt is the place to start.
The leather mini has the ability to transform a thick knit or a simple turtleneck into an eye-catching ensemble in an instant. A leather mini skirt is one of those essential pieces that fashion editors can't get enough of, either worn bare-legged or with on-trend patterned tights.
Going all out for leather isn't restricted to black; in fact, leather skirts in a variety of earth tones are a terrific way to freshen up work wardrobes while returning to the workplace.
Because they can be easily layered, leather shorts with a looser shape are ideal for cooler weather. For added warmth, wear a pair of tights underneath. If you want to tuck in a bulky knit sweater, there's also extra room.
Leather shorts can be styled during the day or in the evening, but wearing them without some tights or long socks will be more difficult as autumn approaches. With a shacket or faux fur coat and heeled ankle boots, you can go take this simplistic look to the next level in your shorts. Because shorts draw attention to your legs, it's preferable to choose baggy or light tops that aren't too form-fitting.
Our latest leather collection, thoughtfully crafted by cøde 018, is a showcase of everything leather has to offer. Classic biker jackets for men and women are not the only style must-haves on offer. As well as leather skirts and shorts, 018’s products boast beautifully made suede overcoats and suede jackets.
In theory, it's a catch-all phrase for clothes that are made and used in such a way that they may be literally sustained while also safeguarding the environment and people who make them. As a result, lowering CO2 emissions, addressing overproduction, minimising pollution and waste, promoting biodiversity, and ensuring that garment workers are paid a fair and living wage, and work in safe circumstances are all critical components of the sustainability matrix.
Here are a few tips from THE-CØDED on how to shop sustainably:
Knowing where to begin – and, more importantly, where to shop – is one of the most difficult aspects of shopping sustainably. It's thankfully much easier than it used to be, given there are now so many brands who operate with a sustainable shopping model. When researching whether a brand is sustainable, a basic rule to follow is that if it's pretty difficult to find out their stance, they're probably not as eco-conscious as they appear.
Here at THE-CØDED, it’s easy to find out our stance on sustainable clothing and where our clothes are made. We believe in transparency and giving back to the communities where our factories are located.
Only purchase products that you know will serve you well all year, and spend the majority of your money on items that will last more than one season. Garments like denim jeans, shackets, overcoats and t-shirts will make for a much more sustainable wardrobe. It makes sense that you shouldn’t go overboard when buying clothes for a summer wardrobe if you live in a cooler climate such as the UK.
Most sustainable brands and influencers will encourage the 30 wear rule, which quite simply means before you buy something, ask yourself if you think you’d wear the garment at least 30 times. If the answer is no, don’t buy it.
Try to avoid buying that statement piece you know you'll just wear once and instead invest in something with more sustainability that you'll be able to wear again and again. Choose more versatile pieces that may be worn in a variety of ways rather than that one outfit that you know will be out of style in no time.
At THE-CØDED, all of our clothing is designer-quality - meaning it will last you a lifetime.
Purchasing higher-quality, longer-lasting items will almost certainly cost more than purchasing a low-priced high-street item that fails to meet your needs. Although, we believe that it's all about shifting your perspective. Yes, it is more expensive, but you will likely keep it for longer and replace less per season. Purchasing a few high-quality things each year, rather than a large number of cheaper, less environmentally friendly items, will significantly minimise your carbon footprint (and could even save you money in the long-run).
While we’re not perfect, we’re taking great leaps to ensure sustainability is at the forefront of our business. We operate a fully transparent business model, with ethical practices and sustainability at the heart of what we do.
Our mission from the start was to provide transparency to the consumer, so that you can find out exactly where your clothes are made, using what materials, and by whom. All of our workers are paid a fair, living wage for producing the clothing you see on our website, which is identified by a unique cøde.
You can learn more about our story, including the factories we work with, and join us on our journey for ethical and sustainable fashion. Shop our ethically-made womenswear and menswear collections for sustainable pieces you will wear over and over again.
]]>When it comes to sustainability, Black Friday is a divisive subject, and this year is no exception. Many brands feel compelled to use intense discounting and marketing at this time of year, encouraging panicked hyper-consumption, with many people purchasing products they don't need all for a bargain, resulting in massive amounts of waste as goods are returned and contributing to a disposable culture.
As online orders of clothing and shoes often have a return rate of 30-40% and many major retailers send returned products straight to landfill or burning, this type of spending does come with a few issues.
Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to shop more sustainably this Black Friday.
Look for deals from shops and companies that are attempting to reduce their environmental effect. This may be a company that is minimising its usage of plastic packaging or one that gets ethically sourced materials responsibly for its products - like us!
Make no more than one purchase from a single retailer. Instead, fill your cart and place a single larger order to ensure that all of your things are delivered at the same time. If possible, select the delivery option that has everything delivered at once; this may add a day to the delivery time, but it will help limit the number of delivery vans on the road.
Always read the labels or materials of the products, whether you're building a list of things you want to buy this Black Friday or just browsing online. You may keep the products you buy for the next few years, but how long they'll be around once you've used them may have an influence on your purchasing decisions.
Clothing that is made to last a lifetime really can make all the difference. You’ll need to make fewer purchases and you’ll have a real statement piece for the long-run. That’s why all of our clothing is made to designer-quality standards.
Make the most of Black Friday. It is possible that reusable and sustainable products will cost a bit more, so keep a look out this year for those eco-friendly items you've been searching for. Look for discounts at stores that are attempting to improve their eco-friendliness whenever possible. Finally, if saving a few pounds means you can go more sustainable this year instead of single-use, why not?
Here at THE-CØDED, our garments are made with ethically sourced materials where possible, with the end goal of producing high quality clothes that will last a lifetime. This in turn reduces the need for excess consumption and our customers own garments they can wear over and over again all year round.
Often referred to as ‘social good’, try researching some brands that are giving something back to their local communities. We're talking about firms or organisations that prioritise people and the environment over profit in the field of sustainable living. A social enterprise's mindset is less about making money first and foremost. Instead, they donate a portion or all of their earnings to help communities or the environment. We can support causes that align with our beliefs while also making the world a better place by purchasing from brands with a powerful social mission. You can make a difference and embrace the change you want to see in the world by voting with your purchase.
We choose to pay all our talented factory workers and employees globally a fair living wage, as we know this will make a difference to their communities and families at home. For example, a factory we work with defined by cøde 020 based in Portugal, are the cofounders of an organisation campaigning against poverty and social exclusion and support a number of initiatives which educate children about the environment.
We’ve joined the ethical fashion movement for a brighter future for the industry, the environment and for people. The fast fashion industry has a detrimental impact on all three of the above, especially around Black Friday and the festive season - but you can make a difference this year.
Overconsumption and the 'wear once, throw away' mentality encouraged by fast fashion brands are two major problems in the fashion business. According to the Fair Fashion Project, 80% of Black Friday buys are thrown away after zero or one use.
We won’t produce garments that are meant just for the season, we won’t produce anything that can be thrown away, and we’re proud to be able to promote our clothes with a longevity promise. Look out for our Black Friday sale with a difference (starting 19/11/2021) by signing up to our mailing list.
In the meantime. you can browse all of our ethically made collections.
With the continued rise in internet shopping, it’s clear that fast fashion brands like Missguided, PrettyLittleThing and ASOS are still seeing stock flying off their “shelves”. In 2020, Channel 4 gave us an insight into the inner workings of fast-fashion with the documentary; Inside Missguided: Made in Manchester. They boast about being ‘rapid fashion’, as opposed to ‘fast fashion’ and can sometimes be seen to produce up to 1000 new products each week.
Years ago, fashion trends were a lot simpler. Manifesting themselves as four trends per year, based on the seasons. In the late 1990s and 2000s, low-cost fashion reached its peak; nowadays, trends are almost as throwaway as the items of clothing that encompass them, introducing sometimes more than two or three in a single month.
Fast fashion is the concept of following trends that are often created based on the fashion choices of celebrities, Instagram influencers, and the like. Typical fast fashion brands work to beat their competitors to re-brand, and redesign these styles - creating something affordable for the clothing market. In our fast-paced and throwaway society, fast fashion has an enormous negative environmental footprint. Fast fashion also has severe negative social impacts on the garment workers who make these clothes. In recent years, both individuals and companies have started looking to create better and more sustainable and ethical alternatives to fast fashion.
Clothing manufacturing can consume a lot of energy and resources, and it often relies on harmful fabric dyes and other chemicals that, when untreated, can pollute fresh water. Now, imagine this in a fast, and large-scale production.
Unfortunately, many of the negative consequences of the fast fashion industry are not directly felt in the Western world and by consumers who buy these clothes. But if we examine the chain of this industry a little more closely, the real damage soon becomes evident. Often, hardly worn and unwanted clothing ends up in third world countries; the Kantamanto market in Ghana is a prime example of this type of importing from the UK. The market is a second-hand hub for disused clothing and western cast-offs. Whilst you could argue that this has the positive impact of creating thousands of jobs, there is no guarantee of a profit and many of the workers suffer permanent injury from this laborious and often dangerous work.
Another downside is that a large majority of the clothing imported is unwearable, and ends up in landfill, strewn across beaches and nestled within slums - polluting the oceans and being burnt, releasing toxins into the atmosphere. Accra, in Ghana reports 160 tonnes of waste fabric being disposed of every single day, on top of this, synthetic textiles can take hundreds of years to decompose.
The responsibility lies not only within the fashion brands (which typically overproduce by 40%) but also with us as responsible and caring individuals. It helps to not only be more conscientious when choosing the clothes that we are buying, but also, the quality of the items we are donating.
With this in mind, in July 2021, Primark reported that Q3 sales were up 207% year-on-year. Which begs the question whether the majority of society would even consider dropping fast fashion? It’s affordable, convenient and, with the right market research, on-trend. Like most crises’, we are depending on a wholesale system change, and not solely on individual change.
As awareness builds around the toxicity of the fast fashion industry, there are a number of brands promoting sustainable resources and more ethical means of production. Online selling sites such as Depop and Vinted have become all the rage in recent years, seeing people opt for secondhand clothing from individual sellers, as an alternative to buying new garments from larger fashion brands.
Although it is impossible to predict how fast fashion will evolve in the future, sales in high street stores have surged since their reopening.
Surprisingly, online shopping can often be more sustainable than getting your garments in bricks and mortar stores, and brands like THE-CØDED are promoting an online ethical fashion platform, allowing buyers to see exactly, how and where their clothes are made, and by whom. We work closely with factories, to promote sustainability, transparency and ethical production and consumption.
At THE-CØDED, we only work with quality manufacturers who have ethical practices at the heart of their business. This means that when customers shop at the-coded.com, they can be confident that the clothing they are buying is made to last for years to come. Where possible, we encourage our partners to use natural materials in the clothing they produce - such as wool, cotton and leather.
We have worked with and created partnerships with skilled manufacturers all around the world over the years, many of whom produce garments and accessories for international brands and retailers. Our vision ensures that manufacturers receive a fair share of the profits, whilst promoting livable working conditions, fair wages and tackling the current stigma surrounding the fast fashion industry. You can find out more about our partners here.
Work with us and join the ethical fashion revolution. Contact us through our online form for any other queries.
We invite you to read our story and learn what we want to do, and why we want to do it. We hope you’ll be joining us on our journey.
]]>A living wage is different from the National Minimum Wage, which is the hourly wage that employees in the UK are entitled to. However, it’s important to note that a real living wage differs between countries due to varying standards of living, so many of our manufacturing partners adopt their own national living wage requirements. This means their employees are paid a fair wage that allows them to live comfortably.
The amount of income you need each month to be able to say you're living comfortably varies depending on where you live. In more costly places, such as London, a higher income is required to live comfortably. Keep in mind, however, that this quantity is entirely dependent on your personal expectations. Everyone is different, and therefore defining what it means to live a comfortable life can be challenging. However, we’re trying to bridge that gap by defining a real living wage with each of our partners.
We believe that everyone who works in the garment industry should be paid a real living wage. If enough businesses do this, governments worldwide will begin to understand that raising the minimum wage to a living wage level would not result in a loss of business, as employee turnover would improve dramatically.
For example, we work with a factory in India defined by cøde 018. We chose to work with this manufacturer because they pay a living wage to their workforce. In 2018, the living wage in India increased to 10300 INR (Indian rupee), from 10100 INR the previous year. The cost of living in India is significantly lower than that of the UK, but rest assured, the salaries paid by our factories allow their workers to live comfortably and care for their families.
We will only ever work with factories who pay their workers a living wage, which is what they deserve for producing high-quality and ethical clothing. We believe an ethical fashion movement starts with the workers - without them, THE-CØDED’s mission would not be possible.
To find out more about our innovative ethical fashion shopping platform, you can read about our story and how it works. We define our clothes using a single code, meaning you can find out exactly where your clothes are made and by whom. Shop our ethically made womenswear and menswear collections to learn more about each partner and the story behind their cøde.
Are you a living wage employer in the fashion and textiles manufacturing industry? We’d love to hear from you! We’re constantly looking for new partners to work with that align with our values. Get in touch!
]]>The process of garment manufacturing differs from country to country. When it comes to preserving human rights, some countries are not as good as others. Indonesia, for example, has a number of distinct advantages over other garment-producing countries. Their working conditions are better than most, their hours are appropriate, and they have the opportunity to spend time with their families at night.
Sometimes, producing garments locally just isn’t an option. It could be that resources are unavailable in your home country, perhaps due to the high expense of labour or the increasing cost of importing raw materials. In certain circumstances, it may be more environmentally friendly to manufacture items offshore. The cost of labour in Europe and other developed continents is generally too expensive for most fashion brands to make profit, which is why overseas production is usually the only option. However, it is possible to work with overseas manufacturers and pay them a fair wage.
The ethics of overseas garment manufacturing is complicated, as many consumers have a misconception that all manufacturers are operating ‘sweatshop’ conditions. While it’s important to be educated about where your clothes are made, we at THE-CØDED know first hand that many overseas manufacturers offer only the highest-quality working conditions for their employees. Choosing the right manufacturer is key.
Many factory workers will all come from the same communities and villages. Garment work is predominantly done by women who travel to and from work together, they usually work between 8-12 hour shifts and use their wages to purchase food for evening meals on their way home. Many follow a strict religious routine and will go to a place of worship before and after work, making their days extremely long. Workers use their water breaks and lunch breaks to catch up with friends and family and have a well earned rest, but this isn’t always the case in every factory.
At THE-CØDED, we put our factories first, and our people at the forefront of our mission. We value our garment manufacturer partners above anything else, and our ethical fashion movement strives to bring their carefully crafted goods straight to the consumer. Factory workers get a fair price for their garments, and can be proud of the unique pieces of clothing they are producing. Factories won’t be working for us, they’ll be working with us.
Factory workers’ rights are often extremely limited or even non-existent, which can be deemed acceptable by some fashion company leaders. We want change. We want transparency. We commit to supporting these factories, but we need customers to push for change too.
Factories often don’t receive their fair share of the profits made from the sale of the garments they produce, which impacts overall working conditions. Without their fair share of the profits, factories and the communities they are part of find it difficult to improve their living standards and working conditions.
In textile production sites, some employees are subjected to dangerous working conditions that can have a serious impact on their health. Employees often work in dangerous structures with little ventilation, breathing in harmful compounds and inhaling fibre dust or blasting sand.
Garment workers are frequently required to work long hours to satisfy deadlines required by fashion brand's. Their basic pay is often so low that they are unable to refuse overtime, which isn't always guaranteed. With more time spent at work, these people have less time with their families, and these communities as a whole are in need of support.
Child labour is particularly frequent in the fashion industry. In India, for example, 250,000 young girls are employed under the Sumangali scheme, which sends young girls from low-income families to work in a textile factory for three or five years in exchange for a minimal wage and an allowance. This has been frequently broadcast in the media, but the trend only seems to grow year on year, which is why THE CØDED is joining the ethical fashion movement to contribute to improving these important issues.
Many brands do not pay enough to factories to cover the minimum legal wage for their workers. The minimum pay in most manufacturing countries (China, Bangladesh, India, etc.) is half to a fifth of the living wage. A liveable wage is the bare minimum required by a family to meet its fundamental necessities (food, rent, healthcare, education.) It is part of our mission to ensure that factories receive an equitable share of the profits made from their clothing collections and pave the way towards a more ethical and transparent future.
We invite you, the modern consumer, to join us on our journey of ethical fashion revolution. Where possible, our collections will be organic, recyclable and made from stock materials. Unique pieces deserve to be celebrated, and we therefore celebrate the designers and factory workers by paying them a fair wage. Our fashion is not throwaway, and it should be worn for decades to come. Ethical fashion doesn’t have to be a chore. Small and simple changes can help to change the industry standards.
If you can’t see yourself wearing an item of clothing more than 30 times, don’t buy it.
Investigate the brands you usually buy from, and consider if they are being transparent. Contact them and let them know what you expect as a conscious consumer. Invest in trans-seasonal clothing, and wear your items all year round. A changed mindset is a changed fashion industry.
Ready to join the revolution? Read our story and find out what we’re doing to support our factories. Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter for regular updates and exclusive offers.
]]>For decades, this effortlessly sleek style essential has been used to enhance an entire outfit. Layering has been used for years by men and women with a wide range of style preferences included. Although it's a tried-and-tested solution to wardrobe dilemmas, there are some things to bear in mind when it comes to layering.
Avoid too many layers - while it may feel cold outside, you’re likely to experience huge changes in temperature when moving from the outdoors in, so bear this in mind when selecting your layering choices.
The beautiful thing about layering is that it allows you to play around with colours a lot. We’d recommend sticking to neutral or block colours for this trend, as they’re a lot easier on the eye and won’t clash. Our 006 collection has the trendiest of garments to experiment and have fun with layering, from knitted vests to camis that are set to be the ultimate go-to autumn outfit of 2021.
This season, it's time to welcome the shacket into your wardrobe. A shacket (or overshirt), for those unfamiliar with the name, is a slightly oversized shirt-jacket combination that's now trending all over the fashion scene. Our distinctive wool blend and leather shackets are thicker than a regular shirt but lighter than a heavy winter coat, allowing you to wear them over a turtleneck in autumn, and beneath a coat in the colder winter months. When spring approaches, you can easily slip it on top of an oversized tee. It’s versatile and trendy.
We'd recommend our 009 unisex overshirt, available in stone or rust, and our women's suede overshirt in sand or baby pink, manufactured by 018
That’s right, leather jackets are here to stay! A leather jacket is a true wardrobe staple. It adds the perfect finishing touch to any look. They’re easily adaptable and appropriate for every season, whether it is a bomber jacket or a blazer. In the winter, layer a leather jacket over a sweatshirt for a cosier outfit choice.
If you’re opting for a brown leather jacket, we recommend you pair it with contrasting colours like blues, greens, and greys. A monochrome and streamlined outfit is made by mixing camel and neutral tones with a brown leather jacket, great for the workplace or an evening out on the town.
For a little inspiration, browse our brand new collection of ethical leather jackets to complete your autumn/winter wardrobe. With sustainability at the forefront, our factory partner 018 is striving to produce as little waste product as possible. As much waste material as possible from making this range of leather jackets is being reused to make leather wallets and card holders - and we’re really proud of that.
You really can’t go wrong with an oversized tee or shirt, whatever the season. The clothes that you can pull on at the drop of a hat are always the ones that earn their place in your wardrobe, and an oversized shirt is no exception.
Choose a large tee in a neutral, go-with-everything colour like white or pale blue to maximise your cost-per-wear, like our women’s kimono tee by 020. These neutral tones can then be simply interchangeable in your wardrobe, tucked into your favourite jeans and layered openly over your favourite dresses.
Our ethical shirts and oversized tees are sure to give you style inspiration and effortless autumn fashion ideas, as well as long-term wear.
We’re here for you this season with our autumn/winter clothing cøllections. All of the products on our website are ethically made and designer-quality. We also work closely with our manufacturing partners to ensure they are using sustainable materials where possible.
We only work with manufacturers who have ethical practices at the forefront of their business. We’re also keeping it transparent about who made your clothes. The factories we work with are defined by a simple cøde. From this cøde, you can discover where in the world your clothes are made - and by whom. It really is that simple. Find out more about our story and how it works behind the scenes.
]]>Situated in Chennai in the South of India, this piece follows the workers in factory 018. Chennai is the largest hub of the country’s leather industry and has a historical tradition of leather manufacturing. So let’s dive into life at factory 018 in our first ever 'meet the makers' post.
We are a third-generation leather manufacturer - over a period of time we have added leather goods manufacturing to our portfolio.
We are a gold-rated LWG audited tannery that adheres to all social audits and we ensure the highest standards of safety across all of our facilities. We are currently working on our SEDEX and SA8000 accreditations and plan to undertake these audits too in the near future.
We conduct frequent safety training and workshops for all of our employees. Our management is involved in educating 600 children in a nearby village at a school called Gateway Public School. One of our senior directors' parents grew up in the village where the school is located, therefore he is passionate about the initiative.
We enjoy working with THE-CØDED team - so far, the experience has been excellent and straightforward. We support what THE-CØDED is trying to achieve and we are proud to be one of the first factories to come on board. It is clear from the way that THE-CØDED team operates, that they truly believe in putting factories first.
One of the most challenging issues facing most factories manufacturing for the fashion industry today is cash flow. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly common in the industry for factories to be offered very long payment terms by brands and retailers for the goods that they produce for them.
There are of course exceptions to this and of course some factories deal more fairly with the factories who manufacture for them.
This makes it very difficult for factories who need to pay their workers, and also pay upfront for raw materials. We hope that this might change in the future and that brands and retailers will consider offering their factory partners more favourable payment terms.
018 is a great place to work and we are fortunate to have great people who love what they do. We hope that you will enjoy the quality, hand-made garments that we have produced for you with love.
We also spoke with Lalan who has worked in the fashion manufacturing industry for 10 years:
"My name is Lalan. I have worked in this industry for 10 years. I am handicapped since childhood; I am very satisfied working in this factory and I love my job."
At THE-CØDED, we only work with quality manufacturers who place ethical practices at the forefront of their operations. This means that when customers shop at the-coded.com, they can be confident that the clothing they purchase is ethically made and will last for many years. We encourage our partners to use natural materials in their clothing production whenever possible, such as wool, cotton, and leather.
If you’re interested in becoming a partner, please get in touch.
Stay tuned for more ‘meet the makers’ features coming soon.
]]>