B Corp™

Being a B Corp™ is an important distinction for any clothing company committed to sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical business practices. B Corps™ are certified by the nonprofit B Lab™ as meeting strict standards of environmental and social performance, transparency, and accountability. For a clothing company, this means a commitment to reducing waste and emissions, using sustainable materials, supporting fair labor practices, and giving back to the community. It also means being transparent about these efforts and being accountable to stakeholders beyond just shareholders. By becoming a B Corp™, a clothing company can demonstrate its commitment to doing business in a way that’s good for people, planet, and profits, and inspire others in the industry to do the same.

The B Corp™ assessment covers a wide range of aspects related to a company’s impact on society and the environment. These include:

The assessment evaluates the company’s practices in areas such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, greenhouse gas emissions, labor standards, diversity and inclusion, charitable giving, and supply chain management. The company is also assessed on its overall mission and how it integrates social and environmental values into its core business operations. By undergoing the rigorous B Corp™ assessment process, companies can gain a comprehensive understanding of their strengths and weaknesses in these areas and work to improve their impact on society and the environment.

The median score for businesses who complete the BIA globally is between 50-55. We reached the 80 point minimum threshold to achieve certification, but we’re committed to increasing our scores at future assessments, which take place every three years. In fact, we’ll be undergoing an evaluation of our 2022 performance for recertification in January 2024.

Sustainable Apparel Coalition

As an activewear company committed to sustainability, we joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) to collaborate with other like-minded brands, suppliers, and industry stakeholders to create a more sustainable apparel industry. The SAC is a global industry alliance that is working to reduce the environmental and social impact of apparel and footwear products.

We also joined to access the tools and resources that the organization provides, including the Higg Index, which allows us to measure and evaluate our sustainability performance, identify areas for improvement, and track our progress over time. This helps us to continuously improve our sustainability practices and reduce our environmental impact.

Becoming a part of SAC allows us to collaborate with other brands and industry stakeholders to address sustainability challenges that are too large for any one company to tackle alone. The SAC brings together brands, suppliers, retailers, NGOs, and academics to work on collective initiatives to address issues such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving worker welfare, and reducing the use of hazardous chemicals. By working together, we can have a greater impact and create positive change in the industry.

Finally, we joined the SAC because it aligns with our company values and mission. We are committed to creating high-quality activewear that is made in a responsible and sustainable way, and the SAC shares our commitment to reducing the environmental and social impact of the apparel industry. By being a part of the SAC, we can demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and work towards a more sustainable future for the industry and the planet.

Higg Index

The Higg Index is a suite of tools developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) that allows clothing and footwear companies to measure and evaluate the sustainability performance of their products, supply chains, and manufacturing facilities. The Higg Index tools cover a range of environmental and social sustainability issues, including greenhouse gas emissions, water use, chemical management, worker welfare, and human rights. The goal of the Higg Index is to promote greater transparency and accountability in the apparel industry and to encourage companies to adopt more sustainable business practices. By using the Higg Index tools, companies can identify areas for improvement and track their progress towards more sustainable operations.

We’re using the Higg Index suite of tools to assess and improve our environmental and social sustainability performance throughout our supply chain. The Higg Index tools help companies measure and benchmark their sustainability performance, identify areas for improvement, and track progress over time. The Brand Retail Module (BRM) allows clothing companies to evaluate the sustainability performance of their business operations and identify opportunities for yearly improvements in their sustainability performance. This module covers areas such as energy use, water consumption, waste management, and employee well-being. The Facility Environmental Module assesses the sustainability performance of manufacturing facilities, covering areas such as energy and water use, waste management, and emissions. The Facility Social Labour Module evaluates the social impact of manufacturing facilities, including worker welfare, health and safety, and management practices. By using these Higg Index tools, a clothing company can gain valuable insights into its sustainability performance and take steps to reduce its environmental impact, improve worker welfare, and promote more sustainable business practices.

Our verified scores:

Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP)

As an activewear company, we use the Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) certification to demonstrate our commitment to ethical and socially responsible manufacturing practices. The WRAP certification is a globally recognized standard that verifies that a manufacturing facility meets specific social, environmental, and legal criteria.

One reason why we use WRAP is to demonstrate to our customers that we take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously. The certification helps us to differentiate our brand from competitors and to meet the expectations of consumers who are increasingly concerned about ethical manufacturing practices. By using WRAP, we can show that we are committed to creating high-quality activewear that is made in a responsible and sustainable way.

In addition to the benefits of certification, we also use WRAP to improve our manufacturing practices. The certification process involves a comprehensive review of the facility's operations, which can help identify areas for improvement. By implementing the changes recommended by the certification audit, we can improve our sustainability performance, reduce our environmental impact, and enhance worker welfare. This not only helps us to meet our social and environmental responsibilities but also improves the quality of our products and the satisfaction of our customers.

Working with WRAP helps us to manage risk in our supply chain. The certification process requires suppliers to comply with local laws and regulations, which can help us to avoid legal and reputational risks associated with non-compliance. It also requires suppliers to have systems in place to monitor and manage labor and environmental risks, which can help us to avoid supply chain disruptions and damage to our standing as a respectable organization. This helps us to ensure that our supply chain is responsible, sustainable, and reliable, and that we are providing our customers with high-quality activewear that they can trust.

Overall, we use WRAP to demonstrate our commitment to social and environmental responsibility, to improve our manufacturing practices, and to manage risk in our supply chain. By using this certification, we can create high-quality activewear that is made in a responsible and sustainable way and that meets the expectations of our customers and stakeholders.

Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex®

We work with OEKO-TEX® to certify that our products meet high standards of environmental and social responsibility, as well as product safety. OEKO-TEX® is a global certification system that tests textile products for harmful substances and evaluates the sustainability performance of textile production processes.

Opening ourselves up to OEKO-TEX® assessments allows us to ensure that our products are safe for our customers to use. OEKO-TEX® tests for harmful substances, such as heavy metals, pesticides, and carcinogenic dyes, that can be present in textile products. By certifying our products through OEKO-TEX®, we can assure our customers that our products are safe and free from harmful substances.

In addition to product safety, we also work with OEKO-TEX® to improve the sustainability performance of our supply chain. The certification process evaluates the sustainability performance of textile production processes, including energy use, water consumption, and chemical management. By working with OEKO-TEX®, we can identify areas for improvement in our supply chain and work towards more sustainable practices.

Ultimately, we work with OEKO-TEX® because it aligns with our company values and mission to create high-quality activewear that is made in a responsible and sustainable way. By being certified by OEKO-TEX®, we can demonstrate our commitment to product safety and sustainability to our customers and our workers.

bluesign®

We have pursued bluesign® certification to demonstrate our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our products and supply chain. bluesign® is a global certification system that evaluates the sustainability performance of textile production processes and helps companies to manage their environmental impact.

The certification process evaluates the environmental impact of textile production processes, including energy use, water consumption, and chemical management. By working towards bluesign® certification, we can identify areas for improvement in our supply chain and work towards more sustainable practices.

In addition to improving our supply chain sustainability, we can also demonstrate our commitment to sustainability to our customers and workers. bluesign® is a globally recognized standard for sustainability in the textile industry, and being certified by bluesign® shows that we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our products and supply chain.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

We are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified to demonstrate our commitment to producing organic and sustainable textiles. The GOTS certification is a globally recognized standard for organic textiles that ensures that textiles are produced with organic and sustainable materials, and that manufacturing processes meet high environmental and social criteria.

GOTS certification requires that at least 95% of the fibres in a textile product are organic, and that the remaining 5% meet strict environmental and social criteria. By using organic and sustainable materials, we can reduce the environmental impact of our products and promote sustainable farming practices.

In addition to using organic and sustainable materials, we are GOTS certified to ensure that our manufacturing processes meet high environmental and social criteria. GOTS certification requires that manufacturing processes meet strict environmental and social criteria, including minimizing waste and pollution, promoting safe and fair labor practices, and providing safe working conditions. By being GOTS certified, we can demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and responsible manufacturing practices.

Pursuing GOTS certification aligns with our company values and mission to create high-quality activewear that is made in a responsible and sustainable way. By being certified by GOTS, we can demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and transparency to you, our customer.

Responsible Down Standard (RDS)

The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certification is a globally recognized measure that ensures the ethical treatment of animals and responsible sourcing of down and feathers used in textile products.

One reason why RDS certification is important to us is to ensure that the down and feathers used in our products are sourced from suppliers who prioritize animal welfare. RDS certification requires that the animals providing the down and feathers are not subjected to cruel practices such as live plucking or force-feeding, and that they have access to clean water, food, and appropriate living conditions. By using RDS-certified down and feathers, we can assure our customers that our products are made with ethical and humane practices.

The Five Freedoms are a set of principles established by the Farm Animal Welfare Council that outline the basic welfare needs of animals under human care, which the RDS uses as part of its assessments.

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst - animals should have access to a diet that is appropriate for their needs and access to fresh water at all times.
2. Freedom from discomfort - animals should have access to a comfortable environment that provides protection from extreme weather conditions and allows for the expression of normal behaviour.
3. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease - animals should be provided with necessary veterinary care and treatments to prevent and alleviate pain, injury, and disease.
4. Freedom to express normal behaviour - animals should be provided with enough space, proper facilities, and appropriate company to allow them to express their natural behaviours.
5. Freedom from fear and distress - animals should be protected from conditions that cause fear and distress, including mental suffering, and provided with conditions that promote positive mental wellbeing.

In addition to animal welfare, RDS certification is also important to us because it helps to ensure responsible sourcing practices. The certification requires traceability throughout the supply chain, from farm to finished product, to ensure that the down and feathers are not mixed with materials from uncertified sources. This helps to prevent the use of down and feathers obtained through unethical or illegal practices.

RDS certification is important to us because it aligns with our company values and mission to create high-quality activewear that is made in a responsible and ethical way.

What we’re working towards:

We’re excited to announce that starting in 2023 we’ll be working with Greenly, the premier carbon accounting platform, to track and reduce our carbon footprint.

By using Greenly’s software, we can accurately measure the greenhouse gas emissions generated by our operations, supply chain, and products. This information can help us identify areas where we can improve efficiency, reduce waste, and make more sustainable choices. Additionally, by publicly disclosing our carbon footprint and sustainability efforts, we can increase transparency and accountability, build trust with our customers, and demonstrate our commitment to reducing our environmental impact.

In 2023 we’re launching our first customer resale platform with Treet.

Working with Treet, the branded resale platform, will allow us to more robustly participate in the circular economy and reduce our environmental impact.

Treet’s platform allows us to sell our pre-owned or unsold products to customers, extending the product’s lifecycle and reducing waste. By partnering with Treet, we can tap into a growing market for sustainable and second-hand products and increase our customer base along the way. Additionally, Treet will offer logistical and operational support to help us streamline the resale process and improve our sustainability efforts. Ultimately, working with Treet can help us achieve our sustainability goals, reduce waste, and contribute to a more circular economy.

We will soon work with Transparency One’s responsible sourcing software to improve our supply chain sustainability and social responsibility.

Transparency One’s software provides visibility and traceability into the origins of raw materials, enabling us to identify potential risks related to environmental impact, labor practices, and ethical sourcing. By partnering with Transparency One, we can track and analyze our supply chain data to ensure compliance with our sustainability and social responsibility policies. This can help us build trust with our customers, improve brand reputation, and reduce the risk of negative environmental or social impacts in our supply chain.

Additionally, by identifying opportunities for improvement, we can work towards more sustainable and responsible sourcing practices, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.

The Higg Material Sustainability Index (MSI) is a tool designed to measure the environmental sustainability of materials used in the production of apparel and footwear. It evaluates materials across a range of impact categories, including greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and chemical usage.

We may be using the MSI to better understand the environmental impact of the materials we use in our products and identify opportunities for improvement. By using this tool, we can compare the sustainability of different materials and make more informed decisions about which materials to use in our products.

In addition to improving our environmental performance, using the MSI can help us comply with regulatory requirements and improve our brand reputation with customers who are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of the products they purchase.

Overall, the MSI is an important tool for measuring and improving the sustainability of our products and supply chain, and aligns with our commitment to creating a more sustainable future.

OEKO-TEX® Step Certification

We’re taking our Oeko-Tex qualifications even further by working towards Made in Green Certification, which is a program that ensures textiles are made using sustainable and environmentally-friendly production methods. This certification program is managed by the International Oeko-Tex Association, an independent organization that sets standards for safe and sustainable textile production.

The Made in Green certification indicates that the textile has been tested for harmful substances and produced in environmentally-friendly facilities that meet high social and environmental standards. Additionally, the certification guarantees that the textile has been produced under safe and socially responsible working conditions, without the use of hazardous chemicals or substances.

By choosing textiles that are Made in Green certified, consumers can be confident that the product has been produced in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. This certification program can also help businesses improve their social and environmental responsibility profile and appeal to a growing environmentally-conscious customer base. Overall, the Oeko-Tex Made in Green certification program is an important tool for promoting sustainable and responsible textile production.