What Is the Definition of Sustainable Fashion?
At its origin, the word “sustainable” means something which can be maintained at its current rate or level. The same could be said for how we’re treating the planet, and how we make our fashion.
The fashion industry is one of the leading-most contributors to waste and toxin release into the environment worldwide. It is, however, appalling that despite this widespread information, how many fashion companies are still partnered with factories that are carelessly spinning their yarns, weaving their fabrics, and sewing their garments without the conscious effort in reducing their toxin use, water waste, or energy consumption. This method of business is unacceptable for Creare. This is why we have hand-picked factory partnerships that are not only holding worldwide accepted “green” certifications but are advancing their sustainable practices each day and for the future.
From integrating sustainable practices in our New York office, and even accounting for transparency in our own office, every facet of Creare is aggressive in chasing the most cutting-edge sustainable practices.
Ciel Group - New York Creare Office:
Energy efficient light fixtures and bulbs where synthetic lighting is needed.
Passionate recycling of waste.
Reduction of water and waste usage with installation of eco-friendly water system.
Rather than throwing out old samples, we donate the samples to local New York hospitals, American veterans, and the National Suit Drive.
We donate all fabric scraps (no matter how small!) to FabScraps in Brooklyn, NY, who either: Shred the scraps to create insulation, carpet padding, furniture lining, moving blankets, etc.Resell nonproprietary materials to students, artists, crafters, quilters, sewers, teachers, and other designers.
Any single-use products are made from recycled / biodegradable materials and are recyclable.
Using only organic, eco-friendly cleaning products.
Employee volunteer work to clean up trash in local NYC neighborhoods and beaches.
Our Partners at Ciel Textiles
Less than 1% of fashion is recycled into new fashion.
80% of products environmental impact can be controlled at the design stage!
What is Ciel Textiles Group-Based out of Mauritius/Madagascar-doing?
With factories and fabric mills spanning Mauritius, Madagascar, and India we make sure all the facilities are utilizing and following the same practices as below:
Clo3D Technology
The fashion design and development way of the future!
Finding the perfect fabric and perfect silhouette is a trialing process when designing garments. Rather than wasting precious fabrics for design trials and sampling over and over again, CLO3D technology gives the same effect as old-school sampling but with many more modern added benefits. For one, CLO3D does not waste or even use any fabric, thread, or trims in the process!
Drastically quick turnaround, reducing the need for parcel mail carbon footprint and lead times shipping incur
Life-like CADs and videos showing the real drape and movement of garments, which can be used for technical fittings and pattern placement approvals
Instant modifications / changes
Cost savings
Design Flexibility
Visual Merchandising your e-commerce site or instore feature
Digital Showroom
Social and Community impacts made by Ciel Textile Group:
Water waste and management systems set in place to recycle the factories’ water.
Employee engagement campaign and training in Eco Green Project.
Policies and guidelines factory-wide for reducing water and energy use.
Identifying, monitoring, and management of environmental risks.
Solid waste management system
M&S Plan A approved Eco Factories: Aquarelle Madagascar, Laguna India
ISO 14001 Certified: Aquarelle India, Laguna India
Most of the factories are WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production Award) accredited
Aquarelle India awarded the LEED Platinum Certificate.
HIGG INDEX
ZDHC
Corporate member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition.
Using only BCI Cottons.
OCS-Organic Cotton Standard 100 certification
OEKO TEX certification
REACH-all chemicals used are compliant.
Reforestation of 14,000 trees a year in Madagascar.
Solar panel instillation on factory roofs plus mindful building designs with wind ergonomics and focal natural light wells.
Mauritius is a green island-in itself and wants to stay that way!
Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth.
Aquarelle India
India’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum Certified factory (Samudra)
Integrated sustainable garment washes:
Zero water washes
E-flow
Wet Ozone
Laser
Curating raw materials from waste cotton fabrics, polyethylene terephthalate (or PET) bottles, worn out fabrics, and used cotton clothing.
The Samudra factory was designed with the planet in mind
Maximizing natural light with the specially designed light wells, minimizing artificial lighting usage.
Specially designed wind ergonomics on the roof.
Solar power generation from panels on the roof.
Total water table management.
Zero discharge.
Robust waste management.
Very wide range of sustainable trims including recycled thread, shirt tape, and buttons, biodegradable hangers and hangtags, organic cotton interlinings, Bioplastic polybags, tree-free labels, and much more.
Laguna India
Creating woven fabrics made from sustainable / ethical sources:
TENCEL® Collection: Brand TENCEL® consists of a cellulose fiber made by dissolving the wood pulp of certain Eucalyptus and Bamboo trees. Since TENCEL® is partially made with lyocell, the manufacturing process uses less energy and water than cotton.
Organic Collection: This collection offers not only organic cotton fabrics that are made with no harmful chemicals or pesticides, but feature organic buttons made from coconut shells, river and seashells, as well as wood buttons.
Fair Trade Collection
Recycled Collection
Sustainable Trims and Accessories
Tropic Knits Mauritius:
Puma’s 2018 Sustainability Award Winner
2019 Sustainability Best Practices Award from Ciel Textile Chairman’s Manufacturing Excellence Award (CMEA)
Energy efficient machinery / methods of manufacturing.
Promoting waterless and water conservative techniques throughout the production processes.
Sustainable product offerings:
Unbleached- Maintaining the natural shade of undyed, organic cotton by remaining untreated by any chemicals or special finishes. 70% water savings and 80% time savings compared to conventional dyeing processes
Terra Dye- 100% organic / eco-alternative dyes obtained from mineral extractions. Reduces toxic chemical usage. 50% water savings and 50% energy savings compared to conventional dyeing processes.
Aqua Tech- Soft handfeel and improved fabric stability and shrinkage by using the garment wash of Jeanologia E-Flow Technology that uses an ultra-short liquor ratio. 85% water savings compared to conventional dyeing processes.
Reclaimed- Using recycled materials and production waste, water and energy consumptions are reduced as compared to using materials from virgin sources.
Tropic’s Sustainability Stats:
11.5% of energy reduction (Electricity, HPO, LPG).
350 tons (and counting) of waste recycled (carton, fabric wastage, plastic).
27% reduction in water usage.
25% reduction in GHG emissions from 2015 baseline till now
Tropic Knits India:
Wastewater management – uses zero liquid discharge
Sustainable collection:
N-Hance Performance Bio-Technology- Bio wicking, smart wash, and bio dry technologies that are easy on our environment and will not wash out or rub off.
ExUSE – Post Consumer Waste Collection - Uses recycled yarn with GRS 4.0 Certification. Made from post-consumer waste denim garments, blended with virgin organic cottons.
ReClaim – Recycled yarn with GRS 4.0 Certification. Uses pre-consumer knitted fabric cutting waste that is then converted into yarn blended with virgin organic cotton. 100% cotton product = 100% natural product
Beyond Feather Touch- Superior soft handfeel and enhanced color fastness using color lock technology. Less hairiness and pilling in fabric, Biodegradable
Flouresh- Recycled yarn with GRS 4.0 Certification. Uses pre-consumer knitted fabric cutting waste that is then converted into yarn blended with recycled polyester made from PET bottles. Can contain up to 60% recycled cotton / 40% recycled polyester
Nature Pure Ethereal- Removes stains effectively, using only water and none of those chemicals in stain release treatments. No toxic releases. Made from recyclable water.
Ciel Group Initiatives
Reforested 11,900 trees in Madagascar
Usage of sustainable materials, fiber waste, and garment wastes to transform into recycled fibers, then using 10% - 100% of those recycled fibers to create 40 yarns
Banned plastic bottle wastage throughout the group
Sustainable sourcing:
Sustainable goals:
Improve Restricted Substances List (RSL) compliance and water waste quality by 2020.
Obtain an 85% HIGG Index by 2022.
Sustainable supply chain mapping.
Sustainable collaborations with customers.
