Make a difference

✔Zero discharge of hazardous chemicals in its supply chain – Zara
 ✔25,000 tonnes of waste garments collected annually – H&M
✔100% organic linen and cotton – Eileen Fisher 

From fast fashion brands like Zara to sustainable fashion icons like Eileen Fisher, the fashion industry has set lofty goals to tick by the end of 2020.

Even for those born sustainable, getting things right doesn’t happen overnight. Being 100% sustainable takes hard work and needs single minded focus and unflinching commitment. Yet, as one of the world’s most polluting industry, it is our responsibility to recognise the sense of urgency around the climate crisis facing our planet and take steps to make a positive impact by constantly finding better alternatives for materials and processes across the entire value chain.  

Totally eliminating the use of single-use plastics from its packaging and shipping remains one of the biggest challenges for this industry. Right from the hangars used in stores, to the packaging, to even fabric content – plastic remains an integral part of fashion’s supply chain.

At JULAHAS, we struggle with the necessity to receive and store products in individual plastic bags. We recently started re-using polybags for storage, bringing down our own use of virgin plastic. Products are shipped in cloth shoppers but the outer packaging remains plastic. Our next step is to find a suitable, sustainable outer packaging that keep textiles dry in all types of weather for its last mile shipping.

Last year, we made a lifelong commitment by partnering with social enterprise Grow Trees to plant a tree for every purchase made. Our idea was not only to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to greater bio-diversity, but to also create economic opportunities in the villages where the tree plantation became a source of income thereby creating a tight knit bond between the community and the surrounding forests. Through our One for One model, our goal is to plant 10,000 trees by the end of this year with your help.

Our commitment to local production means that all our natural materials are sourced from the very communities where we produce. Raw materials don’t travel far and the production process involves the use of old fashioned wooden looms and sewing machines, preserving ancient crafts while reducing our energy consumption. 

With zero waste design, use of all-natural materials, multi-seasonal and multi-wear functionality, transparency in where we produce and who made your product – we may tick many boxes, yet we realise that we are far from perfect with a lot more that can be and needs to be done. But as a young brand that is privileged to be born sustainable, we are super confident of leading the way!

We are keen to hear what more would you like us to do in 2020, after all it takes a village to make a difference and you are our village and our community – and together we will make the change!