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Birkenstock’s 250 year focus on sustainable materials

Posted on November 4, 2024

Birkenstock shoe, sole, manufacturing process, environmentally friendly, sustainable materials

Celebrating 250 years of this iconic shoe, the focus for Birkenstock is becoming more and more about the environment and manufacturing their creations sustainably.

Dating back to 1774, every Birkenstock footbed is made of natural cork, natural latex, jute and suede, which is used as the top layer.

BIRKENSTOCK AND SUSTAINABILITY

The brand uses the highest-quality leather, working with textile materials, such as high-quality wool felt, made from pure merino wool. For those customers looking for animal-free products, there is our proprietary synthetic material Birko-Flor®.

RESPONSIBILITY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN

A high proportion of the natural materials that Birkenstock uses are from sustainable sources: cork, natural latex, jute, leather and wool felt are among their most important materials.

One of the main raw materials used is cork – a natural and sustainable product that boasts high elasticity, outstanding cushioning, and excellent heat and sound insulation. It is comprised of dead thin-walled cells that have been filled with air. The cork layer is reproduced and can therefore be harvested again and again without harming the tree.

A single tree can provide 100 to 200 kilograms of cork during its life. To ensure that the cork is hygienically clean, the bark that has been removed is cooked thoroughly in tanks. It is then cut into strips that will be used to punch the bottle corks.Natural cork oak forests only exist in the western Mediterranean basin. The majority of the cork processed by Birkenstock comes from southern Portugal, the world’s largest raw cork-exporting region. Natural and planted cork oak forests in Portugal cover a total of some 750,000 hectares – about 8% of the total surface area of the country.

Then there’s jute, which provides additional stabilization of the cork and latex core in the original Birkenstock footbed. In addition, the plant fibers improve the moisture-regulating properties of the footbed. Jute is a renewable resource as well.

Natural latex serves as the natural binding agent in the production of the footbed. Like cork, natural latex is also a renewable resource. Natural latex is obtained from the resin of rubber trees.

Birkenstock also unveiled the ultimate Care Essentials line for body and mind, expanding its product portfolio beyond footwear. From nourishing creams to invigorating scrubs, using 100% natural origin ingredients and highly effective formulations, made in Germany.

Homegrown brand Tribe of 6 uses responsibly sourced and recycled materials

Posted on October 28, 2024

Homegrown brands are just the best. Not only do they help keep our carbon footprints smaller by reducing the logistical means of acquiring them, but also, you’re likely to be supporting a small startup with real people at the helm.

With athleisure here to stay it seems, choosing brands that use responsibly sourced materials and adopt sustainable production methods, is the least we can do. Tribe of 6 is a homegrown Dubai brand that uses materials such as Organic Loopback Cotton (certified by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)) and Jacquard Textured Fabric (made from recycled polyester).

They also integrate a variety of other recycled fabrics from Sedex approved factories and Global Recycled Standards (GRS) certified., such as; Recycled Polyester, which has a sueded and peached effect, providing a soft luxurious feel. Recycled Crinkle Nylon which provides a smooth, comfy finish that is also lightweight and Recycled Polyester Modal Stretch, which offers a premium feel and breathability.

Furthering the sustainability goals of the U.A.E., Tribe of 6 adopts a “limited stock” production strategy rather than mass production, which not only maintains the exclusivity and quality of their products but also minimises overproduction and waste. Some unsold garments are recycled and repurposed to create new products, ensuring that nothing goes to waste and further reducing its environmental impact.

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Oris luxury watches use recycled plastic in their dials

Posted on October 24, 2024

How do we get rid of plastic? Well, we can’t yet – but we can find new purposes for it, like recycling it, to help keep it out of landfills and out of our environment as much as possible.

One such luxury brand is Oris, who as a Swiss watchmaker are determined to keep their creations as sustainable as possible. With roots dating back to 1904, it’s inspiring to see the brand helping to pave the way for real change within its industry.

Oris Aquis Date Upcycle

One of their key creations, the Oris Aquis Date Upcycle, is actually crafted with a vibrant dial made from recycled PET plastic. Each Upcycle model showcases a one-of-a-kind design, housed in their new sustainable watch boxes, made from recyclable cardboard and paper.

This lightweight, modular packaging reduces plastic use by 1.5 tonnes annually and cuts weight by 65%. Its collapsible design also decreases volume by 50%, lowering carbon emissions, in alignment with Global Recycling Day.

Most recently, each watch box now includes recycled paper cards with a QR code for all warranties, and watch details.

Orise Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV

Certified climate-neutral by ClimatePartner, Oris aims to reduce emissions by 10% annually through its Emissions Reduction Programme. Oris even partnered with Reef Restoration Foundation in 2018 on their mission to bring Change for the Better. “Oris is climate neutral and committed to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” says Co-CEO Rolf Studer.

Eco Friendly fashion Sustainable

Breitling is leading the way for luxury watches as a sustainability champion

Posted on June 17, 2024

Breitling is leading the way for luxury watches by putting sustainable manufacturing and materials at the forefront of their DNA. Putting a precedence on traceability with lab-grown diamonds and artisanal small-scale operations, ensures that this 140 year old brand is truly thinking of the future.

These changes start by looking to the source of their precious materials. From artisanal and small-scale gold, lab-grown diamonds, upcycled packaging, and sustainable straps, by 2025, all Breitling’s products will be made with this level of transparency.

Their Origins-label watches are supplied by artisanal and small-scale gold and lab-grown diamonds which are fully traceable to producers who have been individually selected for their responsibility towards their employees, their local communities and the environment. The entire supply chain is documented, verified, and shared back to consumers.

The brand is also rolling out traceablity via blockchain-backed provenance records for their watches, starting with the Super Chronomat Origins and engaging their suppliers to increase their own sustainability performances.

Bold steps for Breitling, but their focus on a green future also includes making a groundbreaking shift to flat-fold watch boxes made of upcycled PET material, achieving carbon neutrality and eliminating plastic waste across all their operations.

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My sustainable lab grown diamonds collection with etika jewels

Posted on June 11, 2024

For Gaza, a poignant design of solidarity, the double ring represents togetherness and union. The ring also represents collective support, and the spirit of Hub (meaning love in Arabic) that is shared. Additionally, the ring’s sale proceeds will be going to organizations providing aid in the region.

Lab grown diamonds are as real as diamonds mined from the earth. They have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as mined diamonds and exhibit the same features and sparkle. Also, lab created diamonds consume significantly less water and energy per carat than their mined counterparts, which makes lab-grown gemstones the most sustainable choice for all your jewellery.

I collaborated with UAE based brand Etika Jewels that was founded in 2022, to design an exclusive capsule collection of rings. My designs were inspired from important elements in my life, such as; water, love and hope and peace. The rings showcase a shared commitment to reducing environmental impact and embracing solidarity during a challenging period in the region.

Each meticulously crafted ring tells its own story of commitment and beauty;

The Wave is a homage to my love for the ocean, encapsulating the majestic power and serenity of the sea. The Eye is a symbol of vigilance and self-protection, encouraging wearers to remain conscious of their environmental footprint. The Wrap adorned with vibrant red gems is a celebration of the ever-present, transformative nature of love. The Sun and Moon rings represent the enduring, cyclical beauty of the natural world. The Knot stands as a binding promise of personal and environmental integrity. The Trio, a set of and stackable singlets made for everyday wear, symbolizing elegance and flexibility and Crossroads – symbolizes the how the journey of life has many crossroads, that make it beautiful and unique.

My favourite, aptly named For Gaza, is a poignant design of solidarity, the double ring represents togetherness and union. The ring also represents collective support, and the spirit of Hub (meaning love in Arabic) that is shared. The red ruby helps highlight our love and additionally the collective loss we all feel. The ring’s sale proceeds will be going to organizations providing aid in the region.

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AMANDA x By M.A.R.Y Sustainable Capsule Collection

Posted on June 7, 2024

Sustainable fashion is about three key elements; material, production and community. I believe whole-heartedly that we need to use our consumer choices to help implement actual change. Being a conscious consumer goes past the immediate pat-on-the-back to ensuring the data focused analytics that retailers use to produce en-masse aren’t adding to the problem of over 21 billion tonnes of clothing ending up in landfill every year, with our singular trend-led transactions.

I collaborated with local slow-fashion designer By.M.A.R.Y. to create a capsule collection of linen, silk and organic cotton based timeless pieces that are season-less and sustainable. These pieces also allowed us to profit share with the initiatives that we believed in, both locally and internationally.

As we both had causes close to our hearts… we decided to give back to both. ⁠ ⁠⁠

By M.A.R.Y is an ode to the women we admire, it’s our vision to mix African style with a twist of modern rock and a bang up-to-date contemporary attitude.

For Marie it’s the people.⁠ ⁠ “I believe in the importance of giving back to the continent where I grew up and want to share the success of By Mary. That is why we support the Grand Bassam Orphanage for girls in the Ivory-Coast by giving the girls a chance at an education after they leave the orphanage. In the last 2 years we have helped support 60 young girls.

For Amanda it’s the planet.⁠ ⁠ “Azraq’s mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect the marine ecosystem and species.”⁠

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Introducing Eurthlin and their Vegan Handbags

Posted on November 20, 2019

Because we love our handbags, but we also want to be eco-friendly. Dubai based brand Eurthlin is the first in the region to launch a luxury vegan alternative brand for conscious consumers.

It goes without saying, if you’re going to rival the likes of the Goyard and LV tote, you need to be memorable. To me, that means a conversation starter and that is exactly what Eurthlin is. It isn’t a trend-led brand looking to capitalize on the instagrammer’s of the world, it’s a thought-provoking piece of design that ensures you a guilt-free shopping spree.

Inspired by the elements; fire, water, earth and air, the brand’s signature repeat pattern print is combined to make a unique yet not overpowering logo. The brainchild of recent vegan herself Natalie Daghestani, Eurthlin is a culmination of compassion and craftsmanship with a sustainable edge. The vegan leather is aesthetically similar to animal leather and the collection boasts 3 must-have styles for all discerning fashionistas out there.

“Eurthlin only uses 100% PETA-Approved Vegan materials and is proudly registered with The Vegan Society. The bags are also ethically produced with care, with each piece sporting a GOTS-certified organic cotton lining made from natural seeds without the use of pesticides, a dust bag that has been made from recycled bottles and their mailer pouches are home compostable.”

For the fair-trade conscious too, the brand’s production facility has been certified by Brussels-based auditing firm Amfori BSCI – the leading business association for open and sustainable trade. Adding to their sustainable edge, Eurthlin has also committed to plant one tree in the Amazon for every piece sold in collaboration with OneTreePlanted.org to assist with this year’s globally highlighted reforestation.

Branding these beauties is of course the icing on the cake and you can add your piece of personalization through their online ordering service too.

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Rossano Ferretti: The Master of The Method Cut

Posted on May 12, 2019

Rossano Ferretti is famous for the invisible haircut, the haircut with natural fall in movement… The METHOD Cut.

I’ve never been that particular about my hair, in fact it stayed up in a bun or ponytail for the majority of my youth. Long hair was always prized and my hair was very long and think. Rebellions were often in terms of colour rather than cut, but I’ve learned to love my hair. Never more so than since finding a hairdresser who really knew what to do with it. It’s long, think, but I’ve got a short forehead so absolutely NO fringes, but it falls far too far forward and I looked like Morticia Adams with a centre parting according to mum.

“Our Method was born out of the dissatisfaction, of myself and my sister Lorenza, with everything stereotyped and artificial that stood for beautiful hair. We wanted to enhance every woman’s unique beauty, speaking a language of elegance, naturalness and uniqueness. By hard work and passion, we succeeded in becoming the spokespersons of natural, personalised beauty, creating a revolution in the way of bringing to life, understanding, and communicating beauty. We told women, “Enjoy your hair!” – in harmony with yourself. Our Method is the way we relate to the profession. It allows us to innovate without ignoring the past, like a robust weave whose threads leave its interpreters leeway for freedom of expression.” Rossano Ferretti.

Having tried the salon on a press launch, it was immediately that I felt lighter, thinner hair yet with more movement and started to wear it down more comfortably. It was still long mind you, but I’ve always been put off shorter hair for fear of looking like a lampshade with my thickness. So it was one bold morning where I finally told Christina at Rossano Ferretti I was ready to see a different shape.

“What I try to do most with my students is to develop a new sensibility together with them, one that is bolder, that involves developing one’s senses. And so I work on touch, sight, and the body. How come? For the simple reason that hair is a malleable material, a living thing; it has its own life and if we learn to observe it, understand and interpret it, it follows us obligingly, without becoming unruly. Which is why, every time a haircut is spoken of, I urge them to think that a cut should resemble as much as possible a work of art and not a mathematical calculation. Our training not only teaches the haircut, but educates the eyes and heart to recognize the light of beauty. Because genuine fascination shuns any beauty-code: it lies in the self-confidence of those who choose to be themselves.” Lorenza Ferretti, Artistic Director.

I’m sold. Short hair don’t care and my only worry now is having to slick it back for the gym, but I can finally wear my hair as a feature, rather than hating it for hiding them.

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Ethical Fashion in Australia

Posted on December 6, 2018

Photo by Tochi Onwubiko on Unsplash

When it comes to fashion, sustainability is truly the key word of the decade, and for a good reason. The fast fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world and its impact on the environment is devastating. However, there is a silver lining here – more and more people are becoming aware of the state of our environment and are turning to ethical fashion in order to try and preserve it, which resulted in an increasing number of brands that are hopping on the sustainability train. Prepare to feel optimistic as you read through the list of some Australian labels that exist in this sphere of fashion.

Reformation

Photo by Rebecca Orlov | Orlov Design Co on Unsplash

Reformation is a brand that has always been committed to sustainable fashion. Apart from using deadstock fabric and repurposed vintage clothing to make their designs, they also avoid cotton and opt for more environmentally-conscious fabric options such as Tencel, viscose and Modal. They also have a practice of publishing a quarterly sustainability report to their consumers, which makes them a great ethical brand you can feel good about buying and wearing.

Adidas

Although Adidas is an extremely popular brand in Australia and the rest of the world, not many people are aware of the fact that it’s one of the most ethical fashion brands. Being careful about the impact on our planet while still creating extremely fashionable Adidas sneakers, they are truly leading by example. Fashion designer Stella McCartney has even teamed up with this company in order to create a revamped vegan version of the classic Stan Smith model and support sustainability and cruelty-free fashion.

Spell The Label

Photo by Nazym Jumadilova on Unsplash

Spell is an Australian label that designs beautiful bohemian clothing, but they are also very committed to sustainable fashion. Their plan for 2025 is presented on their website in detail, consisting of the transparency of their supply chain and the use of sustainable fibers, as well as environmentally-friendly dye and printing practices, just to name a few. They are already using ecologically-conscious fabrics, such as Modal and Tencel, but are in the process of incorporating recycled nylon and organic cotton into their production process as well. As far as dyes and prints are concerned, their focus is on the responsible use of water, energy and chemicals.

Bon

Bon originally started with the idea to create an excellent line of staple t-shirts that can be dressed up or dressed down and worn on many occasions for years to come. But apart from their versatility, they also have a strong commitment to sustainability. They use certified organic cotton jersey for all of their t-shirts and sweaters, which is spun, woven and dyed in Australia in a certified, eco-friendly manner. Their leggings are also made from lycra derived from recycled PET bottles, and the lining from unused parts of cotton plants at a factory with near 100% recycling.

KowTow

KowTow is a New Zealand label that makes incredibly chic and wearable staple pieces. They pride themselves in using sustainably sourced materials, while being exceptionally ethical. In an effort to eliminate the slave trade, they also provide certified rights and safety to all of their workers.

KitX

Photo by Coline Haslé on Unsplash

Each KitX collection is full of luxurious, intricately designed pieces that often feature asymmetrical hemlines and unexpected cut-outs. But apart from being highly fashionable, their clothes are also made using eco-friendly and sustainable practices. Their main focus is on the traceability of fibers that go into their fabrics, which is why they only use certified organic, renewable and recycled manmade fibers, as well as non-hazardous working materials. Not only do they put a lot of effort into making sure they don’t damage the environment, but they are also very serious about the fair treatment of their workers.

Well Made Clothes

Although they do produce some clothing items under their own label, Well Made Clothes is less of a brand and more of a hub for sustainable and ethical fashion lovers. They stock a large variety of Australian, as well as global fashion labels that abide by ethical and sustainable practices, meaning you can rest assured the clothes you wear were produced responsibly if you choose to buy them here.

While fashion practices are slowly starting to shift throughout the industry, we, as consumers, are the ultimate creators of change. With that in mind, there has never been a better time to support brands and labels that are leading the way in creating a cleaner and greener future.

fashion

Swimming in Luxury With Lasya

Posted on November 29, 2018

Nothing frustrates me more than putting on a new bra or swimsuit in the morning and half way through the day, something just doesn’t feel right… half the time we buy our intimates based on either looks, comfort or functionality, but I do feel we often sacrifice on at least one of these. Introducing Lasya Intimates, a Dubai based e-tailor that curates lingerie, swimwear and even bridal lingerie too. You won’t have to worry about parking with their concierge delivery service either, one-to-one fittings ensure totally private experiences, so that you can find the right fit every time.

Whether it’s a pool party, or a weekend away, their swimwear features luxuriously gold plated detailing that’s almost too good to get wet. We caught up with the founder of Lasya Intimates Dubai, Rachel, who handpicks all of the swimwear on her site. “I love what I do and I hope it shows in the products that have been chosen.”

“…I started the business in 2017, and yes, alone. It’s been an adventure and a roller-coaster, but I have really found my passion, along with the creativity running your own business entails, and the sheer pleasure in finding beautiful pieces for our collection. There is something immensely rewarding knowing that I am delivering a service and product that injects confidence and a sprinkling of happiness to every one of my clients.

Our name is something that took us a while to decide on. Lots of research was done to ensure that it was something that truly fit with our brand. The term ‘Lasya’ in the context of Hindu mythology, describes the dance performed by a Goddess – it expresses happiness and is filled with grace and beauty. Our aim with our collections is just that, we want to make each woman feel beautiful and the whole experience with us to feel special, right from the packaging to the product.

I strive to find pieces for my collection that truly stand out, everything I include in my collections are hand picked by me, be it for their beauty, uniqueness or because it helps to give someone confidence in what they are wearing. Our luxury swimwear collection is something we are especially proud of, we have some really unique, high-fashion pieces that stand out from the swimwear you’ll see on the high street, some with gold plated embellishments and hand finishing – the quality of the swimwear is evident as soon as you touch it and they are all super flattering.

What sets any business apart from another is the person behind it, when you run your own business it is inevitable that it will project some of your own values and ethos. I want to deliver beautiful items coupled with great service and make women feel amazing in the process, we are more than an online boutique, we give a unique touch by offering a really personal one-to-one service and we are proud of that. If you’re buying online, there is always someone around to help guide you in to making the right choice for you – we also offer a home shopping service as well as private shopping evenings and get involved in collaborative events too.

Being in the Middle East for any significant period of time changes your general perception of life. It’s a melting pot of nationalities, backgrounds and religions. I am grateful that my experiences and learnings here have added to how I think about life and naturally, my creativity.”

And finally… we want to know… one piece or bikini?

“The shapes and cut-outs that can be achieved with a one-piece are far greater than a bikini, so there is room for more variations, designs and experimental shapes. It’s also been a popular choice for celebrities and influencers, so naturally it filters through to everyone else. I personally love the one piece, I find them so flattering.”

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