LEATHER

Leather is our biggest business, and we are constantly searching for innovative methods to keep it sustainable and safe for the environment. Current initiatives include: using a natural material that is a byproduct of the meat industry; intentionally working with true leather, as it lasts longer, making it a sustainable choice for the long-term; creating small leather pieces made entirely out of scrap leather leftover from our bigger bags – card cases, coin pouches, etc.

The hides for all of our leather products would have been discarded, but we can repurpose them into beautiful products instead. This process uses less energy than the production of vegan leather. In the current marketplace, the majority of leather substitutes classified as vegan are either chemical or petroleum based, and thus harmful to the environment. We are actively seeking to partner with industry innovators who are working to create plant-based leather alternatives with minimal environmental impact. Our handbag tanneries are also part of the Leather Working Group, which follows strict environmental protections. In addition, our Ethiopian partners, one of our primary resources for leather creation, use a 100 percent recycled water, closed process system to keep the environment safe.

LEATHER

Leather is our biggest business, and we use a natural material that is a byproduct of the meat industry. These hides would have been discarded, but we can repurpose them into beautiful products instead. This process uses less energy than the production of vegan leather. Learn more here.

We also create small leather pieces made entirely out of scrap leather leftover from our bigger bags – card cases, coin pouches, etc.

JEWELRY

All our jewelry is handmade in Nashville, Tennessee.

All of our scrap metal from the protection process is collected and sent off to a refinery that melts it down and processes it into new pieces of wire of sheets of gold and silver. We also have moved to reduced use of individual paper jewelry boxes, in an additional effort to minimize waste.

We have moved away from some of the harsher chemicals used in the jewelry manufacturing process to use natural solutions (such as citric acid for our Pickle instead of sodium bisulfate).

The majority of all of our sterling silver used is made purely from recycled silver. We source from US-based vendors for visibility into each vendor's ethical and sustainable standards. Several of our US-based vendors are small, family-owned and operated businesses that ensure high-quality working conditions and fair wages.

JEWELRY

All our jewelry is handmade in Nashville, Tennessee.

All of our scrap metal from the protection process is collected and sent off to a refinery that melts it down and processes it into new pieces of wire of sheets of gold and silver.

We have moved away from some of the harsher chemicals used in the jewelry manufacturing process to use natural solutions (such as citric acid for our Pickle instead of sodium bisulfate).

The majority of all of our sterling silver used is made purely from recycled silver. We source from US-based vendors for visibility into each vendor's ethical and sustainable standards. Several of our US-based vendors are small, family-owned and operated businesses that ensure high-quality working conditions and fair wages.

APPAREL

DENIM

All of our denim initiatives are sourced via the western hemisphere to reduce our carbon footprint in the shipping process.

In the denim design process, we have selected fabrics with mills that are developing different sustainable denims. Our non-stretch denim uses a liquid indigo that requires less water when being washed. We’ve also made sure to source all components (excluding labels) from the western hemisphere (and mostly within Mexico, where our denim is produced), to reduce the carbon footprint from shipping.

Denim is infamously one of the dirtiest items to produce, but our vendor, Monty Mexico, recycles 100% of their water, so that it is environmentally safe. They also use ozone in the production process to reduce water usage, making denim finishing more eco friendly. Currently, they are in the process of getting WRAP certified.

They avoid harsh chemicals, like Potassium Permanganate, when possible. Instead, they use more environmentally-friendly alternatives, like enzymes that act as biocatalysts.

In addition, they recycle 100% of the water they use for all washing processes, and when they do release water back into nature, they run it through some of the most innovative cleansers on the market to purify it so that it is safe and clean to put back into the land.

They also recycle all scraps of denim from cutting and sewing, giving to the government to use for housing insulation.

APPAREL

We primarily use all-natural fibers in all our materials. Our entire sweater line is made of 100% organic cotton – a material that is traceable from seed to garment. The first of many steps we plan to take in the sustainable apparel category.

The vendor that produces our organic cotton operates as a zero waste factory and is GOTS certified.

One of our apparel vendors (OAKS), purifies the water used for dyeing to a level that it becomes drinkable.

APPAREL

DENIM

In the denim design process, we have selected fabrics with mills that are developing different sustainable denims. Our non-stretch denim uses a liquid indigo that requires less water when being washed. We’ve also made sure to source all components (excluding labels) from the western hemisphere (and mostly within Mexico, where our denim is produced), to reduce the carbon footprint from shipping.

Denim is infamously one of the dirtiest items to produce, but our vendor, Monty Mexico, recycles 100% of their water, so that it is environmentally safe. They also use ozone in the production process to reduce water usage, making denim finishing more eco friendly. Currently, they are in the process of getting WRAP certified.

They avoid harsh chemicals, like Potassium Permanganate, when possible. Instead, they use more environmentally-friendly alternatives, like enzymes that act as biocatalysts.

CLOTHING

We primarily use all-natural fibers in all our materials. Starting in Fall 2020, we are launching sweaters made of 100% organic cotton – a material that is traceable from seed to garment.

The vendor that produces our organic cotton operates as a zero waste factory and is GOTS certified.

One of our apparel vendors (OAKS), purifies the water used for dyeing to a level that it becomes drinkable.

SHOES

We have eliminated use of poly bags as much as possible and recycle cardboard used in shipping.

The leather used in our shoes comes from tanneries in Brazil and Portugal that are part of Leather Working Groups – meaning they have very strict environmental protections, and recycle and purify the water they use back into their plant.

Conexport, one of our footwear vendors based in Brazil, is committed to using packaging products that meet FSC certification requirements, ensuring that products respect the strictest international environmental impact control protocols.

SHOES

We have eliminated use of poly bags as much as possible and recycle cardboard used in shipping.

The leather used in our shoes comes from tanneries that recycle and purify the water back into the plant.

Conexport, one of our footwear vendors based in Brazil, is committed to using packaging products that meet FSC certification requirements, ensuring that products respect the strictest international environmental impact control protocols.