What does it take to build a fashion brand that is good for the planet, the people in it and still turns a profit?
What materials, design processes and choices can minimize a garment’s environmental impact?
How can design align with doing social good?
We don’t have all the answers, but we can start by being honest. We are not perfect. As a brand, we are as imperfect as you are but want as badly as you do to make the world a better place. We are an aiming 100% sustainable clothing brand, operating a modern and responsible business. Each decision we make is a symbol of our commitment to defining what the future of fashion looks like. Pioneering new alternative materials, pushing towards circularity, protecting ancient and endangered forests, to measuring our impact with ground-breaking tools – commitment and sustainable development are our keywords.
MEASURING OUR IMPACT
The challenge of biodiversity loss and climate change demands a unified approach from the entire industry. To drive meaningful transformations, we must work collaboratively to understand and address the impact our activities have on our wider ecosystem. There is a heightened demand for businesses to identify and report their impact on the environment and communities they engage with.
A LINE is committed to responsibly using resources and minimizing the impact on people, animals, and the planet. Our sustainability report, published annually, is intended to keep our stakeholders, communities and the wider public informed on the progress of our sustainability efforts. Our impact is measured across all areas of the business value chain, using our own data collected by the sustainability department, as well as statistics provided by our partners.
The 2023 Impact Report details our strategy for driving positive outcomes throughout our business in three key areas: product development, collaboration with supply chain partners to adopt more sustainable practices, and operating our business in a more environmentally-conscious manner.
Despite continued progress on reducing our environmental footprint, we recognize that further work remains.
MATERIALS & CIRCULARITY
A LINE works exclusively with Spring Fashion & Design, LDA., which has obtained several certifications that help us improve our processes and minimise our environmental footprint in order to make informed choices about the most effective priorities to maintain a sustainability strategy that preserves biodiversity and meets the highest standards of safety and social welfare. All the certifications, including B Corp, SA8000, ISO9001, ISO 14001, GOTS, GRS, OCS, RCS, European Flax and OEKO-TEX Standard 100, provide us with the best tools to promote new and improved sustainable practices that will benefit the environment and society. The use of durable, recycled, recyclable, non-toxic, non-allergenic and certi-fied materials is an integral part of the company's commitment to environmental responsibility.
A LINE is a progressive luxury brand that has always been focused on the future. Our objective is to create the most beautiful and desirable products with the least impact on the planet. We believe that the fashion industry will increasingly adopt a circular model. We accept responsibility for the products that we create and ensure that none end up in waste. Each element of a garment is subject to rigorous scru-tiny, with our collections meticulously designed to align with the tenets of sustainable sourcing, circu-larity, and minimisation of waste. Our focus is on optimising the garment life cycle and extending it to its full potential.
We believe that the simplicity and strong minimal identity of our clothing are the first steps towards achieving circularity.
One of our key concerns is fabric stock. We endeavour to purchase the optimal quantity of fabric for our collection and production, incorporating our deadstock in the following ones. Furthermore, the use of deadstock has a positive impact on the environment by reducing the need for new materials and divert-ing materials from landfills or incinerators. We have always considered longevity and circularity in our design process. Our garments are designed to be durable and to withstand the test of time, ensuring that they can be worn and treasured for years to come.
The A LINE Longevity Program offers customers the option of repairing any damage to their garments before they consider replacing them. Together with our in-house artisans, we will propose a solution on a case-by-case basis. Items that are not suitable for repair, along with all purchases from A LINE, can be recycled or donated. The longevity program has the dual benefit of reducing the number of garments sent to landfill and incineration sites, while also offering customers a sustainable way to recycle and repurpose their unused garments. In return for their participation, customers will enjoy a 15 percent discount on their next purchase.
We are committed to the circular economy and the development of innovative recycling and repurpos-ing solutions, which will enable the industry to become more sustainable. Our goal is to set an example for others to follow by reducing waste and embracing a zero-waste vision, in line with our values.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY & HUMAN RIGHTS
At A LINE, we believe that social responsibility and sustainable development are the foundation for acting in accordance with the principles of sustainable development across the economic, social and environmental dimensions. We strive to assume social responsibility with the communities where our business activities are carried out, with the aim of contributing to their progress and well-being. We also seek to mitigate and/or minimise the environmental impacts that result from the aspects associated with our activities and services.
All workers have formal employment contracts that respect local legislation and human rights standards. A LINE has a workers' compensation insurance policy, as well as an insurance policy for each worker to ensure access to better medical care. All employees receive regular training on safety issues, standards and procedures. All employees are treated with dignity and respect and there is no tolerance for verbal harassment.
It is our objective to encourage employees, customers, suppliers, and members of the community at large to adopt the most environmentally responsible practices. These include reducing waste production, improving waste segregation for recycling and disposal, preventing pollution, and using water and energy efficiently.