Sustainability at Suki's Wardrobe

At Suki’s Wardrobe we take a thoughtful approach not only to fashion, but to our entire business as a whole. We feel this is our duty, as the fashion industry is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to damage to our environment and we are really keen to be part of the change. Our intention is not to greenwash our customers, but to provide them with brands who have transparent practices in terms of ethics and sustainability. 

Community is at the heart of everything we do and we feel proud to contribute to a more sustainable high street in Uppermill, where our boutique is based, as well as being part of the wider sustainability community both in the UK and across the globe. We are aiming for progress, not perfection at this stage and we are learning all the time. With the knowledge and advice that we have been gathering and will continue to collect on our journey as a SME, our ultimate goal is that by 2024 we are aiming to become one of Britain’s most sustainable slow fashion brands.  

We currently offer a beautiful wide range of clothing, jewellery and accessories with no compromise on quality and style, whilst keeping our prices attainable and affordable, and 85% of our offerings are currently sustainable and ethically produced. 

We are committed to sourcing our products from ethical and sustainable suppliers wherever possible and we are in constant conversation with our brands to keep updated on their practices so that we can ensure that we are doing our best to work towards the end goal of an entirely sustainable range. Another step we are embarking on a very exciting journey and are in the process of designing a fully sustainable range of our own signature kimonos and staple pieces that we aim to launch by mid-2022.

Here’s a little about the sustainable efforts being taken by some of the individual brands we are proud to stock in both our online store and our boutique in Uppermill, Greater Manchester. For full information on each of our brand’s sustainability practices, please see our ‘Brands’ dropdown menu.

Treaty Jewellery

Treaty Jewellery work with producers are carefully chosen for their ethical approach and sound eco-friendly production and waste management methods. Every piece from the Treaty collection is handmade by professional jewellery workers in a safe and happy working environment. Treaty Jewellery is made without the use of harmful metals commonly used all over the world like Lead, Nickel or Cadmium, and is particularly suitable for customers who may be allergic to these base metals.

One Hundred Stars

One Hundred Stars are a family run business who make stunning screen printed kimonos, duster jackets, robes, pyjamas, scarves and soft furnishings. Having strong ethics behind their brand is vitally important to them whether it is ensuring all their products are only ever printed using AZO free dyes, to using recycled packaging wherever possible, to paying all of their staff in the UK and abroad above the standard living wage.

Their garments are made in India following the highest standards of ethical, environmental, and health & safety practice. They work exclusively with another second-generation family business who manufacture all of their products. This company is audited regularly and awarded certification SA 8000. This is a social audit that ensures there is no child labour, no bonded labour and employs all its skilled workers on a permanent basis. In addition, One Hundred Stars carries out its own factory inspections once a year in person for extra peace of mind.

To reduce wastage, they design items specifically to make use of off-cut material. Any faulty items are repaired in house, then sold in a yearly sample sale, where all proceeds go to local charities.

They have also entered their fourth year working in collaboration with The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. A percentage of every sale from this collaborative range goes towards the vital work carried out at Kew into climate change research, preservation of natural habitats and conservation.

Lemon Jelly Shoes 

Lemon Jelly believes that you can no longer separate looking good from doing good and this is a mantra that permeates through their entire business. They embrace sustainability as a lifestyle and champion recycled materials, innovation and technology in order to make their eco aspirations a reality. 

“You are sustainable above all when you can really use things for years. Not only because they are of high quality, regionally and sustainably produced, but also because they have a timeless design and can be combined in many ways.” - Rosa Lazić, founder of Lemon Jelly Footwear.

They are completely cruelty-free, fully vegan and PETA approved. Absolutely no components of animal origin are incorporated in any of their products, including natural furs, feathers, silk, wool or any other raw materials animal-based. 

Jaase

Jaase is an Australian based label who have sustainability at the very heart of their business. Milling their own high-quality rayon fabrics and using toxin-free dyes means their garments are safer and cleaner for our marine life and oceans. Owning the factory in China has given the owners of Jaase the freedom to provide better working conditions for their staff. They have a kitchen with two full-time chefs to prepare healthy meals daily and they pay 20% higher than the average wage in China. They also have plans to install solar power in their factory to become more sustainable.

CHALK

CHALK offers a capsule range of loungewear, homeware and lifestyle products which are designed and manufactured in the UK. Their principles of comfort, versatility and timeless design extend across the collection allowing their products to complement any home or wardrobe. They understand better than most the challenges that local businesses and shops face and are committed to helping small boutiques and local highstreets thrive after starting their journey as a small boutique in a popular seaside town in Kent. 

Traffic People

Traffic People bring a contemporary twist for the woman who desires a timeless design with the right amount of naughtiness to reflect her unique inner style. Traffic People was devised out of a love for vintage inspired fashion and beautifully dressed women of eras past; Lauren Bacall, Anita Pallenburg, Ava Gardiner and Bianca Jagger to name a few. 

Traffic People create clothes that are designed to last. They aim for slow, rather than fast fashion and place huge value on the quality and craft behind each of their products. They put thought into all that they do, and this extends to their relationships with the people who help to bring our collections to life. They work closely with each of their suppliers from the fabric suppliers, to the manufacturers who create the garments, to ensure their brand principles are applied throughout the supply chain.

Their sourcing is carried out by an in-house product team who meet their suppliers in the country of the manufacturer. By regularly meeting with suppliers they aim to build strong working partnerships and all of their suppliers work in accordance with their principles, which are based on the International Labour Organisation’s core Conventions, and the Conventions on the Rights of the Child. These Conventions require the following: compliance with local labour laws, statutory pay and working hours, the right to organise and bargain collectively, a ban on child labour, a ban on discrimination, a ban on forced labour, health and safety in the workplace and compliance with local environmental legislation.

B.Young

B.Young’s ethical policy “b.fair” embodies their true commitment to constantly reducing their footprint. It’s about giving customers the option of dressing well and feeling great at the same time as showing they care for people and the environment. 

“We want to be part of setting new standards of sustainability throughout our entire process, from initial idea and design to the finished product in stores.” - Helle Olsen, brand director, b.young

B.fair is their contribution to giving fashion a new and greener agenda. b.fair is all about responsible production, sustainable materials, minimising waste and exploiting new opportunities to reduce any negative impact the business might have. For the sake of the environment and the people involved. They want to be fair to everyone. To be fair at every stage. When you see the b.fair label, you know that they have put an even greater effort into ensuring the item is the result of a sustainable process.