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sustainable fashion

in today’s climate, we can no longer ignore the methods in how we acquire goods and services. whether you’re shopping for a merino wool cardigan or merino all-knit pants, do you know the full journey of your purchase?

standard issue aims to be a trusted and ethical clothing manufacturer in new zealand. we make a point to not only ensure that we know where every fibre we sell comes from, but also what happens to it when you’re done using it.

what is eco-friendly fashion?

sustainable or eco-friendly fashion is a movement and ideology to change the industry for the better.

historically, this supply chain has been known to favour profits over ethics. before, companies were just opting for the most affordable resource to gain the most profit - regardless of how it was being produced. issues like chemical use, clothing waste, carbon emissions, even exploitation of animals and people were often not taken into account.

in the late 80s, companies started to see the decline in natural resources because of the fashion industry. the overproduction and overconsumption of fibres meant that nature could not keep up with the ever changing industry.

things like fast fashion - which means mass production of garments - were already a huge problem, but companies were only starting to take notice.

eco-friendly fashion means knowing exactly where and how your products get produced. therefore, rethinking an entire system of production and taking into account -

resources - how and where you acquire your materials and what efforts are in place to replace and/or protect natural resources.

production - how your materials are processed and what is the impact on the environment in terms of water, carbon and pollution.

manufacturing - who is making your garments? facilities that violate human rights or offer an unfair wage are of tremendous concern.

transport - how are your products being delivered and is there any way to reduce the carbon footprint of the transportation.

recycle - what happens to your garment when you no longer use it or how long it takes to decompose?

    how is standard issue sustainable fashion?

    since the 1980’s, we’ve been producing durable knitwear that’s designed to last - some call it, slow fashion. we make a point to consider all the aspects of our product’s journey - environmental, aesthetic, functionality and longevity.

    our passion for fashion and sustainable development in our industry ties deeply with our zero waste policy and beliefs. from making everything in-house to creating a zero-waste chain, we take four crucial steps to abide by this clothing lifecycle:

    #1 natural fibres

    we only want to produce long-lasting knitwear and never go for synthetics or the cheapest option. we put all our natural fibres through a rigorous testing process before even considering it as part of our process. our criteria means that our fibres are 100% renewable and/or recycled with a low environmental impact.

    #2 technology & repurposing

    we utilise innovative technology to minimise waste in the production process and work with a local new zealand company that repurposes our off-cuts and turns them into household and commercial textile products. in doing so, we can keep to our promise of clothing made sustainably that lasts.

    #3 limited production runs

    we don’t overproduce our products. wasteful manufacturing takes up space in landfills. according to a bbc report, an estimated 92 million tonnes of textiles waste is created each year and the equivalent to a rubbish truck full of clothes ends up in landfill sites every second. so, we prevent unnecessary production which is not only good for the environment but also means that many of our garments are one-of-a-kind.

    #4 care for life

    we take responsibility for the full lifecycle of each of our garments. our care for life program focuses on the entire life cycle of standard issue clothing. in doing so, we offer to:

    renew - we will repair your knit and offer any small mending work for free. alternatively, we can also do larger repairs for a modest fee.

    reuse - if you no longer wear something you’ve purchased from us, we work with local communities and redistribute clothing that you no longer use to people in need. we even offer a 10% discount when returning items to be reused.

    repurpose - for clothing that is beyond repair, we work with a new zealand textile recycling company who repurpose materials into household goods and products. if you have something to be repurposed, we offer a 10% discount.

    you can see our full story here.

    jumper for jumper program

    one of our most important values is to give back to the community. every winter, standard issue partners with middlemore foundation to help provide vulnerable tamariki warmth.

    for every jumper purchased, we match it by gifting one of our woollen jumpers to a child in need. all of these items are made in our auckland workroom to produce a zero-waste, warm jumper that are created to last.

    one step at a time

    while we’re just one sustainable brand, we firmly believe that every little bit counts. in the long term, we know that our contributions to the slow fashion industry, be it through organic cotton or zq merino wool, we’re doing our part to make a difference.

    shop standard issue today.


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