A fashion student who struggled to find ethically and environmentally friendly fabrics for her designs has launched her own ethical clothing and interiors online shop.
Offset Warehouse claims to be the first UK
online retailer to bring together "all the elements needed to create e
thical clothing and interiors". It sources eco friendly fabrics, materials and trims for the wholesale and retail market from across the world, including items that are recycled, reclaimed, organic, Fairtrade, sustainable and from co-operative initiatives.
Founder Charlie Ross said she decided to set up Offset Warehouse after she found it difficult to source socially and environmentally friendly fabrics, services and products while studying menswear design at the Royal College of Art.
"I was trying to find ethical fabrics for my designs and it was a nightmare trying to source them. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t a resource to find everything you need in one place," she said.
Ethical code
Ross said her warehouse adheres to an ethical code encompassing both environmental and social issues. The retailer, for example, will only work with companies that aim to reduce poverty, create sustainable livelihoods and minimise or counteract environmental problems. Each product sold on the website details information about how it is ethical.
Green directory
As well as a fabrics and haberdashery section, the website includes a clothing, footwear, bags and accessories boutique, an information resource and a directory, where customers can access ethical freelancers and businesses, including fashion designers, textile designers, fabric dyers, embroiderers, consultants, furniture makers and stationary suppliers.
Ross said her shop was already receiving positive feedback and orders and one of her objectives was to break into the mainstream fashion market.
"We’ve had interest from smaller ethical retailers, but we are looking to expand into mainstream and work with high-street brands such as H&M’s Cos," said Ross.
Clothing industry
The launch of Offset Warehouse comes at a time when the UK clothing industry is attempting to address its poor ethical and environmental performance. According to Government figures, the industry dumps 1.5 million tonnes of unwanted clothing in landfill every year, while the clothing and textiles industry’s annual carbon footprint stands at 3.1 million tonnes, and every year it produces two million tonnes of rubbish and wastes 70 million tonnes of water. Meanwhile, the industry sources 90 per cent of its products from abroad.
Sustainable action
Last year, the Government launched a fund – RAGS – to try to tackle the ethical and sustainable problems associated with the clothing industry, while the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan is an industry-wide initiatve aimed at addressing issues such as environmental performance in the supply chain and reusing and recycling. Marks & Spencers, through its Plan A initiative, and Continental Clothing Company with its EarthPositive Apparel, are some of the retailers involved in the action plan.
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Related links:
www.offsetwarehouse.com
www.defra.gov.uk
