Here at Capital, we consciously seek out and source sustainable materials and methods to create, package and deliver the pieces you know, trust and love. This is often, the easiest part of the sustainability process particularly when creating products which are as sustainable as they are premium. Sustainable fabrics exist, new ones are consistently emerging, demand has increased however, still does not match the demand of ultra-fast and incredibly damaging fashion. This has been an ever-evolving process since day one and we want to share what we currently use to create SILOU along with a few learnings and obstacles we faced along the way.
TRIED AND TESTED
We have tried and tested countless fabrics for our SILOU range. Not everything works for our standards, which is sustainable luxury designed to stand the test of time. Bamboo and hemp, whilst soft and sustainable, breaks down easily and naturally with wear. This is why we choose TENCEL™ and Organic Cotton. Whilst present within the activewear industry, securing recycled materials for our active pieces which are equally sustainable and luxurious has been quite the process. We are small batch manufactured in workshops not sweatshops, which means whilst eco fabrics are available, for those of us who don’t work with mass volumes, comes mass premiums. Premiums drive up our prices and make us inaccessible. We have worked on this for seasons and have found our sweet spot. We are proud to announce the three principal fabrics we use are ECONYL®, a recycled nylon, TENCEL™ and Organic Cotton.
We use ECONYL®, a regenerated nylon made from landfill and ocean waste from around the world, in our garments. It's exactly the same as brand new nylon but can be recycled, recreated and remoulded again and again. That means you can create new products and buy new products without having to use new resources.
- ECONYL® has the potential to be recycled infinitely, without ever losing its quality. The goal is that once all products containing ECONYL® are no longer useful to customers, they can go back to step one of the Regeneration System.
- It reduces the global warming impact of nylon by up to 80% compared to the - material crafted from oil.
- ECONYL® allows for muscular compression aimed at decreasing the production of lactic acid and boosts better recovery of energy
- Gentle on the skin, ECONYL® is breathable and highly UV protective (UPF 50+).
- ECONYL® boasts resilient elastic memory meaning it moulds to you and bounces back to its shape more than regular activewear.
ORGANIC COTTON
Our cotton is organic and has been approved by The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). The aim of this Standard is to define requirements to ensure organic status of textiles, from the harvesting of raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labelling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer
To obtain the GOTS organic label, a product must:
- Contain at least 95% organic fibre
- Not be treated with bleach, formaldehyde or any other toxic substances
- Be coloured with non-toxic dyes
- Be produced in a mill that enforces strict social and environmental standards, treating their employees and the earth with deep respect
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
We sincerely believe that together, our everyday actions can lead us to a more sustainable future for us and our planet. We choose to source materials for our packaging that are fully biodegradable and recyclable. From our everyday packaging, premium boxes, gift cards to the hygiene strips found on our swimwear - nothing gets missed
Our polybags are made with P-Life and are landfill biodegradable. In short, the garment bags are created with additives that break itself down and can be completely assimilated back into nature. Our hygiene strips are made with 100% bio-based compostable materials. Woven labels such as SILOU neck labels and size tabs are made from recycled polyester and GRS (Global Recycled Standard for Textile Industry) certified. And finally, our swing tags, gift vouchers, envelopes, gift boxes - every bit of paper we use to deliver SILOU are recycled and GRS certified. Every little bit counts and we are part of a wider collective to build a better world through the sustainable choices we make today for tomorrow.
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
Surplus product and excess fabric consumption contribute to fashion landfill and unnecessary environmental impact. To counteract this and reduce overall textile waste, we are committed to small-batch manufacturing; a sustainable and respectful approach that works for our business, our customers and the planet. We have a strict no burning policy which goes hand in hand with our small batch manufactured method. We choose to work away from traditional market seasons, which allows for greater flexibility when designing and creating collections that truly make sense to our community versus consistently producing and manufacturing simply because that is the way it has been and is still done. We openly challenge traditional practices, when it doesn’t align with our brand philosophy.
