Zady, the ethical e-tailer is the prime mover behind “Sourced In,” a new initiative it says will “revolutionize” the fashion industry’s consideration of supply-chain transparency. Designed to go beyond the country-of-origin labels found on most clothing, Sourced In asks brands to take greater ethical responsibility for their myriad moving parts. By laying bare every node in their production, Zady argues, consumers will gain an “element of trust and confidence” in hitherto fuzzy terms like “made in the U.S.A.,” “sustainable,” or “artisan.”
#KNOWYOURSOURCE
The call to action coincides with the launch of Zady’s “Essential Collection” women’s sweater, the first in a line of projected private-label goods from the company.
On its website, Zady offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the sweater, including photos and a video of its “farm to closet” process. Designed in New York City, the sweater boasts an all-American provenance from fiber to finish, beginning in Oregon’s Imperial Stock Ranch and ending at the Ball of Cotton knitting facility in Commerce, Calif.
“When brands only offer transparency of the final stages in an assembly factory, they are not disclosing the full supply chain, which is a much more extensive, and normally very environmentally disastrous process,” says Zady co-founder Maxine Bédat in a statement. “With the new Sourced In movement, Zady is providing details and visual proof for how we created our first product, from the farm to factory. We are proud to say that our knit was sourced and made 100 percent in the U.S.A., which has remained a leader in regulating production, helping to minimize the negative impact of the textile industry.”
The sweater marks the first time an apparel company has offered this level of “heightened transparency,” according to Bédat. Available in three colors and priced at $160, it also demonstrates that “attainable luxury” isn’t the mythical unicorn it’s been made out to be.
“A garment described as high-quality and sustainable should not be exclusively synonymous with a high-fashion price tag,” says Soraya Darabi, Bédat’s business partner. “By exposing our supply chain, we hope other brands will follow our lead in producing beautiful luxury items in an ethical way, at a reasonable price point that allows for consumers to invest in and build their wardrobe with products they feel proud to own for an entire lifetime.”
Want to participate in the Sourced In movement? Use #KnowYourSource on social media to join the conversation.
Source: Ecouterre
