As a fashion brand, there are many areas in which you can pursue the theme of sustainability. A topic that is particularly important for end customers is the choice of fabrics. That's what we as end customers can see and consciously choose something.
But there is so much more to creating a sustainable clothing brand.
We would like to give you an insight into the different areas in which sustainability can be pursued and the decisions we have made for Mint Girls.
What to look out for when choosing fabrics
Before we commit to a specific fabric composition, it is important to understand the quality characteristics of fabrics. There are several aspects to consider, such as the softness, breathability and durability of the material.
To explain two main components of clothing here, let's look at cotton and polyester.
Cotton is a natural fiber and has the advantage of being breathable and skin-friendly. Here, too, there are big differences in quality and sustainability.
How is cotton different from organic cotton? Organic cotton comes from non-genetically modified crops that are planted and grown without the aid of chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers. When growing organic cotton, harmful chemicals such as pesticides are avoided and more ecological cultivation methods are used. Not only is this good for the clothes we wear, it also prevents farmland pollution and cotton farmers exposure to pesticides.
Polyester, on the other hand, is a synthetic fiber often valued for its durable and wrinkle-resistant properties.
Depending on which garment you want and for what use, the answer to the right fabric can look different.
Is 100% organic cotton really plastic-free?
Even clothing made from 100% organic cotton may contain traces of plastic. Even if the garment is made of 100% organic cotton, the threads or labels are often made of polyester. Especially with the thread it is important that it lasts for a long time and does not tear immediately even under stress and that is where a polyester thread usually comes off best. This means that even clothing that is advertised as 100% cotton often contains some plastic.
The choice of 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane
We want to make our decision transparent about why we chose to use fabrics made from 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane.
For Mint Girls, the use of organic cotton is of great importance, as we not only do something good for our children, but also support environmentally friendly cultivation.
The addition of 5% elastane ensures a comfortable fit and longer durability of our garments while preventing the garments from stretching. This makes the clothes more durable, which is also an important factor for sustainability.
That's why we made the conscious decision not to produce pure cotton dresses and leggings, as these would wear out and deform within a short time.
Sustainability is a continuous process and goes far beyond the fabric
Sustainability is a continuous process where there is always room for improvement. At Mint Girls, we strive to advance our sustainable vision and find new ways to use more environmentally friendly materials and production processes. By consciously choosing fabrics, we want to take a step towards sustainability in the fashion industry.
Sustainability goes much further than just choosing the right fabric. How the fabrics are dyed, processed and transported also contributes to whether the garment is sustainable.
One of the most important examples and a phenomenon that we don't understand is that producers normally pack EVERY SINGLE piece of clothing in a plastic film. This prevents the clothes from being wrinkled and dirty during transport and also makes storage easier. However, the impact on the environment is large. We made a conscious decision not to pack the clothes individually in plastic and thus avoid large amounts of plastic waste.
Here is a brief overview of the areas in which we strive to take a sustainable path:
Short transport routes: Our cotton comes from Turkey, production is in Portugal.
Production companies are sustainable: If the production company does not cooperate, it is difficult to change anything. That's why it's important for us to work with companies that share our values.
Choice of fabrics: Ultimately, the fabrics are what our children wear on their skin and you have to be careful with that.
Products are not individually wrapped in plastic: This way we avoid a lot of plastic waste.
Transportation overland and avoiding empty trucks: Our clothes come in trucks. Sometimes a little later, because the truck first has to be filled with other goods from other brands.
Shipping to end customers in sustainable packaging: The packaging used is compostable.
At Mint Girls we attach great importance to sustainability as an overall concept. What the customer sees in the end is only a very small part of it.
Can you think of another topic that is important to look at?
We would love to read your opinion in the comments.