This is how we work
Responsibility
What we wear makes a difference and will create change!
Change starts from within.
When we realize that we are part of everything and everything is part of us, we realize that everything we do has an impact on the realm around us and on us.
So why not be nice to ourselves and influence in a way that we like?
Do you know these thoughts "Oh, I'm not gonna make a difference!", "My voice won't change anything"?
It's time to wake up and realize the power that each and every one of us brings with them! Let's take responsibility for our actions!
One of them being the clothes that we choose to wear :)
Because through our clothes we create change.
We create the way the industry works.
We create working conditions.
We create the working environment.
We create the way we cooperate in this world.
We create the way animals are treated.
We create the way plants are grown.
We create manufacturing processes.
We change the climate.
We create the way chemicals are used.
We reduce pollution.
We create change in consumerism.
We change the environment.
We create a sustainable use of clothing.
We create to be responsible users of clothing.
We create perceptions about our bodies.
We create how we perceive beauty.
We create our health.
We create reciprocity in every moment with everything and everyone.
We create life.
A piece of clothing tells a story. A story that begins with a seed in the ground. We can choose which story we want to be part of when we purchase a piece of clothing, we take on an active role in its story. Because the story doesn't end with the purchase but instead begins a new chapter of its life. So, the way we treat our piece of clothing writes the next chapter.
Partnership
Together we can create a better world!
A world that used to work separately, where the perception of there is not enough for everybody led our actions, where we fought over recources and information, where we held tightly onto data, where we believed that others could take something away from us, where we believed in competition, a world that used to be like this is now ready more than ever for new ways of working.
We are having so much fun exploring working modes that are based on
transparency,
sharing,
cooperation on eye level,
valueing the self and the other,
companionship,
open communication,
reciprocal development processes and relationships!
Compostable
Cradle to cradle inspired design - everything is kept circular!
MAKE-USE-RETURN
What we take, we bring back.
When we look at the conventional fashion industry, we notice that it is very linear. We take from our ressources, we make something out of them, and what we made becomes waste. End of story.
But the good news is: It doesn't have to be like this! We can change the system by just making little switches in the procedures and getting out of our comfort zones for just a moment, zoom out, and see how simple things can actually be if we just take a look for a moment :) Good news, right?
So, our goal at erie is to keep clothing in the cycle of life and prolong the life span with a sustainable and circular business model that is inspired by nature where each part supports the whole.
At erie everything can go to the compost at the end and becomes nutritional soil again.
This requires for all supplies used in our clothing to be on a
natural and organic level,
meaning the fabrics, the sewing threads, the prints, the dyeing procedures,
.... everything!
We use procedures that work with nature in a
reciprocal relationship
instead of working against it as we used to do in conventional processes.
What is Cradle-To-Cradle?
"With Cradle to Cradle®, as in nature, there is no such thing as waste, no having to do without, no limitations. Using biological and technological nutrient cycles, the right materials are brought to the right place at the right time. The aim of the Cradle to Cradle® design concept is to improve the quality of products so that they:
- have an improved consumer quality for the user
- pose no health risk for anyone who comes into contact with them
- are of both economic and ecological benefit."
from the website of EPEA
More information on the three main principles
Waste equals Food
Use current Solar Income
Celebrate Diversity
Vegan
No animals are harmed during production - everything is vegan!
erie loves animals and sees them as beings to be treated on eye level and beings that humanity can learn a lot of things from.
Animals are part of our planet‘s beauty and play an important role in the regulation of the planet‘s eco system. They bring with them an immense variety of aspects also on a physical level.
The way they are being treated by a large part of humanity is doing a lot of harm to them while taking advantage of them as "objects" or "machines".
The textile and fashion industry is one of the main industries to misuse animals: in order for us to have "nice" products, a lot of animals are suffering and dying - such as leather, wool, fur, silk, etc.
At erie we believe that there are other ways that bring us the comfort we wish for without harming our beloved animal friends. This is why everything is vegan.
The alternatives we use:
Instead of wool, we use cotton that is knitted or woven in ways to store the air so that it keeps us warm. As well, we use knitted hemp that has amazing capacities of storing warmth.
Instead of conventional silk, where the silk worms are brutally killed so that the threads of the cocoons stay in one piece, we only work with Peace Silk, meaning that the worms are not killed but leave their cocoon, become butterflies and only afterwards the thread is taken from the cocoons.
Regarding leather, there are already great alternatives out there that in the future will be part of our collection.
Zero-Waste
Patterns are zero-waste, no fabric goes to the trash!
In the textile and fashion industry around 1/3 of all textiles goes to the trash before even reaching the customer.
One of the reasons is the fabric waste created through the patterns and the placing of the patterns on the fabric.
This is why our aim is to first of all create patterns that don't create extra waste but instead work with each individual fabric to use all of it and secondly of all to create something out of the left over pieces that may be created in certain cases.
So: noting goes to the trash and everything is used.
Plant-based dyes
All colors are extracted from nature
One of the main environmental influences in the textile and fashion industry are the chemical dyes to bring color to the textiles.
The chemical dyes pollute the waters immensely and contribute even after their production when already with the customer to environmental damage through the washing procedures. They can also bring damage to our health, while touching our skin.
That is why we are only working with natural dyes that actually contribute too our health. Many of the dye plants can be eaten and are often used also as medicine. The color that they give varies between many different shades and colors through which a lot is possible to create.
Natural colors always bring a little surprise with them, depending on the year of harvest, the soil, the seed, the environmental surroundings and so on - so it never gets boring :)