BRAND SPOTLIGHT : SSŌNE
As the fashion industry continues to struggle with ways to mitigating it's negative environmental impact, we see smaller, women-owned eco-brands like Another Tomorrow, Maggie Marilyn, Olivia Rose The Label, Mara Hoffman, Tove, Mother Of Pearl and Ssōne doing the hard work and leading the way for how we can effect real, meaningful change.
Ssōne (pronounced "Sewn") is a contemporary womenswear brand, based in London with designs that have a subtle femininity and connection to nature. The brand was founded in 2018 by Caroline Smithson, with a firm commitment to sustainable and responsible business practices throughout the entire ecosystem of the brand. A graduate of Central Saint Martins and a veteran of the luxury fashion industry, Smithson's work with major brands gave her front row access to the toxic practices within the industry. When she decided to create Ssōne, she wanted to make a major difference.
Raw Materials: the brand sources only organic, recycled, dead stock and natural fibres in the selection of the raw materials used in the production of their collections. Low-water washing and natural botanical dyeing processes are also a central tenet in how the brand incorporates sustainable and eco-conscious methods in producing each collection.
Supplier Chain: integrity and transparency throughout their entire supply chain and production. Tracing the origin of all of their materials by visiting the factories that produce their materials to ensure that the workers receive fair wages and work in suitable working conditions.
Carbon Footprint: use of local producers reduces reliance on transportation and allow the brand to closely oversee the production of their collections and allows them to continually adapt to methods that further lower their carbon footprint through better eco-friendlier choices.
Zero-Waste: textile cut-offs and unsold garments are repurposed to create unique pieces rather than sent to landfills for incineration.
While larger brands and major fashion houses engages in PR tactics and greenwashing noise without any action, we are happy to see more and more smaller, independent brands continue to move into the eco-conscious operating space. We look forward to seeing the continued environmental evolution of brands like Ssōne.
