Follow the transparent
journey of the Signature T-shirt
Society Portraits © Transparency Statement
Both the farm and manufacturing plant are GOTS Certified and therefore abide by the strict social and environmental criteria created by GOTS. This means that workers are paid fairly, working conditions are of standard and the wellbeing of workers and the planet is at the forefront of production.
Society Portraits © operates a transparent supply chain and strive to deliver pieces that are timeless, so only produce in limited quantities to avoid wasteful overproduction, creating exclusive members only collections.
Growing and picking the GOTS certified cotton
Organic GOTS certified cotton is harvested and sourced from farmers who are involved in the cotton improvement program: RESET - which works with farmers to help them understand the benefits of growing cotton sustainably. Whilst simultaneously providing education regarding the harm of toxic chemicals, and supporting them to remove these from the environment and surrounding areas; to improve the health and well-being of their farms and local communities.
RESET
'Regenerate the Environment, Society, Economy through Textiles'
This initiative ensures a lasting impact on India's cotton belt, championing regenerative ethical, sustainable, organic farming practices.
The RESET program supports farmers, community development, climate change, mitigation, data capture, certifications (GOTS, USDA Organic, Cradle-to-Cradle, Fair-Trade Certified), traceability, women's empowerment, circularity, transitions agriculture and win-win solutions for farmers and partners alike to encourage positive employment and developments in impoverished communities.
The certified organic cotton comes from well vetted farms in India under the National Organic Program (NOP).
Our manufacturer is certified by the Cradle-to-Cradle Institute - an organisation that ensures businesses are ‘closing the loop’ within production. The thesis is ensuring that production considers the planet. Certification requires meeting guidelines in the areas of material re-use, renewable energy, water stewardship, and social justice.
Manufacturing
The Signature T-shirt is manufactured in a closed-loop production and Global Organic Textile Standard GOTS certified manufacturing plant in Virginia USA. The factory abides to the strict social and environmental criteria governed by GOTS, and is powered by solar panel and clean energy. The garments are cut, sewn and screen printed with water-based inks under the same roof for efficiency, which keeps carbon footprint to a minimum.
Manufacturing: Who Made My Clothes?
The 'who made my clothes' initiative works towards changing the way clothing is sourced, produced and consumed. Focusing on the collaborative efforts of the fashion chain – from farmer to consumer.
The factory works with a local jail with a work-release program to help rehabilitate members of the community via workforce development and women’s empowerment programs, creating factory worker jobs, driving social justice.
Society Portraits © Signature T-shirt's are dyed and screen-printed with sustainable, low-impact SeaInk: seaweed-derived dyes (free of chlorine bleach, acetone, formaldehyde or heavy metals) which have been classified by the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (an international certification process) as eco-friendly. The seaweed-based dye has less than 5% runoff compared to conventional dyes, which can run off 55-60% into our environment.
Water-based dyes do not use PVC, resins or harmful chemicals. The dyes create a permanent bond with the material to not run or crack after washing, whilst creating soft to touch printed graphics.
After manufacturing, an enzyme GOTS-certified Eco-wash is used to preshrink the Signature T-shirt to give is a luxuriously soft texture.
The garments are then flown to the UK in carbon neutral transportation.
All parcels are hand packaged in the UK with custom recyclable and upcycled material packaging.
