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AFFORDABLE SUSTAINABLE FASHION UK
CARIKI: A SUSTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE FASHION BRAND
Sustainability forms the core of Cariki. It drives our decisions, determines who we partner with and shapes the products we release. Yet sustainable fashion must become affordable if we are to transition to a greener future.Sustainability is part of our DNA
It is our purpose and passion, our reason for existence. Ultimately it lies at the heart of everything we stand for and believe.But it hasn’t always been this way. As we grew and developed, we knew more had to be done to change the way we make our clothes. Let us take you on our sustainable journey in the hope of shaping yours.
Our story to sustainability starts here...
The origins of our sustainable story
We started back in 2016 selling bamboo and organic cotton T-shirts. Both are sustainable, both have unique properties, but the truth is we didn’t know what really lay behind the fabrics.
As we grew, our interest in the fabrics increased, and with it our desire to find out more about the materials we were buying and the processes involved in their production.
What we found truly shocked us, inspiring us to act. For you to understand, it is worth us sharing some of the facts.
As we grew, our interest in the fabrics increased, and with it our desire to find out more about the materials we were buying and the processes involved in their production.
What we found truly shocked us, inspiring us to act. For you to understand, it is worth us sharing some of the facts.
THE FACTS BEHIND FASHION
The clothing industry is one of the most polluting in the world, yet few are aware just how devastating fashion really is. If left to continue on its current trajectory, it could contribute 26% of our global carbon budget related to a 2 degrees rise in temperatures by 2050.
“THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY COULD CONTRIBUTE 26% OF OUR GLOBAL CARBON BUDGET BY 2050”
- Ellen Macarthur FoundationWhen we began to understand the environmental impact that fashion was having on our planet, we knew that we didn’t want any part of it.
Its footprint extends beyond emissions, affecting you and me as much as those manufacturing it across the globe.
Unspeakable ethics, dyed-red rivers, dried up seas, habitats destroyed by toxins, fast fashion can no longer be ignored.
Our desire to have the latest trends is fuelled by weekly releases that are such poor quality that much of it will end up in landfills within months. Charity shops can no longer even accept the majority of your high street donations.
Its footprint extends beyond emissions, affecting you and me as much as those manufacturing it across the globe.
Unspeakable ethics, dyed-red rivers, dried up seas, habitats destroyed by toxins, fast fashion can no longer be ignored.
THE APPAREL INDUSTRY ACCOUNTS FOR 10% OF GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS AND REMAINS THE SECOND LARGEST INDUSTRIAL POLLUTER, SECOND ONLY TO OIL.
- ForbesOur desire to have the latest trends is fuelled by weekly releases that are such poor quality that much of it will end up in landfills within months. Charity shops can no longer even accept the majority of your high street donations.
NEARLY THREE-FIFTHS OF ALL CLOTHING ENDS UP IN INCINERATORS OR LANDFILLS WITHIN A YEAR OF BEING PRODUCED.
- The New York TimesWhilst we cannot promise to fix every problem facing fashion today, we are determined to do everything we can to reduce our impact.
"CARIKI ARE AN AWARD WINNING SUSTAINABLE FASHION BRAND HELPING TO TRANSITION THE WORLD TO A GREENER FUTURE"
Organic Cotton T-Shirt,
Reducing our impact on the environment
Reducing our impact on the environment
Our core mission
Our ultimate aim is to provide low impact, responsible fashion that both looks and feels amazing whilst also remaining affordable.
Through our determination to innovate coupled with our passion for design, we are always testing new ideas to see what works and what doesn’t, bringing some of the latest and greatest in sustainable fashion.
Through our determination to innovate coupled with our passion for design, we are always testing new ideas to see what works and what doesn’t, bringing some of the latest and greatest in sustainable fashion.
Nearly 70 million barrels of oil are used each year to make the world’s polyester fiber, which is now the most commonly used fiber in our clothing. But it takes more than 200 years to decompose.
- Forbes
Who we partner with
We only partner with facilities who share our vision and our values for a sustainable future. It is our belief that by building trust based relationships we can work together to develop new and exciting products that have the potential to create change on a global scale.
As our product offerings grow, we are continuously searching for new suppliers who can be challenged to work with exciting new materials. We look for those who adhere to strict environmental and ethical audits, where possible visiting our suppliers to ensure a level of satisfaction with their values, and refuse to work with anyone who we feel doesn’t meet our expectations. This way, we partner only with carefully selected factories across Europe, America and Asia, assessing each one against a variety of criteria.
As our product offerings grow, we are continuously searching for new suppliers who can be challenged to work with exciting new materials. We look for those who adhere to strict environmental and ethical audits, where possible visiting our suppliers to ensure a level of satisfaction with their values, and refuse to work with anyone who we feel doesn’t meet our expectations. This way, we partner only with carefully selected factories across Europe, America and Asia, assessing each one against a variety of criteria.
Karyna, one of our London based partners.
Tent jacket,
made from upcycled tents
made from upcycled tents
Reuse and recycle
“Waste doesn’t have to be a dirty word. Waste becomes a source of new materials.”
Waste doesn’t have to be a dirty word. To us, waste holds the potential to be reimagined into something new through either upcycling or recycling. At Cariki, we are constantly seeking to push the boundaries of what is possible and what is not by seeking new ways to recycle materials throughout our production and packaging process.When things must be thrown away, we want to ensure they are fully biodegradable and will not release dangerous toxins into the ground as they decompose. Our packaging is an example of this as we have switched from plastic to biodegradable shipping bags.
INCREASING AWARENESS
The majority of clothes made today contain some pretty toxic chemicals. Take traditionally grown cotton as an example. Cotton is viewed by most as a natural product grown without harm to the planet - this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The vast majority of cotton is grown so intensively that to produce 1kg often releases more pollution into the air and local environment than the equivalent weight of polyester. It is water intensive, incredibly chemical dependent, and is sadly still sourced and manufactured in locations where ethics has to be called into question.
The vast majority of cotton is grown so intensively that to produce 1kg often releases more pollution into the air and local environment than the equivalent weight of polyester. It is water intensive, incredibly chemical dependent, and is sadly still sourced and manufactured in locations where ethics has to be called into question.
While only 2.4 percent of the world's cropland is planted with cotton, it consumes 10 percent of all agricultural chemicals and 25 percent of insecticides.
- EcoWatch
Organic cotton T-shirts,
100% chemical free
100% chemical free
Cariki
More sustainable together
More sustainable together
This is why we must continue to learn and share what we know, giving regular updates on our blog and at events in an attempt to help move this industry forward.
Many of us are becoming increasingly mindful of the fact that our planet is fragile and things must change if we are to conserve its natural beauty for future generations. We appreciate that change is slow and that your actions may seem insignificant, but change happens only through repeated small actions that compound over years.
We are committed to helping raise awareness about the need to shop sustainably. The more people we reach, the greater the change that we help to create.
Many of us are becoming increasingly mindful of the fact that our planet is fragile and things must change if we are to conserve its natural beauty for future generations. We appreciate that change is slow and that your actions may seem insignificant, but change happens only through repeated small actions that compound over years.
We are committed to helping raise awareness about the need to shop sustainably. The more people we reach, the greater the change that we help to create.