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Success stories

SOUL CAP Swimming Caps to Swimwear

SOUL CAP: Practical and inclusive high-quality swimwear. “Partnering with Seamless Source, Soul Cap realized their vision for high-quality swimwear that breaks down barriers and enhances accessibility to water sports. With meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to excellence, our collaboration ensured that Soul Cap’s swimwear met the highest standards of durability, functionality, and style.” – SOUL CAP is an innovative swimwear brand which has the empowering mission to make swimming more inclusive and accessible for all; specialising in high-quality, practical swim caps and swimwear. After the success of SOUL CAP skin-friendly swim caps, which are designed for a ‘snug fit’ and a ‘tight seal’ to protect all hair types – including short-straight to long-curly, light and fine to beautiful voluminous afro – from water. The brand now introduces their own swimwear collection for all ages and all genders! Loved by swimmers around the world (in over 50 countries!) – SOUL CAP’s swimming products are even now approved to be used in top-level competitions. With strong and reliable durability for tough conditions to suit the serious athlete and Olympic contenders; as well as modern and stylish for the casual swimmer – there’s an item for everyone. It’s inevitable the brand secured a successful collaboration with Adidas. Through working with Seamless Source, SOUL CAP are achieving the high-quality swim pieces that they had so desired. Enabling the brand to move forward into the swimwear and water sports market, and to continue breaking down barriers. The foundations of SOUL CAP Michael Charles Chapman and Tokunbo Ahmed are the founders of SOUL CAP and have been best friends for 20 years. They recall swimming as “not a sport that’s open to everyone.” After learning to swim as adults and identified a real issue in the swim world. They didn’t feel that children were receiving the support they needed. Including viewing a number of athletes failing to see a path to success; and knowing that thousands of swimmers had no access to swimwear that was suitable for them.  It is these problems that prompted them to find the solution in creating inclusive swimwear for the sport they now love.  “Swim For All” By being not just a brand, but a movement. SOUL CAP are proud to champion ‘swim for all’ as their key purpose. Creating swim to be more accessible for all genders and all hair types that goes even beyond just practicality; they aim to create an aquatic space for anyone and everyone who wants to take part.  Swimming is more than a sport and a leisure activity – it’s a life saving skill. So it’s important for the black community to feel comfortable in the water, and SOUL CAP are on a mission to break down the obstacles that hinders confidence through their products and Swim Proud Fund. It is through hard work that the brand envisioned and perfected the swim caps to make their dreams a reality. Now with their new swimwear designs finalised for the next stage of their business, they just needed the right materials to achieve their desired quality to match up with their swim cap specifications.  How Seamless Source helped SOUL CAP approached Seamless Source with their full product collection but stressed that they were not happy with its finish and wanted better high-end quality pieces to put out into the market.  After initial meetings to discuss the exact needs and plans, our industry expert team conducted a full analysis of the brand’s swimwear collection. They understood exactly what was required and swiftly mapped out an efficient supply chain strategy on the Seamless Source platform, which the SOUL CAP team could easily keep track of throughout the process.  With the designing stage completed prior to joining our services, we moved straight into the fabric sampling and sourcing stage – saving the brand time and cost by eliminating the need to redesign.  Out of our extensive list of manufacturing partners, SOUL CAP trusted us to choose the most suitable supplier who could elevate the quality of their products to the best standard – to which we delivered. Our operations team assigned a top fabric supplier who matched the brands requirements and provided samples which were deemed suitable and high-quality for the swimwear caps. 78% recycled polyamide and 22% Elastane knitted fabric were blended for the main fabric, and 80% recycled polyester combined with 20% Spandex knitted fabric was used for the lining material – as this would give excellent performance in water. Then once the product sample developments were also approved – bulk production could commence! As part of our services, the brand is using our digital product passport – 360 Trace – an added benefit through sourcing with us. This fully tracks the products’ supply chain production and connects the product with recycling and circularity options. Allowing SOUL CAP the much needed transparency for their customers to view at will.  Success SOUL CAP were extremely pleased with the results as we delivered exactly what we had promised. Water performance-led, high-quality strong and reliable swimwear – for the toughest water sports conditions.  These innovations brought by SOUL CAP allow swimming to be inclusive and we are proud to be the core part of their sourcing journey. Seamless Source will remain committed to a close collaboration with SOUL CAP, and we’re excited to see their swimwear launch this year. Get them while you can – you won’t want to miss out! You can check out the amazing SOUL CAP swim caps and swimwear here: https://soulcap.com/ See more Seamless Source Successes here.

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Success stories

Munãgiso Reusable Period Pants

Munãgiso: Sustainable and high quality reusable sanitary period pants. “Seamless Source played a crucial role in realising Munãgiso’s vision for sustainable and high-quality reusable sanitary period pants. The team’s unwavering commitment to excellence and extensive industry knowledge allowed them to navigate Munãgiso’s project seamlessly. Meeting Munãgiso’s requirements for durability and sustainability, Seamless Source’s support is propelling the brand toward making a positive impact on young girls’ lives and addressing environmental sustainability and period poverty.” – The revolutionary brand, Munãgiso, is giving confidence to young girls during their periods with their specialised eco-friendly sanitary pants!  Designed to keep dry and leak-free for up to 12 hours of protection, these breathable pants are not only comfortable but also eliminate odour. They are ultra-absorbent (absorbing up to 30ml of liquid using 3D technology), functional, and reusable. So girls can have a secured experience with their period, incontinence, or any other leaks while feeling like they’re wearing regular underwear and knowing they’re doing good for the environment. According to the brand, with just 1 pair of Munãgiso period pants replaces up to 200 tampons! Keen on sustainability? Through working with Seamless Source, Munãgiso pants are crafted to be chemical-free and made with 100% Organic Cotton – so they can provide a more sustainable solution and fulfil their visions. The story of Munãgiso Through growing up with a persistent fear of leaky periods into adulthood, Yves Boothe was determined to find a solution to help her daughter and other girls live with confidence during their menstrual cycles.  So after vigorous research of period management, trialling materials and experimenting fits and styling – Munãgiso was born!  “I like to think of our pants as a superhero cape for girls during that time of the month, offering protection, privacy and control. No more leaks… And no more embarrassment. Just confidence and empowerment everyday of the month.” – Yves Boothe Munãgiso’s mission They’re not just a product; they’re a movement wanting to uplift and empower. Munãgiso leads the charge and holds the belief that every girl can confidently navigate her period without stress and without worrying about leaks. Periods and puberty should never affect potential.  As well as being kind to the environment, the brand is waging a war on period poverty. A percentage of their sales proceeds is contributed towards schools worldwide, ensuring that menstruation does not become an obstacle preventing girls from attending education. With Munãgiso’s vision set to provide girls a healthy, safe and secure alternative for their periods, waving goodbye to those uncomfortable and unreliable products, they just needed the best supply chain and advice to bring their ideas to life.  How Seamless Source helped As we, Seamless Source, have a substantial list of global supply chain partners, coupled with a team possessing extensive industry knowledge and a growing portfolio of innovative products and client successes. Munãgiso had full confidence in our services to develop their concepts, launch production, and bring their brand into the marketplace. It is through initial meetings and conversations where our expert operations team got to understand their exact needs and promptly formulated a clear supply chain strategy that best suited the brand.  Ensuring Munãgiso had complete visibility of the project, our Seamless Source platform possesses an all-in-one order management system which is super user-friendly and easy to follow for production updates. It is also through our platform where Munãgiso could keep close communications for our support and contact with the assigned suppliers.  The next step was to finalise the product concepts. Six styles were decided on: one “Regular” brief, an “All Day” brief, and a “Bikini” style brief as three plain styles. Additionally, these same styles were chosen again for a “Zipper” range, featuring a discreet zipped pouch to hold a spare period tampon or towel. In the process of sourcing fabric, prioritising comfort and practicality was key. The fabric had to be durable for effective moisture absorption, aligning with the brand’s commitment to sustainability. As a result, a high-quality blend of 95% Organic Cotton and 5% Elastane was chosen for the final composition, all in the colour black. With all the concepts and fabric finalised, it was now time for the crucial part – sampling. Munãgiso opted for physical samples of all their styles so that they could be tested for their intended function.  The results were extremely positive, leading to the approval for bulk production to proceed in the size range: 2XS to XL.  Success Seamless Source are proud to have helped Munãgiso create their range of amazing reusable period pants to such a high-quality standard. These products inspire to promote confidence in young women by being super comfortable, dry and leak-free every time they’re on their menstrual cycle. So they can live normally while at school, playing sports, sleepovers, and doing anything else they love. It’s revolutionary and sustainable!  It’s a pleasure working with Yves and her brand, and guiding them through the entire process has been a joy. We’re thrilled to continue our support and assist in scaling up the business for new growth. You can check out Munãgiso’s Period Pants here: https://munagiso.com/ See more Seamless Source Successes here.

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About us

Introducing Our Seamless Source Product Relationship Management (PRM) Platform

You spoke, and we listened… Introducing the Seamless Source Product Relationship Management Platform (PRM). The NEW innovation designed to seamlessly connect brands, supply chains, consumers, and recyclers – created by us. Our technology is here to empower your business to establish a meaningful connection with your product throughout its entire lifecycle.  We heard the industry, we saw the problems and we found the solution. It’s time to discover the journey of every product, digitally. Since 2019, our business has set out to change the fashion industry for the better. Chathura Sudharshan, CEO & founder of Seamless Source, knows too well from his experience in fashion designing of the enormous problems with pollution generated by fashion. £5 billion – yes 5 billion pounds worth of textile waste is found to go into landfill each and every year (BBC Earth). To many, this is unacceptable. We knew both the industry and consumer wanted to do better; and so we identified 3 specific problems that prevented this change from happening. First we realised that the supply chains are far too complex; with a multitude of suppliers, manual data collection and management pose a challenge, as well as having no practical product tracking solution for high volume sourcing. Secondly, there is no common technology to ensure supply chain connectivity. Then thirdly, circularity is not practical at scale; with disconnected value chain partners, lack of product composition data preventing large-scale recycling, and lack of accountability. With no such technology established to improve circularity, 5 billion pounds worth of textiles is lost to landfill. This drive to led us to develop the Product Relationship Management (PRM) platform as the one and only solution to connect brands, supply chains, consumers, and recyclers all in one place – seamlessly. The PRM keeps the product at the centre and helps it on a circular journey. With our existing sourcing technology already at play, the platform combines automated multichannel sourcing with an integrated order management tool, enabling fashion brands to create efficient, global, and responsible supply chains. Our product offers many benefits for our customers. Including transparency for the supply chain, compliance with legal requirements, reliability, efficient and cost-effective order management, reduced risks, simplified communication, continuous updates, and a team that supports you. With PRM it provides the solution to: Make Value Chains Transparent – Our system connects and visually maps a product’s journey, encompassing design, delivery, and recycling. It seamlessly integrates with suppliers’ existing systems, aiding them in bridging data gaps. Issue Digital Product Passports – Each product is affixed with a QR code or RFID tag, generating a digital twin. When scanned by value chain partners, it offers a user-friendly visual history of previously gathered data. This opens a whole new avenue for brands to gain engagement with their customers. Automate Compliance Reporting – Suppliers and brands can swiftly produce required documents related to each product, significantly reducing the time and effort required for manual data collection and validation. Enable Circularity – Providing resellers, repairers, and recyclers with easy access to product data to support their operations, while connecting or guiding consumers to these service providers. Automated supply chain mapping harnesses all the data from different systems across the supply chain and helps to generate reports such as compliance reports, ESU reports, and all the relevant border control reports. All this data will be open to the recyclers, repairers and resellers where it can take fashion waste on a circular journey, and prevent £5 billion worth of products from going to landfill again. Plus our product is proven, so far we have traced more than 5,000 products across 20 styles and have happy clients with fully developed technology! Our PRM (Product Relationship Management) platform is here to change the fashion industry for a more sustainable and circular future. It’s time to discover the journey of every product, digitally – today. ——– Want to know more? Check out our Traceability page or get in touch with any questions! Be sure to watch out for NEW updates concerning the Seamless Source Product Relationship Management (PRM) platform.

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Success stories

DUSANNA Bags & Accessories

DUSANNA: Ethically made high quality vegan leather products. As someone who is passionate about sustainability, it was important for me to find suppliers who shared my values and could provide high-quality materials. Seamless Source not only helped me find suppliers who met my criteria, but they also provided valuable guidance throughout the entire process. They were responsive to my needs and provided regular updates on their progress. Thanks to Seamless Source, I was connected with highly skilled ethical artisans to create my product range. I highly recommend their services to anyone in the fashion industry who is looking for a trustworthy and efficient sourcing partner. – DUSANNA – DUSANNA is an Australian vegan leather bag brand founded and created by Mikayla. Its focus is to bridge a gap in the market and offer stylish sustainable bags and accessories with realistic practicality that’s affordable for everyone. Aiming to save you time and money, the brand puts forward a unique line of products – including ‘The Everyday DUSANNA’, ‘More Clutch’, and ‘DUSANNA Organisers’ – these have sections and zip compartments for everything you could possess. Allowing you to find your everyday items easily and eliminate frantic rummaging (we all know the struggle) so you can spend more time doing the things that are important. Through working with Seamless Source, DUSANNA realised their full potential and capabilities as we helped to create high quality products to exactly how they envisioned; while reinforcing the brand’s ethical and sustainable standards.  The foundations of DUSANNA DUSANNA began when Mikayla found a huge gap in the bag market. Purposeful, durable and useful bags and accessories were severely lacking, and so she targeted this need for better products. Mikayla’s vision is to create bags and accessories, for people of all ages, which are durable with enough sections and zipped compartments for practicality – especially suiting the needs of the seasoned traveller or occasional tourist. While setting the brand’s values for good quality products which are made ethically and sustainably, reducing waste for consumers. A sustainable future  DUSANNA believes that we all have a responsibility to protect our world, and to ensure we make a sustainable future for the next generations to come. That’s why in all aspects of the businesses operations, from the supply chain, to the shipping processes and sustainable packaging, they’re proud to take considered measures for the environment. With their ethical and sustainable values set, the brand desired ethically sourced and manufactured vegan material for their products. As well as reduced waste consumption in the supply chain wherever possible.  So with their product range imagined, DUSANNA just needed to find the right manufacturers to bring their bags and accessories to life. How Seamless Source took care of DUSANNA DUSANNA came to Seamless Source knowing we have an extensive list of global suppliers and trusted us to pair the brand up with manufacturers that could supply ethically and sustainably made products. As the brand is based in Australia, it is often difficult and expensive logistically to visit overseas manufacturers.  After speaking with our industry expert team, we understood everything that was required and the complexity level in creating their desired product range. With an efficient supply chain strategy put in place, which could be easily followed via the Seamless Source platform, the production journey could commence.  The first step was to help finalise their designs before moving onto the sourcing of materials. The material needed was vegan leather and this has special requirements which our selected supplier was able to fulfil. This had to be high quality, durable and sustainable in order to fit the brief.  Once happy with the final choice of materials, it was time for the sampling stage. During this period, several changes were made to improve the products before bulk production was approved to begin! Our operations team had found the perfect production source to match DUSANNAs values, proving she was right to trust Seamless Source. We chose a good quality Artisan workshop in Sri Lanka that meets all the ethical requirements to create the products; and these committed Artisan workers are highly skilled in their craft. DUSANNAs bags are all made partly by hand, making them carefully curated and unique items.  Success This production journey with Seamless Source presented Mikayla with the perfect bags and accessories that she had dreamt of. We successfully created a variety of high quality vegan leather styles, which were carefully curated with durability, practicality and sustainability in mind – and her customers love them! These unique products elevate above the rest in the bag market, and we’re really excited to support DUSANNAs development and watch the brand scale-up to its greatest potential.  You can check out DUSANNA’s chic bags and accessories line here: https://www.dusanna.com.au/ See more Seamless Source Successes here.

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New EU Rules for Product Sustainability & How You Can Comply

The European Parliament supports new rules in favour of sustainable, durable products and eliminates greenwashing. In early May, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved the draft legislation which puts an end to misleading claims and advances product durability and labelling. With 551 votes, this won the majority in favour of the proposal for a “new directive on empowering consumers for the green transition” (www.europarl.europa.eu, 2023). This has the intention to prompt companies into giving more sustainable and durable products on the market, as well as to help consumers choose environmentally friendly goods. Through this proposal, misleading advertisements will be banned; such as false claims for the product as a whole if only part of it is true, as well as implying how long it will last and whether it can be used at a certain level of intensity. General environmental claims like “eco”, “natural”, “biodegradable” or “environmentally friendly” are to be disallowed if not provided with evidence. With environmental claims based solely on carbon offsetting schemes also to be banned.  The European Parliament wants to utilise sustainability labels based on official certification schemes or established by public authorities to simplify product information. As well as to make products endure for longer; with a new guarantee label to help consumers choose lasting and repairable products, and to also encourage businesses to increase their focus on durability.  These new rules are in aid of a circular economy package, including the eco design regulation, construction products regulation and an ‘own initiative report’ on the EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles.  (www.europarl.europa.eu, 2023) The French AGEC & Decree No. 2022-748 – What this means for the fashion industry This follows after France introduced new laws for products within their own markets. First in 2020, the anti-waste law for a circular economy (AGEC) was passed, and this aims to change the production and consumption model in order to reduce waste and preserve natural resources, biodiversity and the climate. (Ministères Écologie Énergie Territoires, 2023) Most recently, in April 2022, the French Government added further legislation – the Decree No. 2022-748. These legislations call for the fashion industry and fashion brands to inform consumers on where the main manufacturing steps in their products’ supply chain took place geographically; with 1. Weaving, 2. Dyeing and Printing, 3. The Confection; and for footwear: 1. Stitching, 2. Editing, 3. The Finish. As well as to inform on the products’ environmental qualities. This transparency enables better management of textile and packaging waste, and the ability to sell in the French market. So far it is implemented for companies with a turnover above €50m from January 2023, and will be phased in for smaller companies during 2024 and 2025. (Gouv.fr, 2023) Complying these new regulations with DDPs From 2025 the EU could be bringing in similar traceability laws for Digital Product Passports (DPPs) on garments, coinciding with their “Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition” directive proposal and Green Claims Directive.  The information provided with DDPs, e.g. composition, disassembling possibilities, and recyclable or disposable components, can enable the upscaling of circular economy strategies such as predictive maintenance, repair, remanufacturing and recycling.  It also informs consumers and other stakeholders of the sustainability characteristics of products and materials. This will provide consumers and manufacturers to make better informed and sustainable choices by taking their environmental impact into consideration. (Digital Product Passport, 2022) How Seamless Source can help with 360 Trace Along with our award winning service, we provide 360 Trace – the compliant digital product passport – to lead our clients into achieving a better fashion supply chain through transparency and circularity. 360 Trace provides the transparency needed to fully comply with the supply chain laws as well as encourage a circular economy. With every product created with us via our platform – a digital product passport is automatically generated.  The complete supply chain of any product can be fully traced from source through to logistics, all in one place, even its circular journey to the recycling. This includes the geographic locations (country and region) of where every step took place, and the certifications can also be traced at key points in the production to verify working practices and sustainability claims.  View accurate Fabric Composition details to the percentage, as well as Care Instructions to increase longevity, including Sustainability & Circularity to find out where to sustainably dispose of the products for a circular journey.  The product’s supply chain story can be shared effectively with the generated QR code; printing this onto hang tags, printing it as a fabric label or directly to the product, and also embedding the QR code to e-commerce stores – for anyone to see. So in a nutshell Within the next few years it will be important for fashion brands to conform with these laws and retain the ability to sell in global markets. By providing transparency and traceability of the supply chain, they’ll also meet the demands of growing conscious consumers and increased brand values.  Want to know more about 360 Trace? Check out our “Introducing 360 Trace” blog here. To read more on these legislations, including the digital product passport, check out the reference links below: Reference links:

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360 Trace Launch

360 Trace has officially launched in-person! We had a fantastic day presenting our digital product passport – 360 Trace, in London in front of strong figures and major brands across the industries, as part of the Sustainability Product Launch with Canopy (CISL) by the University of Cambridge, and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). It was great to connect with everyone who attended and to talk about our innovative solution for improving transparency in the fashion supply chain – as well as implementing circularity – to go hand-in-hand. We’re proud to have been selected to join this event alongside many other great innovators showcasing their own sustainability products to create a better future! Guest list:CISL . Anteam . Climate Proof . MCG UK . Moree . Cercula . Zephframe . Flit . TAZAAR . Deep Planet . KAPDAA -The Offcut Company . Cambridge Cleantech . Neutreeno . Plume: Planet Friendly Uniforms . BNP Paribas UK . EDF (UK) Energy . Google . Bupa . TusPark UK . Innovation Zero . 2150 . REACH UK . Future Planet Capital . Interface . CCEP . Green Angel Syndicate . OBLIQUITY GROUP LIMITED . Bemari . The Open University . Just Communications UK . Regenerative Biz . Skating Panda . PJT Partners . Pentex Ltd . Surrey County Council . Haynes and Boone, LLP . The Portfolio Collective . Fashion Business School . EdenLab . Shaftesbury . Capital . PwC UK . Efficiency Fit . Innovate UK . Marsh . MS Amlin . Visa . Triodos . Maplex Technology . The Institute of Export & International Trade . AXA XL . British Standards Institution . Monspire . 8 Hours Ahead . The Crown Estate . Inbe Group Global . Carbon13 . Scroll down to watch our 360 Trace launch presentation! We want to lead our customers in achieving a better fashion supply chain through transparency and circularity – so we created 360 Trace to do exactly this. What is 360 Trace? 360 Trace is an embedded digital product passport that comes with every product made with us, and is designed with our customers and impending transparency laws in mind. Along with our platform, we aim to disrupt the industry with 360 Trace and positively change the fashion supply chain standards. Watch our 360 Trace launch! 🚀 Our founder & CEO, Chathura Sudharshan, had the pleasure of presenting Seamless Source’s 360 Trace – our Digital Product Passport innovation – at the Sustainability Product Launch with Canopy (CISL) by the University of Cambridge, and Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). Detailing his experience in the fashion industry – identifying three problems that many fashion businesses face, and how our team at Seamless Source came to the solution with this digital tool to help fashion brands achieve transparency of the supply chain and circularity of their products – all in one place. “Let’s change the fashion industry for a better one!” We’re proud to share this space with a cohort of other great innovators within the University of Cambridge’s Canopy (CISL) and Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). A fantastic platform, along with excellent guidance. Why not further read about our 360 Trace blog by clicking here – Or you can even watch our 360 Trace video here. If you’re interested to learn more about 360 Trace and our Seamless Source platform then feel free to drop us a message to info@seamlesssource.com or join our live chat.

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Success stories

Clementine Collective Knit Dolls

Clementine Collective: technical and sustainably produced soft toys “The Seamless Source team has been incredible to work with since day one in my journey. I had been working with another manufacturer and was not satisfied with the work, and when I found Seamless Source they connected me to an incredible production team. We were able to work through sampling and many technical details together to perfect our knit doll line. Our dolls have many complex details, and Seamless Source was able to ensure the quality of my product was flawless from the tech pack, to the production, and to quality checks. Without Seamless Source, my business would not be where it is today and I highly recommend their entire team.” – Heather Mirosav, founder of Clementine Collective – Designed to make a difference, Clementine Collective is a childrens soft toy brand specialising in ethically made sustainable knit dolls with the focus on inspiring love and joy, while making a positive impact on the world through helping a global cause. These dolls are lovingly created using natural materials that are non-toxic, to make them safe for new born babies and children to cherish. They give the pleasure of play and support the love for learning to children in need worldwide. Founded by Heather Mirosav, the brand strongly believes in three key values; ethical production, sustainable sourcing, and supporting global education – as part of their mission. Working with Seamless Source, we helped them stay true to their values and the brand successfully created their high quality products to exactly how they envisioned.  The inspiration behind Clementine Collective The idea for Clementine Collective came when Heather wanted her own daughter to experience the joy of owning a knit doll, like she had as a child with a doll knitted by her grandmother. After managing to source someone local to knit her vision, a mass of fascination ignited when people caught sight of the doll – everyone wanted one for their own child.  It was this interest that prompted Heather to pursue the idea of spreading love and learning through dolls; as the incentive to make the world a better place for future generations was important to her. Positive impact With the desire to help children learn, play and have happiness, Clementine Collective are partnered with School the World. Their mission, together, is to make education accessible for every child – as it is reported that ’72 million primary school children will experience learning poverty’ (Clementine Collective). Each Clementine doll will help provide scholarships for children worldwide to stay in education and positively transform their future.  Having these brand values set and product ideas drawn up, they were ready to take the next steps. As this is a complex and technical product to create, they just needed to find the right manufacturer to deliver their concepts. How Seamless Source made this happen Clementine Collective reached out to Seamless Source after they had experienced failed attempts through other suppliers who couldn’t fulfil their desired product range. Our industry expert team was unfazed by the challenge and understood the complexity of what was needed – giving the brand confidence in our services. Wanting to do our best for Clementine Collective, our operations team swiftly developed a clear supply chain strategy to get the project on the road. Ensuring Heather could follow the process with ease, thanks to our order management system within the Seamless Source platform.  Seamless Source also has an extensive list of sourcing connections around the globe so we can choose and match the most suited suppliers to even the greatest technical tasks. With tech packs already completed prior to joining our service, we selected one of the best manufacturers in Sri Lanka to create the product.  Our team quickly discovered the tech pack specifications were not proportionally correct and showed this through a made sample to the brand so they could understand the issues. In order to resolve this, we communicated our expert opinions and a new sample based on these was developed at Heather’s request – this was a success.  Working closely with the brand, a few more sample rounds were made to get the first knitted doll perfect; checking into the details of every aspect in the doll’s appearance, functionality and safety features, since the product is intended for all age ranges. Including improving the choices of materials, lace pattern and design for the doll’s fashion. Once Heather was happy, bucket dyes were tested to imagine what the dolls would look like in their desired colour swatches and materials were finalised; opting for the Premium Natural Cotton and Hypoallergenic Polyfill filling. It was crucial for the brand to have this product embody everything that they envisioned. Even while the order was confirmed, further adjustments were requested to change the doll’s body pattern and our team successfully made negotiations to make this happen. Once the pattern was changed, samples were submitted within weeks and production was approved to start.  Successful results The development of this knit doll set the ideal blueprint and due to our seamless service, Clementine Collective began developing two other knit dolls – even before production had been completed for their first doll – having the same body construction, but with different shades, dresses, shoes and hair designs.  Happy with the results, these dolls are projected to be a successful order. It has been a joy to work with Heather and we’re proud to have created these wonderfully intricate soft knit dolls for her fantastic brand. Seamless Source will continue to work closely with Clementine Collective and we wish them great success ahead of their launch on 14th February 2023 – don’t miss out! You can check out Clementine Collective and pre-order their desired knit dolls here: http://clementinecollective.com/

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Capsule Wardrobes – What Are They and How Can You Build Yours?

British boutique owner Susie Faux is credited with the phrase ‘capsule wardrobe’ after she used the idea to help women refine their wardrobes to only include high-quality essentials that could be worn interchangeably. Did you know that on average women wear just 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time? With more and more awful truths about the industry’s ethical failures and its unsustainability being exposed every day, it’s time to get serious about our waste. Investing in a few, high-quality items can feel a little indulgent at first but when you consider the environmental ramifications of cheap, disposable clothing, the benefits speak for themselves. The best capsule wardrobes consist of pieces that transcend trends. These are staple pieces that you should take time to source; make sure they fit properly and are made from the best quality fabrics you can afford. So why choose a capsule wardrobe? Saves time Because you only keep your favourite clothes, you already know everything you own looks and feels great. You don’t waste time weeding through clothes you don’t love, don’t fit, don’t look great on or don’t feel great. You don’t waste time trying on multiple outfits every morning trying to find something that looks and feels good. You can even keep an inspiration board or a notebook with all your best outfit pairings if you’re really struggling to find inspiration in a short space of time, with limited items to choose from this makes the whole process much more simple and will give you time to relax in the morning! Better for the environment When you limit what you buy, you’ll naturally give more thought to each item before making the purchase, and that same effort is what keeps you from flippantly discarding a skirt or sweater later. When we buy less, and wear it longer, we decrease the demand for clothing production, which has a positive impact on the environment. Having a small capsule collection instead of a bustling wardrobe will help you to change your mindset on fashion, even if you’re just capsuling certain parts of your wardrobe. To ensure we can create a better future for fashion, holding ourselves accountable is key to moving forwards. Saves money A capsule wardrobe helps curb excessive or mindless shopping. Although you may buy higher quality clothing items for your capsule, you tend to buy fewer clothes in general. By sticking to your Capsule plan keeps you from buying pieces you’ll only wear once or twice–or not at all, because you have nothing to wear with them. You can also reinvent old items that you have forgotten about and this can inspire you to do wonderful things without breaking the bank. Re-purposing clothing not only helps with sustainability but also helps keep costs low so that you can spend money on the more important parts of life. Less stress Studies have shown that we have a limited amount of decision-making power each day before we are mentally exhausted. A capsule wardrobe makes deciding what to wear easier. Owning fewer clothes also means you have more space and room to breathe in your closet – your closet and drawers are tidy and organized because you have fewer items of clothing filling them and its easier to maintain. Combatting stress is an important factor to include in your life, as it can see an increase in mindset and mentality when stress is reduced from your everyday tasks. Removing the extra steps for getting dressed in the morning can seem trivial, but when combined with other day-to-day stressors it could be the factor allowing you to go about your day with ease. Boosts confidence A capsule wardrobe makes it easier to notice your style preferences and what you look and feel best in. As you weed out the things that don’t work, you’re left with clothes you love that look and feel great. You are better able to figure out your style and what clothes work best for you. When you are clear and confident in your style, it boosts your confidence. Being the most confident version of yourself is essential and what you should always be aiming for, so go for it and get the capsule wardrobe of your dreams! Liked what you read? Why not view our other Seamless Source blogs here.

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Why we should be using Innovative Sustainable Materials in 2023

With the topic of conversation around sustainability in society today, how much does it affect the fashion industry and why should we choose sustainable materials for our garments? As we know, the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries that there is. Textiles are often treated with chemicals to soften and dye them. These chemicals are toxic for the environment and can easily be transferred to the skin of people who wear them. Fast fashion is another causation, the low cost and general nature of ‘fast fashion’ means that a lot of the items of clothing are shortly disposed into landfill sites. The UK alone throws away a total of 1 million tonnes of clothing each year.  By looking at just these reasons facts above, it’s safe to say that choosing sustainable materials as a replacement is far better for the environment and for the welfare of people producing them than the alternative. Why should we choose sustainable materials? So what sustainable materials are brands are using today? Organic Cotton Cotton is one of the most popular fabrics used in fashion – and it is a natural material, however it is a tricky fabric to label as sustainable due to how it is produced. It currently uses around 22.5% of the worlds insecticides and around 10% of the worlds pesticides; these contain chemicals that can be dangerous to the environment and harmful to the farms who are growing it (Ethical Fashion Form). It also takes a lot of water to produce – white t-shirt and a pair of jeans can take 20,000 litres of water to make – that’s 13 years of drinking water! Organic cotton is grown without pesticides and synthetic fertilizers and processed with no chemicals. Organic cotton farming uses 62% less energy and 88% less water than conventional cotton. There are several certifications used with sustainable and ethical cotton to look out for such as Fair Trade, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and USDA-Certified Organic. The most notable is the Better Cotton Initiative – which is frequently used by many high street stores today. Organic Linen It is made from the fibres of the flax plant and requires minimal water, pesticides and can grow in poor-quality soil. Furthermore, every part of the plant is used, so nothing is wasted. Linen is naturally moth resistant, and, when untreated (i.e. not dyed) it is fully biodegradable. It is also a strong material which makes it great to wear again and again. Organic Hemp Hemp is one of the most eco-friendly natural fabrics. It is very versatile and is used as a food, a building material and in cosmetics. It is grown all around the world and requires very little water, no pesticides and naturally fertilises the soil it grows in. It is also considered a carbon negative raw material as it absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere. It helps keep you warm in winter and cool in summer and gets softer the more you wash it. Piñatex This is a great vegan leather alternative. It is a material made from pineapple leaves. Its production is much more sustainable than traditional leather and is completely animal-free. It requires less water and no harmful chemicals that are ecologically toxic to wildlife. The leftover leaf waste is recycled and used for fertiliser or biomass. Lyocell (Also known as TENCEL™, the trademark name of the fabric given to it by Austrian manufacturer Lenzing). It is a light cellulose fabric, created by dissolving wood pulp from eucalyptus trees, which don’t require a lot of water or pesticides. It’s been growing in popularity recently, as it is said to be 50% more absorbent than cotton and requires less energy and water to produce. The chemicals used to produce the fibre are managed in a closed-loop system, meaning the solvent is recycled, which reduces dangerous waste. In addition to this, Lyocell has moisture-wicking and anti-bacterial properties, which makes it perfect for activewear. Econyl This fibre uses synthetic waste such as industrial plastic, waste fabric, and fishing nets from the ocean, then recycles and regenerates them into a new yarn that is the same quality as nylon. This regeneration system forms a closed-loop, uses less water, and creates less waste than traditional nylon production methods. Although, traditional washing of Econyl can still shed plastic microparticles that can end up in the ocean. So, this material is best to use for items that are rarely washed like trainers. Chitosan / Chitin Fibre Chitin is a natural compound found in the shells of crabs and shellfish that protect them from their environment. Like cellulose from plant fibres, chitin is easy to process into textiles, because it has a soft texture and dyes easily. It’s sourced from the waste of crabmeat manufacturing and is fully biodegradable. If you’re looking into a starting your own fashion business, then choosing to go down the sustainable materials route is definitely to your advantage. With the great environmental impacts it has and the ever-growing amount of supports towards a more sustainable life – you’re instantly at an advantage! Want to know more? Why not check out our other sustainable focused articles, such as Leather Alternatives or Sustainable Certifications – A Simple Guide for Brands, including many others on our blogs page.

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