About us
Pickled Green Clothing
Pickled Green Clothing was set up in March 2009, and was born from my background in international development and experience in the non for profit sector, combined with a passion for sustainability and the environment. The aim was to make affordable ethical and sustainable fashion a more accessible option. Hopefully, then benefiting some of the huge number of people involved in the growing and manufacturing of clothes and accessories worldwide, an estimated 100 million households. Through working to increase the demand for ethical clothing and accessories; the better the opportunities for growers and producers in developing countries become, the more sustainable our fashion consumption is and there is then less impact on the environment both in the producer countries and within the UK. Also, by buying consciously and ethically not only do you get a great, unique product, but you learn more about how and by who it was made and are safe in the knowledge that those involved in its creation or the environment have not suffered in anyway.
To try and meet our aim, Pickled Green Clothing chooses brands that use only certified organic cotton, sustainable fabrics and recycled materials produced under Fairtrade conditions and that also have similar ethics built into their business operations as we have. Alongside some of our established brands, we also support small, local producers that are operating sustainable businesses within their own countries and promote their products through selling online and at various markets, festivals and fairs around the UK.
Why organic cotton clothes? Well conventionally grown cotton has a huge negative effect on the environment and the people who are involved in growing and making the garments. By choosing organically grown cotton, there is no use of toxic chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, so preventing damage to the soil, water courses, and air and to the growers themselves. The use of pesticides has been documented to cause poisonings and even death to literally millions of people worldwide each year (PAN UK). The end user does not escape either, as pesticide residues have been found in the final garment and can cause skin sensitivity and irritation.
Another good reason to choose organic cotton is that the dyes used will contain less harmful chemicals and in some instances be completely natural, which in turn reduces the pollution to the local environment, improves the working conditions of manufacturers and results in less chemicals being leached into water sources, the air and ground.
Fairly traded clothes are made in fair working conditions that abide by the fair trade principles. Throughout production of the clothes no child labor has been used, everyone involved receives a fair wage and works under reasonable conditions such as, suitable tea and toilet breaks and working hours, so benefiting farmers, workers, consumers, the industry and the environment.
Although not all our brands are Fairtrade certified they have adopted and enforce fair trade principles and are members of Fairtrade associations in their respective countries.
Sustainable fabrics such as bamboo, hemp and banana are great alternatives to cotton that are often indigenous to the countries producing cotton already. They are fast growing and easily converted into fibers without having a negative impact on the environment or producers. They are also fabulous materials to wear.
Recycled pieces impact by reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfill, either by converting the use of something and giving it a new life and purpose or by breaking down other materials to produce new fibers, for example plastic bottles into polyester. Recycling or up-cycling clothes and accessories also make us think creatively about the whole life of materials and offers up new ideas for future sustainable practices.
Hand-made and small scale production is supported and encouraged through purchasing and our own label creations. By investing in traditional and locally made products you are supporting small communities and promoting unique skills. This year I will be making my own crochet accessories from natural and sustainable materials mostly using hemp and bamboo wool.
To find out more about ethical materials and Fairtrade please visit the following websites;
