OUR MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURERS
The Petite Cartel is dedicated to promoting biodiversity through our material selections and place a high priority on getting materials from regenerative, organic, renewable, and recycled sources.
In order to achieve complete visibility of our materials and components back to source, we are attempting to trace our supply chain. We will not knowingly source fibres from endangered forests and environments under threat.
We are aware that there is no one size fits all fibre in terms of its impact on the environment and that each fibre has advantages and disadvantages. However, we make sure to consider the lifecycle of those materials as well as the sustainability of their manufacturing when evaluating the environmental impact of all the fabrics we use.
We do not use end of line fabrics/dead-stock from regenerative nylons and reprieve textiles as sustained use may encouraging prolonged production of micro plastic leaching textiles and is by common consensus linked to endocrine disruption and biological toxicity.
All our 'cut-offs' are reduced to an absolute minimum through clever digital pattern nesting techniques and we only buy what we know we’ve already sold.
See below for more information about our materials.
In line with our commitment on responsibility and emissions we have chosen to manufacture close to home. All our development is done within 3 miles of our work space and our factory partner is located just 20 miles from base.
Manufacturing in the UK allows for greater transparency during the production process, supporting of jobs locally and a chance to closely monitor the production process for quality purposes. We're able to have greater control over our waste, environment impact and visual assessment of safe and fair working conditions.
Keeping production local ensures we are able to work with a manufacturer that reflects our own values.
OUR TEXTILES
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We use genuine Tencel™ Lyocell that we purchase through a licenced UK supplier. Tencel™ Lyocell is a non-toxic, blockchain backed fabric, regenerative cellulosic fibre made from wood pulp harvested from FSC-certified sustainably managed forests.
It’s made using a closed-loop production process using Oeko-Tex Standard 100 dyes. This fabric is embedded with its own unique, microscopic DNA-like marker and tracked via TextileGenesis™ blockchain platform. This system relies on an innovative technology called Fibercoin™.
OUR TRIMS
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Our elastic is made by one of our trusted partners, who shares our commitment to conscious production. It's crafted from a blend of renewable raw materials, including natural organic rubber sourced from Malaysia that is both FSC certified and REACH compliant. The GOTS organic cotton that covers the elastic is responsibly sourced from Turkey. All this is done with care in Austria.
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The brand labels we use are made from undyed, natural GOTS organic cotton. Printed and supplied by our UK based manufacturer.
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Like our brand labels, our care labels are made from undyed, natural GOTS organic cotton. Printed and supplied by our UK based manufacturer.
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We use thread from certified GOTS organic cotton. Produced and supplied directly from our supplier in India. This thread is certified to the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, Product Class I, which guarantees it is free from harmful substances and safe for human contact. It is made with environmentally compliant dyes and chemicals and uses a mercerised cotton sewing thread for enhanced strength and durability.
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Where structure is required in the construction of a garment, the fusing we use is 100% cotton, certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and bonded with a thermoplastic adhesive coating that is sustainable, skin-safe and fully biodegradable.
OUR BRANDING AND PACKAGING
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Packaging is part of the brand experience. We understand this, therefore it’s not an afterthought here.
We work exclusively with UK-based suppliers for our packaging, for the same reasons we work with UK garment manufacturers: because a relationship with a named supplier in this country is a different thing to an anonymous order from an overseas platform, and because keeping that chain short and visible matters to us.
Our packaging is deliberately minimal, and we have intentionally designed out layers of material it will take thirty seconds to remove and a lifetime for the earth to absorb. We include considered items such as acid-free tissue, swing tag made from recycled sources, kraft mailers, and reusable organic cotton dust bag wherever necessary to help you protect your garment. All items have been chosen for their biodegradable and compostable qualities— nothing synthetic or excessive.