POSITIVE IMPACT:
POSITIVE IMPACT:
"Being sustainable is not just about having a certificate or using natural fibers and recycled packaging. It's about being considerate and conscious of your actions. It's about being resourceful and innovative. Making do with what you have, even if trends dictate otherwise. Waste not, want not. It's not something you can simply declare, you must practice what you preach, it is something you do. It is a way of life."
COLDWASH47© is an independent artist aiming to create positive change within the fashion industry.
We care for our planet and its people.
To maintain a minimum carbon foot-print we proudly employ a “slow production process" and use traditional techniques to produce our collections.
We use salvaged paper, cardboard and plastic to draft our patterns, create labels and swing tags.
Our branded patches are made from in-house textile waste. Each cut, painted and pressed by hand.
We don’t use electrical cutting machines. All fabric is sorted and cut by hand.
We use stored rainwater for rinsing, washing and dying.
We don’t use dryers only natural conditions and light.
TEXTILES & FABRICS:
The fabrics we use to create our collections are purpose-driven to help regenerate natural systems and encourage a circular economy.
We redirect waste textiles from dump sites and repurpose it for use in our collections, giving the earth a chance to breathe.
We use sustainable fabrics, sourced from trusted suppliers within the Western Cape, including organic hemp and locally grown cotton.
WASTE TEXTILES:
We source, salvage and repurpose off cuts, roll ends and waste fabrics that were intended for dumping and hand sort them for use in our collections.
NOTE: This may result in some synthetics being used which will be mentioned in product descriptions.
Some items may also begin as discarded surplus clothing or pre-loved, vintage garments that have been rescued, repaired and transformed into unique, one-off pieces using various decorative techniques.
ORGANIC HEMP:
Hemp is one of the most versatile and eco-friendly fabrics on the planet. It is easy to grow, takes up minimum space and requires little water and no pesticides.
It is durable and provides all the softness and comfort of other natural textiles but with 3 times the strength, making it one of the strongest and most durable of all natural fibers.
It is long-lasting, ages well and does not wear out like cotton. The more you wear it, the softer it becomes.
Hemp is hypoallergenic, non-irritating to the skin and has more anti-bacterial qualities than any other natural fabric.
It contains no micro-fibers and has a natural resistance to mold and ultraviolet light.
It is breathable, wicks moisture away from the body and does not hold odours.
Hemp products are non-toxic, biodegradable and easily recycled. They are great for outdoor activities, including travel and work well with other natural fabrics such as cotton, denim, linen or silk.
ETHICALLY SOURCED COTTON:
Our supplier only sources organic cotton grown in various countries within the SADC (Southern African Development Community) and adhere to the SADC's ethical and sustainable development practices and commitment to fair trade and regional integration policies and values.
Organic cotton is a natural, GMO-free fibre that uses less water than standard cotton. In addition, its production does not involve the use of chemicals or pesticides and encourages rotation of crops to keep soil healthier, more fertile and maintain humidity.
The entire production process is completed in South Africa, under one roof and consists of a fully vertically integrated manufacturing operation covering the full spectrum of textile and clothing production, including yarn spinning, fabric knitting, fabric dyeing, cutting, assembly and finishing of garments. Allowing our supplier to have full control of each manufacturing processes, including critical areas such as product quality and availability.
We take actions that are aimed at benefiting the communities and environment we work in.
We engage in charitable giving and donate unused materials for skills development workshops and upliftment programs.
We practice social responsibility by providing skill share workshops to those interested or food and clothing to those in need.
We know this mission will take time, but to accomplish it we remain conscious of areas that need improvement and are always looking at ways to better our production processes, reduce inhouse waste and advance our zero-waste strategy.
In 2023 we introduced our #oponeton initiative to share the positive impact our production process has on reducing the primary factors causing climate change by the fashion industry in general.
This allows us to track the positive effects made by you when you shop with us compared to other retailers.
In 2024 we introduced project OPONETON to share the positive impact our production process has on reducing the primary factors causing climate change by the fashion industry in general.
This allows us to track the positive effects made by you when you shop with us compared to other retailers.
1 000 +
kilograms of textile waste redirected from our landfills.
21 000 000 +
liters of water saved by using textile waste.
425 000 +
watts of electricity saved by not using dryers.