Sustainability

Design
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The Louisa Parris sustainability philosophy starts with the design approach.

Louisa’s intricate graphic artworks are used to amplify existing styles, and only 3 or 4 new styles are added each collection.

With each collection comes a new agenda on which to place our sustainability focus. This might be looking for new fabrics to use, or making sure that we understand every element of our supply chain.

The dresses are made up of individual printed panels. Occasionally we receive panels with natural faults from the dyeing process. While our customers know that these natural imperfections are part of the material, we have multiple quality control checks to make sure they meet our standards. If not, we repurpose these silk panels to make high-quality accessories.

 Fabrics
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The fabrics we use are thoughtfully selected for their quality, drape, and feel. These factors ensure a long-lasting garment, allowing our pieces to be returned to and passed down as an heirloom for future generations.

 Our pieces are made using our own printed fabrics. We take pride in this but it comes with responsibility. We made the choice to use digital printing with AZO free dyes for the ecological impact. We work closely with our talented craftspeople in Italy, the Netherlands, and Worcestershire in the UK, to ensure the highest print quality and to avoid wastage.

Our first garments were produced in 100% natural silk twill. Since, we have produced in silk dupion, double georgette, silk satin, and silk jersey. The silk is A-grade quality, but we want to be able to track the whole journey of the fabrics before it arrives at the printers.

Our cotton dresses are made using Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) ECO cotton voile and poplin. This standard is recognised internationally and enables traceability back to the cotton producers.

Going forward, we have made a commitment to use natural fibres. Our team regularly visits sustainable fabric trade shows, to find new and innovative fabrics and trims for the next collection. 





Collections
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We have never conformed to the 4-season fashion calendar. Instead, we observe a slow fashion model of 2 collections a year, numbered for simplicity and timelessness.

Louisa Parris pieces are made to last. From the quality of the silk dye to the pattern cutting and finishing stitches - there is no compromise on detail. Our styles are crafted in small production runs so that we can make exactly what our customers require.

We prefer not to adhere to traditional retail patterns and now avoid global promotions such as Black Friday. When we make reductions, we do it on our terms, conscious that how we put our products out into the world must remain a truthful reflection of the work of the craftspeople behind them.

We believe in building strong relationships with wholesale partners, vendors and suppliers, taking the time to make sure our values are aligned.





Production
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All of the prints are designed in-house by Louisa, drawn first by hand in her south London studio and then digitally printed in Worcestershire. Each garment is then made in London by specialist craftspeople.

We are proud to work with Fashion Enter, the Sedex SMETA approved factory in North London.

It makes sense to us to manufacture in London. It means we can visit the factory and keep a close eye on the process from start to finish. We are able to maintain positive communication, and send and receive samples with minimal environmental impact.

We have strong relationships with the team of talented makers in the pattern cutting room and meet with them regularly. We consider them part of the Louisa Parris team.

Fashion Enter involvement with the Fashion Technology Academy, which provides fashion education and vocational skills in garment construction, is one of the reasons we chose to work with them.

We are so pleased that our local production is one of the factors allowing us to be certified for Net-A-Porter’s Net Sustain platform, where Louisa Parris is showcased alongside other brands making consciously crafted garments and beauty products. 





Packaging and Shipping
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Each piece is sent out with a repurposed silk garment bag, made from leftover fabric from our production runs. These bags are intended to provide protection for the garments and to ensure longevity. We encourage customers to use eco dry-cleaning services where possible, and less frequently.

 

We choose to offset our carbon footprint when using courier services. When shipping to our wholesale accounts, our garments are packed in biodegradable bags with non-toxic storage sachets. 

As we grow, we will continue to look for more ways to improve our fulfilment and distribution practices.

 

Community
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We are conscious that we exist as part of a community. We want to participate in this community sustainably, and that means using our creativity to support and empower vital initiatives.

Smart Works Charity gives confidence to women getting back into work by supplying high quality interview clothes and interview coaching. We are proud to have a partnership with the Reading branch of Smart Works. Our donations of scarves go directly to the building of professional wardrobes, while our evening wear pieces are often auctioned to raise funds for the charity.