WE ARE A SLOW-FASHION GIFT SHOP
The traditional production model used in the industry:
For decades brands would study consumer preferences and influences and try to predict what consumers would want to wear in the next season. We usually needed a year to design, plan, manufacture, and bring the product to market.
We would use forecasting models to predict how much of each item to manufacture, and we would use these estimates to negotiate with our manufacturing partners offshore. We often needed to correct our estimates of what consumers would buy.
The product would remain unsold, and, to make room for the next season’s collection, we would discount it, sell it to discount retailers, offshore jobbers, or if nothing else worked, discard the leftover and write off the loss.
WHAT IS [WAS]
What is on-demand production, and why does it make sense? The on-demand production model is relatively straightforward. Brands manufacture products as demanded by the consumer instead of forecasting demand and simulating a large inventory in hopes it would sell. It makes sense because it reduces demand uncertainty.
Under this model, you manufacture what your customers sign up to buy, and you eliminate the need to forecast and make quality concessions because you don’t know how much of your product you’ll be able to move.
Minimal wastefulness
More importantly, on-demand production eliminates the need to discount or discard inventory. It supports an emphasis on quality and “intentional” as opposed to “impulsive” shopping, where consumers invest in quality clothing that will last as opposed to cheap clothing they buy on a whim to discard after a few wears virtually.
Enables small-batch / ZERO WASTE production cycles
The Gift Shop focuses on timeless clothing; the on-demand model allows us to be responsive to our customer base and pivot when we see our customers prefer something slightly different. This supports our customer-centricity and enables us to create investment pieces our customers will be proud to wear -- Forever and a day...
The Gift Shop
we want each garment to perform at the highest level for years and years. That’s why we use carefully selected materials that look and feel great, come from sustainable and renewable resources, and are easy to care for.
VISCOSE/ELASTANE
Our washable viscose yarn is made entirely of traceable and renewable raw materials, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to come from sustainably managed forests. Like the other mills we work with, Lineapiu is equally committed to being transparent and offering fully traceable products. The mill itself and its entire upstream supply chain comply with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) protocol, which strictly controls the use of chemicals to reduce the presence of toxic substances throughout the production process.
2020 marked a milestone for the mill: Lineapiu will replace all its plastic bags used to protect yarn cones with compostable and bio-based alternatives. Additionally, the mill uses only FSC-certified paper in its packaging, and its shipping boxes are made from a minimum of 45% post-consumer paper.
RECYCLED [PET] POLYESTER / RECYCLED ELASTANE
The luxurious recycled polyester jersey used in our M8K footwear collection is 21st-century innovation. Our textile is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified. The nano-fiber is knitted using recycled elastane and is finished using a non-toxic, reduced water dyeing process that is bleach and formaldehyde free.
Tintex is committed to monitoring and improving the efficiency of its operations. The company bettered its water management and decreased its greenhouse gas emissions by 70%, while its reduction, recycling, or reusing of production waste materials reached an incredible 98%.
NYLON MICROFIBER JERSEY
It is made of high-performance, extra-light jerseys developed for breathability and used by some of the most prestigious athletic brands in the world. The textile comes from the leading Italian fabric mill Eurojersey. It is part of the SensitivE ecoSystem® program, which ensures the material’s environmental impact is kept at a minimum and no harsh dyes and toxic finishes are used in the making.
While we would prefer a biodegradable fabric, we are yet to find a superior alternative to our microfiber jersey; therefore, for the time being, we are making sure this material represents no more than 5% of all the yarns and textiles used across our M8K collection.
OUR CHICAGO FACTORY | RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTION
Located in Chicago, IL., our partner factory is family owned and has been manufacturing high-quality apparel and accessories for our US Military and high-end brands for over 55 years.
From the beginning, we fell in love not only with their knowledge and exquisite craftsmanship but also with the transparency of the process and our ability to visit our factory and interact directly with all employees.
All employees and our factory abide by all requirements as follows:
• Fair payment: bimonthly paychecks, freedom of association, and the right to negotiate.
• Health insurance: all employees benefit from full health insurance coverage.
• Maternity and parental leave: all mothers receive 18 weeks of paid maternity leave. In addition, family benefits of 24 months government subsidized parental leave per child, or 36 months if the child has disabilities. The mother and father can take parental leave to care for the children.
• Regulated working hours: paid vacation, 5-day working week, and paid overtime.
• Protected labor conditions: emergency exits, fire protection and first aid kits, safety officers, evacuation training, and no contact with harmful materials.
• Ban on child labor: no exceptions.
• Ethical business practices: equal employment opportunities, fair treatment, and the right to open communication.
In addition, the factory is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certified.
ISO 9001 is the international standard for a quality management system (“QMS”).
To be certified to the ISO 9001 standard, a company must follow the requirements outlined in the ISO 9001 guide. Organizations use the standard to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements and to show continuous improvement. The current version is ISO 9001:2015, published in September 2015 (thus the: 2015).
ISO 14001 is a voluntary international standard for environmental management systems (EMS).
The 2015 revision of ISO 14001 introduces several changes from previous versions, including a required high-level structure, using mandatory definitions, and incorporating common standards requirements and clauses. Using ISO 14001:2015 has helped our partner factory improve resource efficiency, reduce waste, drive down costs, increase new business opportunities, meet legal obligations, and improve overall environmental impact.
ETHICAL PACKAGING
The Gift Shop fights for zero waste and doesn’t end with our garments—our dedication extends to each part of our business, including packaging.
The plastic in The Gift Shop packaging is crafted from bio-plastics and is fully compostable. These bags are made just like an orange peel—fully compostable in less than 30 days with no toxic residue. We’ve partnered with an innovative company in the USA to develop our exclusive packaging.
Our boxes and paper wrapping are sourced in the USA, close to where we dispatch all packages. All items are made from materials that have at least 80% post-consumer content and are nonlaminated. Therefore, they can be fully recycled in any municipal system. We strongly encourage all our packaging to be reused, composted, or fully recycled.
While our packaging is eco-friendly, we ensure the appearance is not compromised. If you wish to send a gift, our wrapping will make a positive impression.
