Producing a sustainable clothing line is the only way forward. It's definitely being looked at closely in the world of fashion however, has a long way to go. There are a lot of great ideas, but when it comes to implementing them, it becomes complex and vaque. The AWL vision for sustainability has its challenges, but we know exactly what we can and cannot compromise and our brand comes from a place of love. Love for you and love for mother nature. The list below outlines what is important to us.  

1. Ethical production. Good wages and good working conditions with transparency and honesty. The manufacturing world is very unglamorous, so of course brands will not tend to focus on the production side. It's most likely not in line with their branding! It's up to the consumer to ask questions and take interest in knowing where the clothing was made! I personally love visiting with the sewers and the manufacturers I've used in the past and present. It's truly quite the production when you see how much effort it takes to make a garment. 

2. To be a carbon Neutral brand. To eliminate greenhouse gas emissions across the entire supply chain is the goal. Some examples are sustainability, choose fabrics that last and are lower on carbon emissions, providing greener shipping options and offset emissions by donating to companies that plant trees. 

3. Producing fewer garments and of higher quality is really important. For one you don't have so much fabric waste and also the higher quality means it will last longer. Small scale production also reduces emissions and energy usage. Overstock is always a huge problem for big companies. So much of it ends up in landfills. It's totally unnecessary! 

4. Examine the environmental impact of raw materials and the manufacturing process. This is up to the brand to identify of course and work with their suppliers to reduce water waste and water and air pollution. We are constantly learning something new. 

5. Produce locally whenever possible! It's definitely more expensive but worth the price. Keeping costs down in this industry is hard and that's why so many brands choose to work with manufacturers overseas. I am not against this at all however as long as you know the conditions of the factory and make sure that the factory itself is not outsourcing is key here.

6. Choose Eco-friendly fabric. Best eco-friendly fabrics include linen, tencel, seacell, modal, hemp, silk, bamboo, recycled and deadstock fabric. Organic cotton is the best because it is not treated with harmful chemicals and pesticides harmful to human health and wildlife Eco systems. 

7. We use recyclable materials and biodegradable packaging for e-commerce sales. It's so exciting to see so many more options out there finally!