PRODUCTION

KNITWEAR

We employ a team of speciality trained women in Romania to knit the production our special hand knit piec- es. The team consists of women aged from 40 to 65 years old, coming from the city and countryside, many of them are married with children and grandchildren, coming from different educational backgrounds, and each with their own story. The knitting process creates a community with a positive and peaceful atmosphere provid- ing opportunity to women who have often left careers to raise children.

The team is united by a passion for handmade work. The knitting process is difficult and requires a lot of atten- tion, patience and resilience. Each craftsperson puts a lot of pride into the work and once the product is made, they consider it as their piece of art. Each craftsperson receives fair pay for their work

RTW PRODUCTION

Our production and sourcing is 100% European. We have a dedicated production team who work hand in hand locally with our factory to ensure perfect communication of our creative vision and the highest quality standards. This local team reduces the need for additional travel to and from the production facility.

The production facility was founded in 2012 by a team bringing 30 years of high quality prodution experience. Pro- duction is Sedex approved. Sedex is one of the world’s leading ethical trade service providers, working to improve working conditions along with responsible and sustainable business practices in global supply chains.

OUR FABRICS 

CUPRO

We love this textile and use it in a large proportion of our collections each season, it has the feel and breath- ability of silk but it is cruelty free. It is certified by the EuropeanVegetarian Union and is awarded theVegan‘V label’, which ensures no usage of animal products from the raw materials through to the finished goods. The fibers, chemicals and dyes are specially selected for vegan textile processes. We are proud to say that our cupro supplier was the first company to obtain the OEKO-TEX 100 certificate in its field in 1996 and has since won the Sustainable Business Award in 2017 and 2019 along with many other environmental awards.

Cupro is a regenerated cellulose fabric made from cotton waste. It has a high-circular potential. The specific production technique used by our supplier produces zero waste, it is a closed loop manufacture in which solvents are fully recovered. Any cellulosic waste is used as fuel to generate electricity. The fabric is also fully biodegreadable at the end of its life cycle.

Over 10 million tons of clothing goes into landfill every year. Most of the clothes are not biodegradable or have a very slow rate. Vegan cupro decomposes quickly soil, losing half of its original weight in approximately two months of soil coverage.

Typically 58% of the negative effects of pollution created by a garment is created after its purchase. These effects are created via washing, tumble drying and dry cleaning. Vegan cupro needs less detergent and water for cleaning, it provides low detergent residue, moisture control and naturally antibacterial qualities.

ORGANIC COTTON

Cotton, while a natural fiber, uses 25% of all insecticides applied to crops worldwide.The Environmental Protec- tion Agency (EPA) deems seven of the top 15 pesticides used on U.S. cotton crops to be potential or known human carcinogens. We are committed to using only organic cotton in our production which are certified by GOTS or OCS. It still uses water in the processing of the cotton but the land is usually rain fed and the elimina- tion of pesticides helps to sustain the health of the land.

RECYCLED DEMIN

We use denim with an organic and recycled composition. It is 63% Organic Cotton, 33% Recycled Polyester, 4% Elastane. All agricultural processes, for the production of the cotton, from seeding to harvesting are certified organic. The recycled polyester is post consumer plastic waste.This fabric is approved by OCS, GOTS, GRS, BCI, OEKO-TEX.

ALPACA WOOL

After much research into wool we decided to introduce Alpaca wool and hand knitting to the collections of HØST & VÅR beginning from AW20. Connecting personal values with brand values is very important to founders Elsa Freddrike Nedrebo and Gunn Augland, and as a cruelty free, sustainable and environmentally friendly fiber this material offered a perfect alternative.

Alpaca wool doesn’t contain fat or allergenic lanolin so toxic chemicals are not required to clean it and it is naturally hypoallergenic. Due to its long fibers Alpaca is second only to silk for strength. The fleece is fine and light, it doesn’t retain water, it is a thermal insulator and can effectively resist solar radiation. Comparing Alpaca and Premium Cashmere, both are hypoallergenic, however cashmere does not have the same longevity, and it is no longer considered sustainable due to ongoing environmental factors affecting the cashmere goat herds.

Alpaca wool has a naturally insulating core which keeps you warm without weighing you down, it is durable, and it is the warmest and softest natural fiber available. Garments are long-lasting and won’t shrink or pill if given correct care. Care is easy – simply hand wash with a mild detergent and lay flat to dry.

Sheering takes place just once per year, sheering benefits the animal by eliminating seasonal heat stress.The an- imals are not harmed during the shearing process which means that they are highly sustainable and the process is cruelty free. Furthermore, the process of alpaca farming does not require harsh chemicals meaning that alpaca farming is completely safe and natural for the environment. Alpaca hooves are softly padded which reduces

the environmental impact and destructions of the root systems on the terrain on which they graze, they also produce more fleece than sheep and have more effective eating and drinking habits than other grazing animals. They adapt easily to most climates, elevations and conditions.

Our alpaca colours are created by artisans using centuries-old natural dyeing methods that are derived from natural resources, such as plants, flowers, fruits, and minerals.

These are just some of the reasons why we love Alpaca’s!