IKKI superfine merino tops ready to be processed into yarn.
Having a family working closely in environmental organizations, I have learned to be more cautious about using the term sustainable. When defined correctly, when the real implications are understood, being sustainable brings with it an enormous responsibility. While it should be the aim of us all to create a completely sustainable lifestyle, the road to achieving this is long. Sustainability is about not drawing down on the earth’s resources faster than it can be regenerated. Bluntly put, this means not just taking what we want, when we want, but rather understanding how and when we consume.
In my last article (Made in China—With Pride), I spoke of the responsibility I have assumed to create a transparent supply chain that endorses safe and legitimate practices for my partners and clients. I would like to extend my thoughts on how taking sustainability seriously should trickle up the supply chain, because everything IKKI stands for revolves around quality & care.
Sustainability means much more than recycling your plastic bottle or minimizing your energy consumption. Sustainable development requires shared governance in the ecological, sociological and economical spectrum. As a community, we must all take part in creating an environment that generates a positive impact for all living organisms, while also maintaining responsible practices on how we operate mechanisms that are not natural to our planet.
For Ikki, becoming a fully sustainable brand is part of our mission, and it is no easy task. Being sustainable requires intense discipline and a collective effort from all our partners in every step of our supply chain. Our vision is to diminish our carbon footprint and develop better solutions on how we can provide our customers with quality clothes without jeopardizing the environment or the livelihoods of those around us in the short and long term.
Wool is a renewable fibre. It is an art to grow fine wools, and farmers over generations have invested in their flocks. Sheep are part of the natural carbon cycle, the plants they consume create their luscious coat, which is then sheared without harming the animal or compromising the surrounding environment. We are always looking for ways to improve. For example, to continue our production process, Ikki will be using corozo buttons in our upcoming collection. Made from tagua nuts that grow in subtropical rain forests, corozo buttons are eco-friendly and in line with the Ikki mission to be kind to our planet.
Our initiatives reach beyond our products themselves. We continue to educate our consumers on the benefits of using merino wool, not only as a garment, but as a means to develop a sustainable lifestyle. In addition, we have upheld standards to the highest certifications to ensure that our partners and developers too are reaching levels of optimal sustainability. Ikki works with partners that are certified by Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), an independent company that promotes safe, lawful, humane and ethical manufacturing. It is important to us to be recognized for taking initiatives to not only ensure our credibility, but to give us a constant goal to work towards.
It is within reach to practice a more sustainable lifestyle and it is up to all of us to be conscious about making our planet a better place for ourselves and future generations. Ikki’s mission is to create a safe haven for babies who will one day be the leaders of this world.