Ok friends. This is important.
There is no argument that fast fashion has become a serious problem when it comes to pollution on our planet as well as a multitude of other global problems such as slave labor and dangerous working conditions.
And even with all the information and evidence, many of us turn a blind eye or are simply dazzled by direct marketing by certain mega-companies. A large majority of people care more about obtaining several things at a cheap price without considering the consequences of their purchases...
Consequences like:
- An Increase in cheap and/or slave labor
- An increase in dangerous labor conditions
- Increases in the mass production of cheaply made items that won't last past 1-2 washes in the laundry, which...
- ...creates more pollution in 3rd-world countries as well as our oceans and local landfills. (Thus perpetuating greenhouse gases that contribute to our climate change.)
Remember, Polyester is a synthetic material made of plastic fibers that are NOT biodegradable.
Yes, you can buy a $20 dress at just about any fast fashion box store you can think of. But how far does that $20 dress make it in your life before you toss it or take it to the Goodwill?
Now let's talk about that $120 dress you may have purchased from Heart of Haute.
How long has that held its life up in your closet?
How many more wears can you get out of it?
And even...what's it's resale value? (you can join our community to trade your HoH garments with other Honeys, by the way)
This is why you will find the majority of our products are made from NATURAL fibers like Cotton and Rayon. These are plant-based materials that- should they ever end up in a landfill or in our environment for any reason- will break down and turn to dirt.
Heart of Haute is made in America, within 20 miles of our offices if not right here on site. All of our employees are paid OVER minimum wage, and our ladies have been with us for 5 years or longer. Happy employees and high-quality working conditions are important to us and this philosophy proves itself to be true by the quality work we get back from our gals.
With the effects of global warming coming to head, we here at Heart of Haute are thinking of new ways to do our part for the future of fashion.
So yes, our first idea was to use natural fibers, as said before. Not only because using these types of materials are closer to true vintage garments, but we also know that it's kinder to the environment. This is one basic thing we've always considered when buying our materials.
But now there's another thing to consider that is just now coming to our attention. Because many of our cotton prints have lots of colors, that also means the process to create these textiles take a lot of water for washes and treatments. AND the dyes that go back into the environment are polluting the water and soil the washes get distributed back into.
The answer to this particular problem?
Digital Printing!
Ok, so Imagine an enormous jet-ink printer that only prints out on big rolls of fabric. This is the same process used by Spoonflower- a company which takes your own print designs and brings it to life.
That's essentially what we're getting ourselves into now.
- No water is used with the exception of the water in the ink itself.
- No washes.
- No dyes go into the environment.
- Minimal Waste/No Waste
- And it's vegan! <3 And you know how much we love animals...
It also means we will be designing MORE of our own proprietary prints that you won't be able to find anywhere else. Remember our Strawberry Print? Or the El Gato Collection? All digital printing, darlin'
The following information is from our main fabric supplier:
"WHAT KIND OF INKS ARE USED?
Our digital print solution uses a patented pigment ink technology that is water-based and absolutely free of heavy metals, formaldehyde and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APE), making them non-hazardous, non-toxic and 100% biodegradable. Our inks adhere to the strictest human health and environmental standards and contain no animal by-products and are completely vegan-friendly, meeting both the Oeko-Tex 100 and Global Organic Textile (GOTS) standards."
We wholeheartedly believe that our customers are some of the friendliest, smartest, and most considerate humans in the Western world. You understand the importance of how and where you spend your money, and we always, always appreciate you choosing Heart of Haute!
So here's to the future of fashion, Honeys!
The majority of our print garments are digitally printed on natural fiber material.
Feel good about the articles of clothing in your closet. Dress in the finest and most special things, for it's not only that YOU are worth it, but so is the world around you.
Join us as we do our part in making the world a better place.