The Sleep Shirt joins the Fashion Revolution

Ethically-made clothing

Have you ever wondered "who made my clothes?"

After the Rana Plaza incident in 2013, where a 5 story garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh and caused the deaths and injuries of over 3000 people, I began to ask that question. 

I've heard that we should not ask ourselves why something is so expensive, but ask ourselves why something is so cheap. It only takes a little bit of garment construction knowledge to know that a $5 t-shirt was probably made under pretty harsh working conditions, and I realized how far removed we have become from the process involved in making apparel. That's why I decided that The Sleep Shirt would be committed to a fair and transparent supply chain. 

"We believe in a fashion industry that values people, the environment, creativity and profit in equal measure." - Fashion Revolution

This month, we are participating in Fashion Revolution week, because we are proud of how we make our sleepwear. We are excited to share photos of the people who weave our fabrics and who sew our nightshirts.

In this blog post you'll find photos of the staff at Wing Wing Garments in Vancouver, who manufacture most of our sleepwear, and Somelos Tecidos in Portugal, who are one of our main fabric suppliers.

Responsible sourcing and ethical manufacturing

We are also committed to being a sustainable company. By using exclusively natural materials such as cotton and linen, we know that our products are not going to pollute the air or oceans when they are washed or when they make it to a landfill at the end of their lifecycle. And one of the best ways for us to reduce the impact of the fashion industry on this planet is to buy less - which is why we strive to make clothing items that are long-lasting and do not need to be regularly replaced.

"We celebrate fashion as a positive influence while also scrutinising industry practices and raising awareness of the fashion industry’s most pressing issues. We aim to show that change is possible and encourage those who are on a journey to create a more ethical and sustainable future for fashion." - Fashion Revolution

I have a nightshirt I have worn more than 500 times and it is still in great shape. If we all made thoughtful purchases that we could wear for years, then the fashion industry would have a far lower impact on the planet. I don't think we have a choice; those of us who can afford to buy ethically produced clothing should make that a priority.

Sincerely, Alexandra. (Founder and CEO.)

Image descriptions, from top to bottom: Wing Wing Garments, Somelos Tecidos, Wing Wing Garments, Somelos Tecidos.