People

  • SUPPLIERS
  • WOMEN'S COOPERATIVES
  • ARTISANS
  • CODE OF CONDUCT

WE WORK WITH PARTNERS THAT SHARE OUR VALUES OF FAIR WORK PRACTICES, EMPOWERING WOMEN AND RESPECTING THE EARTH.

At Cloth & Co. it's of utmost importance to us to work with partners that share our values of fair work practices, empowering women and respecting the earth to create beautiful and quality garments. 


We partner with suppliers who meet our sustainability standards, or, even better, that go beyond them.


We work closely with our suppliers to ensure their processes meet our standards and that the basic human rights of all people involved in our supply chain are respected.


Working together, we can strengthen our fair business practices, creating positive impacts in the lives of everyone involved in our business.

WOMEN FIBRE TO FASHION

Our woven collection is produced in limited quantities by our stitching unit in New Delhi. Cloth & Co. have partnered with Sewa Shakti and Women Fibre to Fashion, organisations dedicated to the holistic rehabilitation of women and girls who have been rescued from human trafficking and sexual violence. Since 2017, Sewa has trained over 300 survivors at their skills development centre in Okhla Delhi and Women Fibre to Fashion has formed a safe and secure work environment where women can be gainfully employed and develop life-long, workplace skills.


The philosophy at Sewa Shakti is to give agency and opportunity. Women are given access to education, counselling and rehabilitation, as we hold space for survivors to heal and grow into the best versions of themselves. A core principle of the company is to ensure the women can decide the work that they are interested in and advance their skills accordingly. This opportunity is paired with the training necessary to give women financial independence and self-empowerment as they are taught financial literacy, income generation, bargaining capacity as well as basic health management and women’s hygiene.


Our primary goal is to support vulnerable women and unite communities under the umbrella principle that basic needs are human rights, and that all people should have equal opportunities to have these needs met.


KPA CASHMERE

Established three decades ago by Krishna B Kunwar, KPA Cashmere has undergone a seamless transition to the second generation while maintaining its unique identity. The company was born out of their unwavering commitment to producing a diverse collection of top-notch cashmere woven and knitted products in Nepal.


At the core of their ethos lies an unwavering dedication to quality. To ensure the highest standards, KPA Cashmere exclusively manufactures its products in their own factory. This allows them to meticulously source the finest yarns from sustainable farms in Mongolia and China, thus upholding their commitment to natural, pure, and sustainable materials. Throughout the production process, they maintain an uncompromising focus on excellence, ensuring that every garment is infused with unparalleled craftsmanship and attention to detail. Local artisans, who work in a clean and safe environment, bring these designs to life with their exceptional skills and care.


KPA Cashmere is more than just a luxury cashmere brand; it serves as a vital source of livelihood for numerous underprivileged individuals in Nepal. Guided by the belief that "The Strength of Any Nation Is Rooted Within The Walls of Its Homes," the company has employed educated and non-educated Nepalese artisans, enabling them to support their families, uplift their communities, and contribute to the progress of the nation.


TIRIPUR STITCHING UNIT

Our jersey garments are produced in small, family-run factories selected based on their specific capabilities. Our single jersey and cotton rib collections are produced in Tirupur in Tamil Nadu. The production facility was founded on the principles of ethical and sustainable manufacturing processes where they started working with certified organic cotton back in 2009, and today 80% of their cotton production is organic, Cloth & Co. only uses organic for our jersey collections. The yarn is sourced from local Spinning Mills, which are powered by renewable energy and the factory is reusing up to 95% of the wastewater in the dyeing unit.


The production facility is located in the rural area on the outskirts of the city of Tirupur where many workers live locally and can travel comfortably on foot or bicycle and the company is contributing to the community economy.


We started working with the team due to our aligned values and focus on the overall welfare of their workers. They invest in social programs for the employees, such as financing medical insurance, they're paying living wages to their workers which are higher than the minimum wages of the Industrial benchmark described by Indian Labour. This allows them to cover all their living expenses.


Employing women of all communities, transforming not just their own lives BUT THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND THEM.

Sewa Shram Shakti Foundation is an NGO organisation dedicated to the wholistic rehabilitation of women and girls who have been rescued from human trafficking and sexual violence.They have trained over 300 survivors at their skill development centre in Okhla, New Delhi and formed a safe and secure working environment where women can be gainfully employed and develop life-long, workplace skills.


The philosophy at Sewa Shakti is to give agency and opportunity. Women are given access to education, counselling, and rehabilitation, as they hold space for survivors to heal and grow into the best versions of themselves. A core principle of our company is to ensure that women can decide the workmanship that they are interested in and advance their skills accordingly. This opportunity is paired with the training necessary to give women financial independence and self-empowerment as they are taught financial management, income generation, bargaining capacity, as well as basic health and hygiene. This means that not only do these women develop valuable life skills, but they can also gain a sense of self confidence in the process.


Our stitching unit in Delhi, Women Fibre to Fashion employs these rescued women in collaboration with the Sewa Shakti Foundation. This is a grass roots approach to employment and through this, we believe that all growth should be sustainable, ethical, and made with intention. Aligning our stitching unit with the utilisation of Artisan skills through long standing relationships with local hand-loom weavers is part of our approach to alleviate poverty amongst these communities and to maintain a close connection so that we can continue to explore opportunities for alleviation, empowerment and ongoing sustainable employment. 

SUPPORTING ARTISANS HAS A profound impact on balancing gender inequality, uplifting local economies, and preserving cultural heritage and sustainability.

Artisan crafts carry a generational element, connecting a particular craft to cultural heritage and lineage. These traditions are woven into the fabric of communities, serving as a source of cohesion, pride, and meaning. They offer an alternative to the common rural migration to crowded and polluted urban centers, where wages are often low.


An artisan trade is not merely a mechanical process; it represents an intimate understanding of materials, creativity, and a deep-rooted sense of place. Hand looms, for instance, embody the essence of shared history and a profound connection to the past. They remind us of the importance of craftsmanship and its ability to transcend time.

By choosing brands that prioritise small batches, fair wages, and one-of-a-kind products, we can begin to change our consumption patterns. This shift allows us to forge more meaningful relationships with the objects in our lives, reducing our environmental impact and embracing conscious consumption.

In choosing to support artisans, we become agents of change. We contribute to gender equality, economic empowerment, cultural preservation, and sustainable practices. Together, we can create a world where the beauty of craftsmanship and the stories behind each creation are cherished and celebrated.

KHADI DENIM

​​Khadi is famously known as Gandhi’s freedom movement, Cloth & Co. have sourced some of the best hand spun and hand loomed denim available in India, produced by a group of village artisans in Uttar Pradesh who have perfected this technique. Our Khadi has the softest hand feel and a natural stretch for comfort due to the hand woven technique. 

CHANDERI

The Chanderi collection is produced by a community of artisans in Varanasi who specialise in a unique weaving technique that has been passed down through generations. The investment in hand-loomed fabrics provides continuous opportunities for employment in the sector – ensuring the craft is preserved and the communities that practice it thrive. Artisanal craftsmanship and heritage is woven into the very fabric of these pieces.


CODE OF CONDUCT 

Our Supplier Code of Conduct has been developed in alignment with internationally recognised standards, including the core conventions of the International Labor Organisation (ILO) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It establishes the minimum standards we expect from our suppliers, encompassing crucial areas such as animal welfare, environmental management, chemical and water usage, greenhouse gas emissions, living wage, working conditions, and waste management.

standard for working with artisans

We have also document our Standard for working with artisans which is designed to address the unique issues associated with working with a predominantly rural and unorganised sector. This Standard includes all labour performed in and not exclusive to a centralised site and home based work. This Standard promotes the importance of addressing significant issues in a workplace environment, tailored to work conducted outside a traditional factory setting. Cloth & Co. is committed to ensuring that the organisations and/or artisans that they engage adhere to this Standard along with all relevant standards imposed by local and international laws. 




CLOTH & CO.


Where exceptional quality, craftsmanship, and positive impact converge. We prioritise quality over quantity, curating foundational wardrobe pieces with care. Our design philosophy centres on crafting timeless pieces from the worlds most beautiful sustainable natural fibres. We put people, planet and prosperity at the core of everything we do, minimising our impact and creating positive change.