Made in Portugal

It’s the opposite of the fast-fashion cycle that changes every season. We’re all about making clothes with long-lasting quality and design, beyond trends. This also means we’re constantly sourcing the best suppliers and factories that can deliver on our standards. Accordingly, we have taken the decision to produce as much of our clothes as possible in Europe, where a lot of factories use renewable energy.

Made in Portugal. In the mountains in the north of Portugal, just outside Porto, small roads take you to the family-owned textile factories that have been there for more than a century. Many of the same methods and techniques are still being used, combined with modern methods. For us ‘Made in Portugal’ means a reassurance of high quality and is a more sustainable way of producing our clothes. The main part of our production is based here, both production and dyeing facilities, resulting in less transport between productions lines. This also means we can visit weavers and sewing factories on the same trip, which significantly reduces travel on our part. “Production in Europe is a huge advantage to keep our footprint down, and it’s so much easier for us to visit the factories,” says our head of production Ingrid Eurenius, who visits the factories 3-4 times a year.

Family-owned. Our main factory, which specialises in shirt-making, is managed by two sisters and their father. Established in 1981, the family-run company emphasises sustainability at the core of their business. “We don’t use much water and only use a small amount of electricity to keep the machines running – our long-term goal is to work with solar panels. We have strict targets and keep records of all our waste. To reduce it, we separate and recycle textile fibres for instance,” one of the owners explains. Another core principle for the factory is maintaining a close bond with the community around them and supporting local businesses. They work with local sub-contractors who all have their own areas of expertise, be it jersey, buttons, weaving of the textile or dyeing. Most of its staff has been working for the company for more than three decades, passing along its valuable expertise and skills to a new generation of workers. Due to the factory being small-scale, it is easy to form long-lasting relationships. “We have worked with this particular factory since the start five years ago, says Eurenius. “The sisters have a huge interest in the textile industry, and we can trust them fully.”