SUSTAINABILITY
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One Wolf brand launched in 2012 initially as denim-wear brand. First samples of collections were developed in the brand’s studio and production was ensured by small Latvian factories. Through times we have grown not only our brand, but also our attention to a greener, more sustainable, slower fashion.
In 2015, One Wolf created its own specialised denim workshop “One Wolf shop and studio” (now "One Wolf Studio") that ensured perfect quality, transparency of the work process, flexibility in the quantities of production and schedule and no overstock of production.
All designs and samples of One Wolf are developed in Riga, Latvia, in our own workshop. In each step of the collection development and production we diminish transportation by choosing suppliers of materials and sewing production as close as possible to our location. We include as much fabrics produced in Latvia (like 100% cotton jersey or 100% cotton fabric) as possible. As there are very limited options to source fabrics in Latvia, we may import fabrics from Lithuania, Poland, Italy, Germany, Belgium and Denmark. Denim fabrics travel from Italy, Spain, Turkey and Taiwan. We outsource sewing in small factories as well as in small workshops or by individual masters, with whom close, long-term cooperation has been established, providing work for experienced, high quality masters and preserving local craftsmanship traditions. All within the capital. Thus when minimising transportation during collection design and production, we reduce impacts on CO2 emissions.
Design timelessness is of paramount importance, focusing on design relevance over several seasons as well as the long-lasting quality of garments. We create design products for several years working with a sense of responsibility.
Fabrics, trims, zips and other materials are bought in high quality and only in amount we will use, even paying higher price for smaller amounts. In most cases textile producers prepare fabric for us in the amount we order, there are also cases where we buy fabric overstock from producer. We apply manual cut at our studio, reducing fabric leftovers and making only the number of garments we can sell or that is pre-ordered. For larger orders (sweaters, t-shirts, dresses, pants) except denim we collaborate with small factories in Riga, where we collect all material leftovers after production. We also save on pattern paper by reusing printed pattern several times!
The fabrics are particularly confined to each collection, always placing quality, innovation and sustainability as an important criterion by selecting recycled fabrics. Our collections have a mix of new innovative materials, vegan leather, recycled fabrics or high quality timeless fabrics with natural composition.
We ensure digital technology usage in all our business processes – from pattern development, grading, layout in order to optimise fabric consumption, a cloud based office and enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and profit analysis, to a fast and paperless information exchange and service.
Our principle is to not produce overstock and increase life time of the garment. We guarantee our product quality and offer correction of clothing according to customer needs. We also offer repair services to our customers. In some cases we've even fixed jeans that have been used for 5+ years already!
Over time One Wolf includes more aspects of the circular economy model and sustainable values in our business. On November 2019 One Wolf announced a new and hopeful collaboration with Pasaules Dabas Fonds in Latvia (World Nature Fund in Latvia) emphasising the importance of sustainability and eco-friendliness in the fashion industry. That year we offered discounts for new jeans, if a customer brought us their old ones. Then on SS20 collection “Outsiders” we created brand new denim models from already used denim pants and scraps!
We approach zero waste production by developing designs that utilise material leftovers, for example, One Wolf logo tote bag - made from denim fabrics leftovers. + A reusable bag promotes even greener thinking among our customers. And by creating new fabric from fabric leftovers from T-shirt production and use this new fabric to make double sided T-shirts and dresses; by using organic cotton instead of regular one for item production.
Since we support zero-waste, our previous collection stock is still available at our store for purchase, since we are against meaningless destruction of a garment without even living it's fullest life cycle. At our store you can still find and buy items from older collections. But note that even back then our carefully, locally handmade fashion items have been created with longevity in mind. Our style and design is timeless, our quality - durable for many years to come.
For our latest collections One Wolf supports fashion sustainability and zero waste, by introducing the tag "MADE TO ORDER". Black rectangular “Made to Order” sticker at the upper right corner of a product cover image means that the item is sewn after receiving payment, resulting in less waste and a more conscious manufacturing! This also allows you to always be able to order your preferable size and not worry about it not being available.