Slow fashion & the 5 Rs
Sustainability is one of our core principles and something we constantly consider and think about. Our aim as a company is to embrace the slow fashion movement and reject fast fashion. The fashion industry thrives on newness and consumption, paradoxical to sustainability. We do everything in our power to ensure that we combat this.
What is Slow Fashion?
Slow fashion is the idea that we buy less, and buy with the intention of something lasting a long time. It encourages slower production, unifies sustainability with ethics, and ultimately invites consumers to invest in well-made, long-lasting clothes. Something important to consider when purchasing an item is, “will I actually use this?” It is better to spend more money on something that will last a long time, as opposed to buying lots but sacrificing on quality. So, how can we really calculate if something is sustainable both environmentally and economically to purchase?
Cost per use
One way to determine whether or not something is worth purchasing is by calculating the cost per use. For example, on average it rains in Bergen 239 days per year, (a whole lot of rain!) Our BRGN Lyn Coat costs 3999 NOK, which means that if you used it for one year and only wore it on the rainy days, the cost per use would be 16.72 NOK. Of course, if you buy our Lyn Coat you will use it for much longer than a year and will likely wear in on sunny days too, but this is something to consider when investing slightly more on a high quality item. You can work out the cost per use wherever you are by dividing the price by the amount of days per year you will likely wear it. It is a good way of taking extra consideration before you buy!
The 5 Rs
REDUCE
By not using unnecessary components in their design and packaging, BRGN reduces their carbon footprint. Their products are timeless, season-less and they never offer sales because they want to encourage customers to only buy what they actually need.
REFUSE
BRGN refuses to compromise. They always use Eco DWR C0 coating, their fabrics are Bluesign Certified® and they always visit their factories to check who is making the products and how they are being made.
REPAIR
BRGN offer their customers a repair service and encourage them to repair rather than replace. It takes fewer resources to replace certain parts rather than replacing it all.
RECYCLE
By using fibres like recycled polyester in their products, BRGN decreases their carbon footprint. They also offer specialised washing bags which prevent micro-plastic pollution.
REUSE
Aiming to be a zero-waste brand, BRGN use leftover fabrics in their production to be more sustainable. They encourage customers to sell or gift their jackets to someone if they no longer want it. They do not want you to throw it away.