Helsinki, Finland

Sustainable Unisex Streetwear brand from Helsinki, Finland. Afect is for those who care and to inspire...

Our Journey To Sustainability - Chapter I

Monday, 07 December 2020

Our‌ ‌clothings‌ ‌are‌ ‌produced‌ ‌with‌ ‌passion‌ ‌to‌ ‌respect‌ ‌both‌ ‌human‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌planet‌

From‌ ‌the‌ ‌very‌ ‌start‌ ‌of‌ ‌founding‌ ‌our‌ ‌company,‌ ‌our‌ ‌mission‌ ‌has‌ ‌always‌ ‌been‌ ‌to‌ ‌create‌ ‌high‌ quality‌ ‌apparel‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌most‌ ‌sustainable,‌ ‌responsible‌ ‌and‌ ‌ethical‌ ‌way‌ ‌we‌ ‌possibly‌ ‌can.‌ ‌Our intention‌ ‌is‌ ‌to‌ ‌integrate‌ ‌sustainability‌ ‌into‌ ‌everything‌ ‌we‌ ‌do‌ ‌and‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌deliberate‌ ‌decisions‌ about‌ ‌who‌ ‌we‌ ‌work‌ ‌with,‌ ‌how‌ ‌we‌ ‌work‌ ‌and‌ ‌what‌ ‌materials‌ ‌we‌ ‌use.‌ ‌ ‌

We‌ ‌are‌ ‌committed‌ to ensuring ‌that‌ ‌our‌ ‌partners‌ ‌are‌ ‌protecting‌ ‌ethical,‌ ‌humane‌ ‌and‌ ‌lawful‌ ‌conditions‌ ‌and‌ ‌practices‌ ‌for ‌workers‌ ‌in‌ ‌all‌ ‌their‌ ‌facilities‌.

Our‌ ‌goal‌ ‌is‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌engaged‌ ‌at‌ ‌every‌ ‌step‌ ‌of‌ ‌our‌ ‌supply‌ ‌chain,‌ ‌building‌ ‌long-term‌ ‌relationships‌ with‌ ‌our‌ ‌partners‌ ‌and‌ ‌having an ‌innovative‌ ‌company‌ ‌culture‌ ‌that‌ ‌drives ‌us‌ ‌to‌ ‌work‌ ‌even‌ harder.‌ ‌The‌ ‌only‌ ‌way‌ ‌is‌ ‌to‌ ‌go‌ ‌forward‌ ‌and‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌real‌ ‌difference‌ ‌in‌ ‌sustainable‌ ‌fashion.‌

It‌ ‌all‌ ‌starts ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌fields‌

Before‌ ‌the‌ ‌final‌ ‌product,‌ ‌the‌ ‌path‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌field‌ ‌has‌ ‌to‌ ‌overcome‌ ‌many‌ ‌complex‌ ‌steps‌, ‌from‌ organic‌ ‌cotton‌ ‌farms‌ ‌in‌ ‌India‌ ‌to‌ ‌our‌ ‌finished‌ ‌end‌ ‌products‌ ‌printed‌ ‌in‌ ‌Helsinki,‌ ‌Finland.‌ ‌Our‌ aim‌ ‌is‌ ‌to‌ ‌achieve‌ ‌these‌ ‌steps‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌most‌ ‌sustainable‌ ‌and‌ ‌responsible‌ ‌way‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌end‌ product‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌produced‌ ‌here‌ ‌in‌ ‌Helsinki.‌

Only‌ ‌Organic‌ ‌Cotton‌ ‌and‌ ‌recycled‌ ‌materials!‌

At‌ ‌Afect‌ ‌Clothing‌, we ‌only‌ ‌use‌ ‌organic‌ ‌cotton‌ ‌and‌ ‌recycled‌ ‌materials.‌ ‌By‌ ‌choosing‌ ‌organic‌ cotton,‌ ‌it‌ ‌minimizes‌ ‌the‌ ‌amount‌ ‌of‌ ‌water‌ ‌used‌ ‌in‌ ‌crop‌ ‌production.‌ ‌We‌ ‌only‌ ‌work‌ ‌with‌ suppliers‌ ‌that‌ ‌source‌ ‌only‌ ‌the‌ ‌best‌ ‌raw‌ ‌materials‌ ‌and‌ ‌are‌ ‌producing‌ ‌in‌ ‌ways‌ ‌that‌ ‌do‌ ‌not‌ ‌harm‌ people,‌ ‌animals‌ ‌or‌ ‌the‌ ‌environment.‌ ‌We‌ ‌are‌ ‌committed‌ ‌to ensuring that ‌our‌ ‌partners‌ ‌are‌ ‌protecting‌ ‌ethical,‌ ‌humane‌ ‌and‌ ‌lawful‌ ‌conditions‌ ‌and‌ ‌practices‌ ‌of‌ ‌their‌ ‌workers‌ ‌in‌ ‌all‌ ‌their‌ ‌facilities.‌ ‌

All‌ ‌our‌ ‌garments‌ ‌are‌ ‌produced‌ ‌by‌ ‌Stanley‌ ‌&‌ ‌Stella.‌ ‌Their‌ ‌materials‌ ‌are‌ ‌100%‌ ‌GOTS‌ ‌certified‌ organic‌ ‌cotton‌ ‌from‌ ‌India,‌ ‌recycled‌ ‌polyester‌ ‌from‌ ‌China‌ ‌and‌ ‌other‌ ‌sustainable‌ ‌materials‌ such‌ ‌as‌ ‌Modal®.‌ ‌For‌ ‌us‌, ‌it‌ ‌is‌ ‌the‌ ‌most‌ ‌important‌ ‌to‌ ‌have‌ ‌a‌ ‌sustainable‌ ‌future‌ ‌and‌ ‌that‌ ‌our‌ suppliers‌ ‌and‌ ‌partners‌ ‌share ‌this‌ ‌agenda.‌ ‌This‌ ‌is‌ ‌why‌ ‌we‌ ‌have‌ ‌chosen‌ ‌products‌ ‌from‌ Stanley‌ ‌&‌ ‌Stella.‌

Why‌ ‌choose‌ ‌100%‌ ‌organic‌ ‌cotton

91%‌ ‌less‌ ‌water‌‌
Worldwide,‌ ‌most‌ ‌organic‌ ‌cotton‌ ‌is‌ ‌grown‌ ‌on‌ ‌rain-fed‌ ‌farms‌ ‌–‌ ‌meaning‌ ‌there‌ ‌is‌ ‌no‌ ‌irrigation.‌ ‌The‌ ‌soil‌ ‌is‌ ‌healthy‌ ‌and‌ ‌holds‌ ‌water‌ ‌50%‌ ‌better‌ ‌than‌ ‌conventional‌ ‌soil.‌ ‌The‌ ‌water‌ ‌used ‌in‌ ‌growing‌ ‌organic‌ ‌cotton‌ ‌is‌ ‌91%‌ ‌lower‌ ‌than‌ ‌that‌ ‌of‌ ‌conventional‌ ‌cotton.‌ ‌

0%‌ ‌pesticides‌ ‌and‌ ‌fertilizers‌ ‌
It‌ ‌takes‌ ‌400‌ ‌grams‌ ‌of‌ ‌raw‌ ‌cotton‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌one‌ ‌t-shirt. One‌ ‌conventional‌ ‌t-shirt‌ ‌contains‌ ‌165‌ ‌grams‌ ‌of‌ ‌pesticides‌ ‌and‌ ‌fertilizers.‌ Garments‌ ‌produced‌ ‌with‌ ‌organic‌ ‌cotton‌ ‌contain‌ ‌zero‌ ‌pesticides‌ ‌and‌ ‌fertilizers‌ ‌and‌ ‌have‌ ‌a positive‌ ‌impact‌ ‌on‌ ‌almost‌ ‌220,000‌ ‌farmers,‌ ‌their‌ ‌families‌ ‌and‌ ‌your‌ ‌skin.‌ ‌

46%‌ ‌less‌ ‌CO2‌ ‌emissions‌ ‌
Growing‌ ‌organic‌ ‌cotton‌ ‌saves‌ ‌46%‌ ‌CO₂‌ ‌compared‌ ‌to‌ ‌conventional‌ ‌cotton.‌

On-demand‌

We‌ ‌produce‌ ‌our‌ ‌products‌ ‌with‌ ‌an‌ ‌on-demand‌ ‌method.‌ ‌We‌ ‌chose‌ ‌this‌ ‌method‌ ‌to‌ ‌decrease‌ ‌our‌ ‌garment‌ ‌waste,‌ ‌to‌ ‌lower‌ ‌carbon‌ ‌footprint‌ ‌in‌ ‌our‌ ‌production‌ ‌cycle‌ ‌and‌ ‌to‌ ‌put‌ ‌a‌ ‌stop‌ ‌to‌ ‌fast‌ ‌fashion.‌ ‌But‌ ‌what‌ ‌does‌ ‌‘’on-demand’’‌ ‌mean? ‌It‌ ‌means‌ ‌that‌ ‌we‌ ‌only‌ ‌print ‌our‌ ‌products‌ ‌after‌ ‌an‌ ‌order‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌made.‌ ‌We‌ ‌then contact‌ ‌our‌ ‌partner‌ in Helsinki, Finland‌ to‌ ‌print‌ ‌our‌ ‌design‌ ‌onto‌ ‌the‌ ‌garment ordered.‌ By ‌choosing this ‌method,‌ ‌we‌ ‌are‌ ‌not‌ ‌overproducing‌ ‌any‌ ‌of‌ ‌our‌ ‌apparel.‌ ‌We‌ ‌do‌ ‌this‌ ‌to‌ ‌save‌ ‌natural‌ ‌resources and to stop fast fashion.

Orders that have been placed during Monday 12 a.m. to Sunday 11:59 p.m. (UTC +2) will be made on the following week and shipped on the next week’s Monday.

Our‌ ‌apparel‌ ‌certifications‌ ‌prove ‌our‌ ‌commitment‌‌

All‌ ‌our‌ ‌products‌ ‌have‌ ‌been‌ ‌certified‌ ‌by‌ ‌the‌ ‌best‌ ‌by‌ ‌numerous ‌independent‌ ‌bodies‌ ‌and‌ standards.‌ ‌We‌ ‌are‌ ‌not‌ ‌only‌ ‌saying‌ ‌we‌ ‌are‌ ‌sustainable.‌ ‌Our‌ ‌products‌ ‌have‌ ‌the‌ ‌certificates‌ ‌to‌ prove‌ ‌it‌ ‌by‌ ‌the‌ ‌world’s‌ ‌leading‌ ‌bodies.‌ ‌Every‌ ‌certificate‌ ‌granted‌ ‌to‌ ‌our‌ ‌products‌ ‌demonstrates‌ our‌ ‌commitment‌ ‌to‌ ‌choose‌ ‌best‌ ‌possible‌ ‌options‌ ‌for‌ ‌sustainability,‌ ‌ethicality‌ ‌and‌ ‌environment‌ in‌ ‌mind.‌ Read more about our certifications at https://www.afectclothing.com/secti

Every‌ ‌step‌ ‌of‌ ‌our‌ ‌process‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌checked‌‌

We‌ ‌have‌ ‌only‌ ‌selected‌ ‌companies‌ ‌that‌ ‌manufacture‌ ‌quality‌ ‌products‌ ‌and‌ ‌are‌ ‌providing‌ ‌a‌ safe‌ ‌and‌ ‌healthy‌ ‌working‌ ‌environment,‌ ‌protecting‌ ‌the‌ ‌welfare‌ ‌and‌ ‌integrity‌ ‌of‌ ‌all‌ ‌their‌ employees.‌ ‌We‌ ‌are‌ ‌highly‌ ‌committed‌ ‌to‌ ‌sheltering‌ ‌and‌ ‌improving‌ ‌the‌ ‌quality‌ ‌for‌ ‌those‌ ‌who‌ are‌ ‌working‌ with ‌and‌ ‌manufacturing‌ ‌our‌ ‌products.‌ ‌ ‌

Our‌ ‌clothing‌ ‌supplier‌ ‌has‌ ‌a‌ ‌leader‌ ‌status‌ ‌in‌ the ‌Fair‌ ‌Wear ‌certificate‌ ‌(FWF).‌ ‌All‌ ‌our‌ ‌manufacturers‌ ‌have‌ ‌their‌ ‌own‌ ‌Code‌ ‌of‌ ‌Conduct, ‌all ‌follow ‌the‌ ‌rules‌ ‌of‌ ‌UN’s‌ ‌International‌ ‌Labor‌ ‌Organization‌ ‌(ILO)‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌Fair‌ ‌Labor‌ ‌Association‌ ‌(FLA).‌ ‌We‌ ‌promote‌ ‌ethical,‌ ‌humane‌ ‌and‌ ‌lawful‌ ‌conditions‌ ‌and‌ ‌practices‌ ‌in‌ ‌all‌ ‌our‌ manufacturing‌ ‌partners‌ ‌facilities.‌ ‌ ‌

The‌ ‌Code‌ ‌of‌ ‌Conducts‌ ‌follow‌ ‌the‌ ‌UN’s‌ ‌Universal‌ ‌Declaration‌ ‌of‌ ‌Human‌ ‌Rights‌ ‌(UDHR)‌ which‌ ‌is‌ ‌generally‌ ‌agreed‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌the‌ ‌foundation‌ ‌of‌ ‌International‌ ‌Human‌ ‌Rights‌ ‌Law.‌ ‌Code‌ ‌of‌ Conduct‌ ‌consist‌ ‌of, for‌ ‌example‌, the following subjects:‌ ‌no‌ ‌child‌ ‌labour,‌ ‌no‌ ‌forced‌ ‌labour,‌ ‌wages‌ ‌have‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌at‌ ‌least‌ ‌minimum‌ ‌wage,‌ ‌no‌ ‌more‌ ‌than‌ ‌60h‌ ‌work‌ ‌per‌ ‌week‌ ‌(after‌ ‌that‌ ‌24h‌ ‌sleep‌ ‌must‌ ‌be‌ ‌conducted),‌ ‌no‌ ‌discrimination,‌ ‌no‌ ‌harassment‌ ‌or‌ ‌abuse,‌ ‌health‌ ‌care‌ ‌must‌ ‌be‌ ‌provided‌ ‌to‌ ‌all‌ ‌workers,‌ ‌environment‌ ‌laws‌ ‌have‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌followed,‌ ‌and human‌ ‌rights‌ ‌laws‌ ‌and‌ ‌policies‌ ‌have‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌followed.‌ ‌ ‌

Our‌ ‌partners‌ ‌work‌ ‌very‌ ‌closely‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌Fair‌ ‌Wear‌ ‌Foundation‌ ‌(FWF).‌ ‌Every‌ ‌factory‌ ‌is‌ ‌
monitored,‌ ‌supervised‌ ‌and‌ ‌visited‌ ‌by‌ ‌parent‌ ‌companies,‌ ‌national‌ ‌governments‌ ‌and‌ ‌
international‌ ‌agencies‌ ‌in both ‌monthly‌ ‌and‌ ‌daily‌ ‌visits.‌

We‌ ‌know‌ ‌where‌ ‌our‌ ‌products‌ ‌are‌ ‌being‌ ‌made‌‌

The‌ ‌word‌ ‌transparency‌ ‌is‌ ‌what‌ ‌we‌ ‌want‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌associated‌ ‌with.‌ ‌Consumers‌ ‌need‌ ‌to‌ ‌know‌ what‌ ‌they‌ ‌are‌ ‌buying,‌ ‌where‌ ‌was‌ ‌it‌ ‌made‌, ‌and‌ ‌by‌ ‌who.‌ ‌This‌ ‌is‌ ‌why‌ ‌we‌ ‌publish‌ ‌all‌ ‌the‌ factories‌ ‌and‌ ‌their‌ ‌contact‌ ‌details.‌ ‌At‌ ‌this‌ ‌moment,‌ ‌our‌ ‌partners‌ ‌have‌ ‌5 ‌different‌ ‌factories.‌ One‌ ‌in‌ ‌Finland and four ‌in‌ ‌Bangladesh.‌ ‌Apart‌ ‌from‌ ‌Finland,‌ ‌why‌ ‌we‌ ‌choose‌ ‌to‌ ‌work‌ ‌with‌ risk countries‌ ‌like‌ ‌Bangladesh‌ ‌is‌ ‌because‌ ‌we‌ ‌want ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌part‌ ‌of‌ ‌changing‌ ‌the‌ ‌whole‌ ‌garment‌ ‌industry, ‌and changing‌ ‌the‌ ‌working‌ ‌environment‌ ‌in‌ ‌these‌ ‌countries.‌ ‌After‌ ‌almost‌ ‌endless‌ ‌research,‌ ‌we‌ ‌selected‌ ‌to‌ ‌work‌ ‌with‌ ‌Stanley‌ ‌&‌ ‌Stella, ‌whose garment‌ ‌factories‌ ‌are‌ ‌in‌ ‌Bangladesh.‌ ‌Stanley‌ ‌&‌ ‌Stella‌ ‌are‌ ‌the‌ ‌best‌ ‌possible‌ ‌option‌ ‌and‌ ‌leader‌ ‌in‌ ‌sustainable‌ ‌manufacturing.‌ ‌

It‌ ‌is‌ ‌our‌ ‌responsibility‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌the‌ ‌‘right’‌ ‌ethical‌ ‌and‌ ‌sustainable‌ ‌decisions.‌ ‌We‌ ‌want‌ ‌to‌ ‌offer‌ these‌ ‌workers‌ ‌salaries‌ ‌and‌ ‌working‌ ‌habitat‌ ‌that‌ ‌they‌ ‌deserve‌ ‌and‌ ‌should‌ have ‌always‌ ‌had.‌ We‌ ‌sincerely‌ ‌hope‌ ‌this‌ ‌will‌ ‌inspire‌ ‌others‌ ‌to‌ ‌do‌ ‌the‌ ‌same.‌ ‌Only‌ ‌actions‌ ‌can‌ ‌make a ‌change.‌ This‌ ‌is‌ ‌why‌ ‌we‌ ‌choose‌ ‌to‌ ‌work‌ ‌with‌ ‌Stanley‌ ‌&‌ ‌Stella.‌ ‌They‌ ‌have‌ ‌the‌ ‌same‌ ‌values‌ ‌of‌ ‌ethical,‌ human‌ ‌and‌ ‌sustainable‌ ‌working‌ ‌methods.‌

Finland‌:‌‌
Print‌ ‌Helsinki‌
‌Sandelsinkatu‌ ‌8,‌ ‌00260‌ ‌Helsinki.‌ ‌‌www.printhelsinki.fi‌.‌ ‌
Product printing

Bangladesh‌:‌ ‌‌
Ahsan
Chandar,‌ ‌Kaliakoir‌ ‌Gazipur-1740.‌ ‌
‌T-Shirts,‌ ‌Long‌ ‌Sleeve,‌ ‌Hoodie,‌ ‌Sweatshirt
‌Certifications: GOTS,‌ ‌OCS,‌ ‌OEKO-TEX
Dird‌
Rajendrapur,‌ ‌Sreepur,‌ ‌Gazipur-1740.‌ ‌
‌T-Shirts,‌ ‌Long‌ ‌Sleeve,‌ ‌Hoodie,‌ ‌Sweatshirt ‌
(Certifications:‌ ‌GOTS,‌ ‌OCS,‌ ‌OEKO-TEX,‌ ‌GRS)‌ ‌
Interstoff‌
Chandar,‌ ‌Kaliakoir‌ ‌Gazipur-1740.‌ ‌
T-Shirts,‌ ‌Long‌ ‌Sleeve,‌ ‌Hoodie,‌ ‌Sweatshirt
Certifications:‌ ‌GOTS,‌ ‌OCS,‌ ‌OEKO-TEX
Meghna‌‌ ‌
Gilarchala,‌ ‌Shreepur,‌ ‌Gazipur-1740.‌ ‌
T-Shirts,‌ ‌Long‌ ‌Sleeve,‌ ‌Hoodie,‌ ‌Sweatshirt
Certifications:‌ ‌GOTS,‌ ‌OCS,‌ ‌OEKO-TEX

Continue Sustainability in Chapter II