Honouring Our Earth

"As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us" ~ Robin Wall Kimmerer

At Solai, we believe that fashion should celebrate, honour and respect the earth, not compromise it. Our journey towards sustainability is woven through every thread and decision in our atelier. Here’s how we’re making a difference, and keeping sustainability at the core of what we do:

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Consciously Curating Our Fabric Selection

We choose materials that care for our planet. Our garments are crafted using:

Recycled Fabrics

We love working with recycled fabrics, as it means less raw material is needed, and therefore water and energy usage is signficantly reduced. It also decreases landfill waste since old garments and textile waste are repurposed and upcycled instead of being discarded -- always a win.

Lyocell

This is a fibre made from the wood pulp of trees that are grown and replaced in a regenerative program. The process of creating Lyocell is especially eco-friendly, as it uses a closed-loop system where 99% of the water and solvents used are recovered and recycled. Even our embroidery threads are made from lyocell!

Cupro

Often referred to as "vegan silk,"Cupro is a brilliant zero-waste solution as it's made from regenerated cotton waste. On top of being made in a closed-loop system, Cupro is hypoallergenic, which makes this deliciously soft fabric an excellent option for sensitive skin.

Organic and Regenerative Cotton

The only virgin cotton we work with is either certified Organic or Regeneratively-Grown. While the first one involves farming the fibre in a way that doesn't harm the earth, the latter actively works to regenerate the land, by employing biodynamic farming techniques (e.g. cover cropping and crop rotation), that increase biodiversity, sequester carbon and improve soil health.

Zero-Waste Philosophy

We see beauty in every scrap. Our fabric offcuts are carefully saved and reinvented into new designs.

We curate small-scale collections that are made up of discarded / pre-loved materials, breathing new life into the old & forgotten.

Sara uses a variety of techniques such as de-reconstruction, patchwork, appliqué, embroidery and dyeing with herbs & botanicals.

Transparent Journey

Each piece tells a story, not just of style but of stewardship. Our upcoming clothing labels and hang tags will feature scannable QR codes, offering a window into the item’s supply chain, creative process, and the mythology/story that inspired each design.

We know that fashion suffers from a lack of transparency, and sometimes we forget that our garments underwent a huge process of creation before it reached us. We want to invite you into that process, to highlight the work of the incredible craftswomen that create our clothes, who deserve all the recognition and appreciation.

SCANNABLE QR CODES COMING SOON...

Our Packaging and Energy Usage

Our commitment extends to our packaging, which is 100% recyclable and compostable.

Our aim is to install solar panels at our atelier by the end of 2024, to ensure that all of our creations are powered by renewable energy.

Carbon Capturing Top

As close to wearing a house plant as it gets.

We created our very first Carbon Negative Top, in collaboration with Post Carbon Lab, which contains a photosynthetic coating that absorbs CO2 and releases oxygen during the use phase!

This is an incredibly exciting step in the direction of climate-benefical fashion and it's just the beginning.