Upon reading the assignment prompt, my mind immediately shifted toward the industry I am currently working in, which is fashion (more specifically the construction of garments). That being said, it is well known the carbon footprint that is left behind due to fashion, more specifically fast fashion & its detrimental impact to the environment. Therefore, I wanted to research “Kapital”, one of the great pioneers of sustainable (anti-fast fashion) clothing brands, an inspiring company that continues to prioritize sustainable and ethical business practices in numerous ways.
When it comes to design & production, it is essential to mention how Kapital conducts their business, which heavily revolves around carbon neutrality & circular fashion. In regards to reducing their carbon footprint, they make it clear that reducing waste & increasing energy sufficiency are their top priorities. They practice this by supporting renewable energy projects to offset their carbon emissions, along with using chemical-free dyeing & sticking to plant / mineral based dyes. Another major key in reducing carbon footprint is limiting production to solely local production, meaning everything is made in Japan (where they are based) to minimize shipping & transportation. They also stick to one collection per season, unlike fast fashion brands (mass producing hundreds of collections per season, resulting in thousands of low quality items per year) like fashion nova, shein, Zara, etc. In terms of circular fashion, they practice this by using sustainable materials to produce their garments. They source organic cotton & wool only from mills that practice sustainable production, along with incorporating literal recycled fabrics in many of their collections (upcycled work).Thankfully, they make this clear due to their immaculate transparency in regards to everything about their process of producing, located on their website. They even have a local recycling program, in which customers can bring their old Kapital items to get them repaired or repurposed, to further reduce waste. Finally, they also tend to frequently collaborate with local artists in the area, to celebrate and preserve Japanese tradition & supporting local communities.
Moving on from manufacturing, they are extremely avid in fair labor practices, implementing a strict code of conduct that ensures safe working conditions, livable wages, fair treatment, and most importantly, prohibiting the labor and exploitation of children (which is undoubtedly still a huge problem in areas surrounding). Along with this, they are passionate in community engagement and education. They are clearly committed to raising awareness on unethical fashion practices & the negative environmental impact, and give tips on how to combat it and offer tips on how to live / create in a more sustainable manner. They also support local communities through certain partnerships and charitable donations.
As much as I advocate for Kapital and their sustainable practices, there is always room for improvement. For example, one way they can further their ethical business practices is making it clear on who they donate to and what specific partnerships benefit local communities. They claim to make these donations and help local communities through partnerships (not only directly from Kapital themselves, but even third party companies / campaigns), but I struggle to find specific examples / numbers, which is vital for a complete, transparent ethical company.
