Sourcing fabric is a huge hurdle and if you are trying to source sustainable fabric, it's even harder. We often recommend inquiring with your garment factory to source fabric because they often can be a huge asset to making this process quick and easy, here's why.

One of the most important aspects of sustainable and ethical fashion is the supply chain.  Ethical Factories have certifications that ensure that they are using ethical practices, but we often find these factories go above and beyond to support people. THR3EFOLD has worked hard to gather the best community of factories who are doing great things to uplift their community through the production work you provide, here are a few stories to inspire your week.

There are incredible factories all around the world who are making quality products while supporting their staff and improving their communities while they do it. We know because we've been in them. And soon, you will get to start working with them too. But getting in at the launch will be your best deal - here's 5 reasons to join the THR3EFOLD Ethical Manufacturing Platform by launch day.

You may have seen signs of support for the cotton farmers protesting in India in the last several months but not gained access to much more information. Today we dive into the world of cotton farming in India and the hardships that come along with it. It is clear some changes need to be made to protect and improve the lives of farmers, but what those changes are have yet to be discovered.

Single use plastics are damaging our planet in a big way.  Some brands are finding ways to combat this by using more sustainable fabrics. Recycled Polyester which you may also know as rPet, eConyl, and Repreve is a way to give plastics a second use. The fabric like normal polyester is very diverse and can look and feel many different ways.  Brands like Patagonia and Reformation have been using recycled polyester for years.  But is it a good sustainable option? Let's see how it's made and why you could consider using it.

 ​On January 13th the US banned cotton products that were produced in Xinjiang China.Several Major European Brands have spoken out about the cotton grown in Xinjiang and the abuse that is involved. A major group that is involved in this abuse is the Muslim Uighur minority group that is being forced into labor. China is accused of a violated serious human rights violation against the Muslim Uighur people. 

Creating a product takes work and improving your people and planet standards as you grow is even harder. In fact, so much goes into this process, that it is very difficult to figure out how to communicate these standards to your customers. Here are 5 places that you can communicate your ethical sustainable standards easily.

One of the 8 standards that constitutes an ethical factory is the right to unionize, meaning, workers can join a union without repercussions in their job. Another key standard is no discrimination which includes political affiliation or sentiment among other things. Which brings us to the recent protests that have been taking place in Myanmar and the news that broke of a garment factory locking workers inside to prevent protest. Here's what happened and how we should respond.

MOQs (minimum order quantity) don't just determine if you can work with a factory, but when used correctly they can also increase your sustainability. The minimum order quantity starts at the fabric level and typically determines how much production you purchase from there. So if you get really good with pattern cutting and design you can use all of that fabric to eliminate waste. Here's some ideas for designing for the minimum order quantity to increase sustainability.

​When it comes to sustainability the increased cost really lies in the fabric, the most expensive part of your product. Today we breakdown the cost of a garment and point out areas you can consider to be more ethical and sustainable. Ready to be pro? Let's go.