Our journey to degrowth

The fashion industry is over producing.

The output of the textile industry has doubled in the last 15 years to reach 100 billion units per year. Most of this will end up in landfill. And it's being accelerated by disposable mindsets and rapidly decreasing number of times garments are worn. We need to move to a place where we produce less, and buy better.

That's why we're committed to changing our collective relationship with consumption. We've reimagined every stage of the clothing lifecycle to conserve resources and improve longevity.

We’re committed to degrowth in the fashion industry. Explore the microsite we published that breaks down the concept alongside our 2022 impact report here.

Designing for longevity

The average piece of clothing is worn only 10 times before being disposed of.

Conventional fashion tells us to discard our clothes and buy even more of them. Isn’t it time for change? Our capsule wardrobe is comprised of versatile and timeless garments that do more, so that you can own less. And it’s working. Our community told us that, on average, they wear our 24 Trousers twice a week- that’s over 100 times in the first year of ownership.

Responsible fabrics

Our wardrobe is crafted with recycled and renewable materials.

All of our cotton is now organic, which uses up to 88% less irrigated water than conventional cotton. It’s kinder to the soil, saves water, and eliminates the use of harsh pesticides. We also invest in innovative materials like Kapok – a natural fibre from the nut of the Kapok tree. Using no chemicals to grow, it can save up to 3,000L of water per kg compared to conventional cotton. Where we use synthetic fibres, we use recycled materials like recycled nylon.

Going climate positive

We are a climate conscious business.

For every product that we produce, we measure its impact on the planet. For example, our 24 Trouser is responsible for 15kg of CO2e. We are continuously looking for ways to decrease our carbon input as our first priority. Last year, we invested in a climate offset project in Indonesia, which is where our kapok fabric comes from. Working with BeZero Carbon, we invested in peatland restoration to offset 866 tonnes of carbon. This is double our output - not just for 2020, but since we started the brand. We recognise that offsetting is not the sole solution to reaching a balance, but we think is a good place to start. We are planning to offset our 2021 emissions and are currently researching appropriate schemes.

All our packaging is plastic-free and fully recyclable, and we transport items internally in reusable, compostable bags. In 2022 we joined forces with Canopy with a commitment to reduce our dependency on forest-based products like paper and card, and over the next year will work with them to prioritise the use of recycled paper materials. The full commitment can be found here.

Lifecare

If your product needs a fix, just let us know.

We offer a one year guarantee and will repair any item after that, where possible. We also encourage you to be conscious of how you care for your clothes. By extending the life of a garment by just 9 months, its overall carbon, water and waste footprints are reduced by 20-30%. Washing your garment has a carbon footprint too, that’s why we send a Lifecare Guide to your email with each order to help demystify the care process.

Recycling and Re_Work

When you’re done wearing it,
we give it a new life.

Around 80% of clothes produced are destined to end up in landfill, but not ours. We’re committed to every part of our clothing’s lifecycle. We partnered with Thrift+ to resell your unwanted clothing when it’s no longer right for you – offering credit as an incentive. Add a ThriftBag to your order here. In 2020, we launched Re_Work, a project dedicated to bringing clothing back to life, repaired and refreshed. We’re also currently exploring new technologies to help us reuse clothing that cannot be repaired.

Our journey to circularity continues, with the goal to have a responsible wardrobe that can be repurposed and recycled in the future. If you would like to find out more or have any suggestions, let us know by contacting us at support@lestrangelondon.com

A Certified B Corporation

Following a rigorous assessment process, we are now a fully Certified B Corp.

As a proud Certified B Corporation, we’re counted among businesses that are leading a global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. Beyond the logo, this certification signifies our legal commitment - a change to our Articles of Association - that prioritises people and planet alongside profit. Our hope is that one day in the future, this commitment won’t be fringe but the mainstream — and it won’t just be regulated by B Lab, but by the government. The full commitment can be found here.