SLOWING FASHION DOWN SINCE 2015
We need no reminders of the impact of the fashion industry on the planet. Holding ourselves to high standards of both ethics and sustainability is an ever-evolving endeavour, and below is an overview of the choices we've made and ways we've invested into bettering the fashion industry.
HUGGING TREES
Our order note cards and swing tags are all made from recycled, recyclable card.
Our stickers are currently not made of recycled paper, but can still be recycled. Once we use up our existing batch, they will be replaced with recycled paper.
REUSABLE Packaging
On the order card is an art print of the Francine set, which holds significance to us (the first item of ours to be seen in Vogue!) and it was drawn by a local artist. This was done to encourage clients to hang, frame, gift, or use it in some way instead of throwing it out.
Lingerie that was previously wrapped in tissue paper for shipping to you will now arrive in a custom embroidered cotton dust bag.
MANUFACTURING
We've partnered with a factory in the EU, where each Of Elizabeth garment is made by a team of skilled craftswomen. Each person in our process is paid a living wage and works in safe and clean conditions. This particular studio pays well above the average wage for a seamstress, and features state-of-the-art facilities.
REDUCING WASTE
The small-batch nature of our production means that we don't over-produce often.
We also promote careful consumption and try to combat making our clients feel like they have to impulse buy by having only one sale per year - and giving them notice well in advance.
And since our pieces are constructed to last, this means less need to buy new items, and less things going into a landfill.
INTEGRATING ETHICS INTO OUR DESIGN PROCESS
Read on to discover how we start each collection with sustainability at the forefront of our decision-making.
QUALITY
On our garments, each seam is purposefully added and stitched to perfection for our comfort and to extend the life of our pieces. We pride ourselves on concealed seams to reduce snags, our thick electroplated 24K gold hardware that lasts, and durable materials. All product pages go into detail about what makes each piece unique.
ADJUSTABLE SIZING
Adjustable sizing makes finding your size easier. For instance, if you purchased a 36D but you'd prefer a 34DD, you don't need to exchange or return the garment and start the order process all over again. All you need to do is adjust the straps! This also allows for size fluctuations and uses less shipping resources. Less garments per size need to be produced, and it lowers our return and exchange rates. Less packages being shipped, and a total time saver.
Plus, it looks great.
FABRICS
We use either 'deadstock' fabric, leftovers from mass manufacturing that would otherwise be thrown away or support small and niche fabric businesses. We also choose natural fibers over manmade ones whenever possible. For instance, we will never use satin made of anything other than silk.
AI POLICY
We don't use AI to generate or adjust images or to write copy or content for any of our platforms. Each image you see that we release on any part of the internet has been planned and created by people. Our text content was created and written by a person and everyone involved in our process was paid. On top of prioritizing paying creatives, we have chosen to avoid AI use due to its environmental impact, as well.
If we use a photo that wasn't taken by the OE team, we first obtain permission from the photographer and compensate them financially for its use.
