Manifesto

Textiles play a significant role in all our lives - in our clothes, in our homes, and in the art we appreciate. Unfortunately, the modern global system of textile production and consumption is widely recognised as a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The sector has also been criticised for perpetuating practices with severe environmental and social consequences, including the unsustainable use of resources, pollution and the exploitation of workers.

At Bawn, we don’t shy away from the harsh realities of the current textile industry. We recognise that both business and consumer attitudes need to change to see a real shift in approaches to production and consumption and to ensure healthy, sustainable textile supply chains for the future. While we are only one small business, we are committed to being transparent and taking responsibility for our part in making this change a reality. We commit to:

1) Sourcing responsibly and cultivating supply chains we believe in

It is our core principle to guarantee responsibly sourced quality textiles for our customers. We prioritise natural fibres which are organic or otherwise sustainably produced and which meet certified industry standards such as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), BCI (Better Cotton Initiative), or RWS (Responsible Wool Standard). Our choice of stock is sometimes limited due to what we can source in line with our guarantee, but while the industry is slow to change, we will continue to advocate for transparency and traceability in all our stock.

2) Reducing our own environmental impact as a business

All of our packaging is 100% recyclable and plastic-free and we strive to reduce waste in all areas of the business. We are in the process of calculating our Scope 1 and 2 emissions with a view to producing a long-term plan for the reduction of our business carbon footprint. Our efforts to reduce this footprint already include working with suppliers as close to the UK as possible whenever feasible to reduce the carbon impact of transportation.

3) Collaborating with others to advocate for a sustainable future for textiles

Bawn is a founding member of the Fair Fashion Collective, a group of small businesses and charities on the Southside of Glasgow that are committed to promoting sustainable approaches to fashion and textiles. As well as working together to support and learn from each other’s practices, the collective aims to engage their wider business networks and the community in events and collaborations that educate and inspire action.