Respecting people and the environment

(english below)

We're lucky enough to see the ocean every day, and to walk on the beaches and in the mountains of the Basque Country. That's true luxury! At the same time, we're aware that global warming is on the horizon, and that working for a sector - the clothing industry - is a major contributor to global warming and environmental pollution. So, what do we do? Stop everything and go naked (as in a Tim Swallow photo, see above)? Eh eh...

While we're waiting for this return to simplicity, we're taking action! Because we're convinced that a multitude of drops of water eventually create a current! From the outset, respect for mankind and the environment has conditioned the Bask in the Sun project. Every season, we try to do better. It's a long road ahead, but here are 6 commitments we're already keeping:

1. PRODUCE THE MAJORITY OF OUR PARTS IN ORGANIC COTTON

Currently, 60-70% of our production is made from organic cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard® (GOTS). This is a strict international label guaranteeing the origin and traceability of the cotton fibers used. By next autumn, this will be 90% of our tee shirts and sweatshirts.

2. ELIMINATING TOXIC PRODUCTS
All the fabrics we produce are dyed in a workshop certified to Oeko-Tex® standard 100. This European standard is based on international norms and guarantees that our materials are completely harmless: there are no carcinogenic or allergenic dyes, no pesticides, no phthalates, no chlorinated compounds, no heavy metals, no hydrocarbons, no solvents or volatile components in our dyes.

3. CHOOSE SUPPLIERS WHO RESPECT THEIR EMPLOYEES
Whatever the country, we believe that everyone is entitled to basic human rights, a legal minimum wage and decent working conditions. This is what the GOTS label demands for the farmer who grows the plant, as well as for the employees who make the yarn woven into the 100% organic cotton jersey.

4. LOCAL MANUFACTURING
All our garments are designed in Guéthary in the Basque Country and made 800 km away in northern Portugal. Just a few kilometers separate the spinning mill, dyeing plant, silk-screening workshop, garment manufacturing and shipping department. It's a real short circuit, limiting transport between each stage of production and avoiding a disastrous carbon footprint.

5. OFFER THE BEST POSSIBLE PRODUCTS
We don't believe in fast-fashion: producing at low cost, constantly renewing collections by eliminating unsold products, that's not our thing! On the contrary, we strive for quality, believing in garments to which we can attach ourselves, with tight-fitting cuts, impeccable finishing and well-thought-out details.

6. CONSTANTLY REDUCE OUR ECOLOGICAL IMPACT
There's always room for improvement. So there's no question of stopping there! We're constantly looking for ways to limit our ecological impact even further.

These are our commitments. They reflect our commitment to ethical, sustainable and fair fashion. They prove that it's possible to be both a committed textile brand and offer a quality men's wardrobe.

We are lucky to see the ocean everyday, to walk on beaches and in the mountains in the Basque Country. That's the true luxury, without any doubt!

And at the same time we are aware of the expected global warming, working in an industry - clothing - that highly contributes to this disruption and to the pollution of our environment.

So what do we do? We stop everything and we go running naked (as in the Tim Swallow's picture )? Haha...

While waiting for this return to our natural costume, we act! We are deeply convinced that a multitude of small water drops can create a flow! Since its origin, respect for human and for the environment has driven Bask in the Sun's project. We try to do better season after season. The journey is long but here are 6 of our commitments:

1. Produce the majority of our pieces with organic cotton
70% of our collection is produced with biological cotton certified GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), an international standard which guarantees origin and tracability of cotton fibers. As from next Fall Winter collection, it will be 90% of our t-shirts and sweatshirts.

2. Cancel toxic assets
All fabrics we make are dyed in a manufacture with the Oeko-Tex standard 100. This European standard is based on international regulations and guarantees a perfect harmlessness of our fabrics: there is no carcinogenic neither allergizing dyes, no pesticids, no phthalate, no chlorinated composites, no heavy metals, no hydrocarbons, no solvents or volatile constituents in our dyes.

3. Choose partners who are respectful towards their employees
Whatever the country, we think that everyone deserves the application of fundamental rights, a minimum legal salary and decent working conditions. It is requested by the GOTS standard for the farmers who cultivate the plants as well as for the workers who make the spinning, to produce our 100% organic jersey cotton.

4. Manufacture locally
All the clothing is designed in Guethary in the Bask country and produced 800 km further in the North of Portugal. We count only a few kilometers between spinning, dying, printing, garment manufacturing and carriers. It is a real short cycle, which limits transportation between each stage of the manufacturing and avoids a desastrous carbon bill.

5. Offer the best possible products
We don't believe in fast fashion: produce at low cost, renew collection over and over and eliminate unsold products. That's not our thing! At the opposite, we seek for quality, we believe in clothes you get attached to, in taylor made style, in perfect finishing touches and in well thought details.

6. Constantly decrease our environmental impact
We can always do better, so no reason to stop here! Even small changes make the difference. We permanently seek for new solutions to decrease our environmental impact.

These are our commitments. They show our commitment for an ethic, durable and fair fashion. They prove that you can be an engaged clothing brand and offer a qualitative men wardrobe.