Human
Labour Welfare
The longer we work with designers who are honest and open about their production, the more we see that how we change things are all about one step at a time. We are searching the world for people with good intentions more than anything. We therefore say, that our goal is for all our designers to know that there is no use of forced labor or child labor in their production chain, and that we work every day to get closer to that goal. All our designers are committed to having a transparent production process, thus also when it comes to working conditions. Our designers will never willingly underpay their employees, use long working hours without overtime pay, or expose anybody to dangerous conditions. The parts of their products journey that they do not yet know about, is a process that will go on until they do know. At each designer's site, you can look at their ethical information and read about where they are in their process. You can also contact us at any time if you have specific questions about any designer and their process. Having this symbol, means that JF Curated knows the details and can vouch for their control and close relationship with parts of their chain, and know the process in regards to mapping out the rest of their production.
Labour Welfare Plus
Our Labour Welfare Plus designers have an extended close relationship with their production site. So close that they may know the name of all their workers, but at least close enough that they visit the site regularly and are 100 % sure that the process and conditions are good at the working site. All our designers are committed to having a transparent production process when it comes to working condition, but our Labour Welfare Plus designers have been working with labour issues and closeness to their production chain for several years already. Their goal is, as for every designer we vouch for at JF Curated, complete control and knowledge of their production from the harvesting process, through material handling to manufacturing. At each designer's site and by each product, you can read about where they are in their process. You can also contact us at any time if you have specific questions about any designer and their process.
Supporting Education
These designers in different ways support building or strengthening education. They may buy much needed school supplies and classroom equipment, facilitate for good conditions by giving food or water to schools. They may do teacher training or assist in the education system. They may expand educational opportunities for disadvantaged student, or widen the possibilities for higher education. They may also help building new local schools and make sure to respect culture, language and heritage by listening to the community and incorporate this knowledge into the school system. By looking at the info at the designers page or by the product, you can read about what this designer does to get the Supporting Education symbol.
Supporting Traditional Skills
These designers support traditional skills through their production process. They work to strengthen the sense of identity where a traditional way of life may have been weakened or ended. They are preserving local heritage, using methods that the local’s grandparents or great grandparents used, reviving techniques that are in danger of disappearing. These actions will help economic growth from within the community. Investments are done where the products are manufactured, and the use of local expertise is encouraged. These designers help communities achieve a local economy, sustain good jobs, and provide a measure of self-sufficiency.
Supporting Woman
These designers in different ways support and empower women through their production process. They may support women who are socially excluded from community or build support systems for those who go through pregnancy or violent situations. They may help them develop their job skills or get business training within a specific field. They may be offering them education benefits to girls to keep them in school, or they may support female entrepreneurs, helping them building their own businesses or offering them financial help. If you look at the information at the designers page or by the product, you can read what this particular designer have done to get the Supporting Women symbol.
Animal
Animal Welfare
These designers know that the animals in their production chain are treated well. They have also committed themselves to working towards a stronger closeness to this part of their process. They know that they have eliminate any type of mistreatment and that all suppliers follow the ground principles in the “Five Freedoms of Animals”: Freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom to express normal behavior, and freedom from fear and distress. This is where we want to be with all our designers in regards to animal welfare: No use of mulesing or other forms of mistreatment to get a streamlined production. No use of endangered species. No use of genetic modifications (like cloning of animals) No fur, leather, down or feather from organized breeding. No large scale farming without detailed control and certifications. No use of harmful traps, only use of regulated trapping. No use of feed concentrate that makes the animals grows faster. No use of extra antibiotics to avoid decease.
Animal Welfare Plus
To be rewarded with the Animal Welfare Pluss symbol, the designer must have a unique closeness to the animals involved in the production. This implies and extensive knowledge, directly or indirectly, about the animals and the process they are involved in in the production. They either have the possibility of visiting the farm regularly, or they've got a traceable chain of knowledge from trusted partners and suppliers who can verify details about the conditions at the production site.
Holistic Fur
These designers use fur as raw material, but only within our definition of Holistic Fur. This implies that the animals used where living in their natural habitat as part of livestock or free in nature, and that all parts of the animal where used in food production or other purposeful production chain. We do NOT accept fur from organized breeding.
Holistic Leather
These designers use leather as raw material, but only within our definition of Holistic Leather. This implies that the animals used where living in their natural habitat or as part of livestock, and that all parts of the animals where used in food production or other purposeful production chain.
Leather
This is actually kind of a negative symbol. It says something about the fact that we all have to start somewhere when we want to change things, and that to be able to change one needs help. These designers use leather as raw material, but have difficulties defining the source and circumstances under which the leather is harvested. We have just started out working with this designer, and our common goal is to work hard to make the use of leather 100 % holistic and to know the source. On the way to this goal, we accept use of leather from other sources.
No Fur
These designers will never use any kind of genuine fur in their production.
No Leather
These designers will never use any kind of genuine leather in their products or production
Organic Holistic Fur
These designers use fur as raw material, but only from animals kept within standards of organic farming and within our definition of Organic Holistic Fur. This implies that the animals where living in their natural habitat wild or as part of livestock, and that all parts of the animal where used in food production or other purposeful production chain. Material sourced from wild animals must be part of wildlife management programs, regulated by governments and within quota connected to hunting and wild game. To be defined as Organic Holistic, all domesticated animals used must be free range, not fed with antibiotics or growth hormones, and natural methods must be used to manage soil quality, diseases, and other issues, which arise during the process. In this category we also accept fur from invasive species. These animals have become a problem to local habitat, and are threatening the natural balance in its surroundings.
Organic Holistic Leather
These designers use leather as raw material, but only from animals kept within standards of organic farming and within our definition of Organic Holistic Leather. This implies that the animals where living in their natural habitat wild or as part of livestock, and that all parts of the animal where used in food production or other purposeful production chain. Material sourced from wild animals must be part of wildlife management programs, regulated by governments and within quota connected to hunting and wild game. To be defined as Organic Holistic, all domesticated animals used must be free range, not fed with antibiotics or growth hormones, and natural methods must be used to manage soil quality, diseases, and other issues, which arise during the process. In this category we also accept leather from invasive species. These animals have become a problem to local habitat, and are threatening the natural balance in its surroundings.
Vegan
These products do not contain any use of animal material, or by-product of animals at all. Typical vegan materials can be cotton, hemp, linen, microfiber, ramie, pleather and other imitation leather, nylon, acrylic, mod-acrylic, orlon. Synthetic shearling, faux fur, hypoallergenic synthetic down, rayon, Tencel, milkweed seedpod fibers, silk-cotton tree filaments, high-tech fabrics like Primaloft or Polarguard and other polyester based fabrics. Vegan products does not contain any silk, down, fur, wool, leather, feathers and so on.
Environmental
Biodegradable
When a product is biodegradable, it can, via bacteria or other living organism, be broken down back into natural elements that disappear into nature, and do not damage the soil. Biodegradable matter is generally materials from plants, animals and other substances originating from living organisms, but it can also be artificial materials that are similar enough to organic matter to be put to use by microorganisms, like biodegradable plastic. It is important that the material is put in the right environment, or it will not biodegrade.
Carbon Neutral
Our Carbon Neutral designers have, one step at a time, made a total overview of their carbon use in production and found new energy sources to eliminate their carbon footprint. To calculate carbon footprint is not an easy task and demands a lot of research into the production chain. Carbon dioxide can also be produced by natural occurrences, and as long as we use energy, nothing is completely neutral when it comes to emissions. Therefore JF Curated sees the transparency and traceability of the chain as an important factor here. These designers control and measure their emissions in every level of production, from farming, transport of merchandise, storage, business travel, employee commuting, facility management, general carbon travel miles, to their production floor and industrial processes at sub-supplier levels. Designer who invest in tree planting, donate money or in other ways buy quota elsewhere, do not get the status as a Carbon Neutral designers at JF Curated.
Energy Saving
When a product is marked with Energy Saving it implies that it saves energy, either through Energy Conservation or Energy Efficiency. Energy Efficiency refers to using less energy to provide the same service as before, while Energy Conservation refers to reducing energy by making the process smaller or slower. These designers may save energy by reducing heating, cooling lighting e.g. at production site. They may change the energy source to renewable ones like solar power, windmills et cetera. They may change electric motors in their production (which often stand for up to two-thirds of the electricity used in industrial processes) to a more efficient and energy saving one. They may be working with their logistic system to reduce energy use, starting from the raw material process to the production floor. They may also invest in installing heat exchangers on their compressors to reuse the electrical energy and transform it into new energy. If you read the ethical info by the designer, you can read the details about what the symbol implies in regards to that specific designer.
Low Carbon Footprint
These designers actively work to reduce their carbon footprint in all levels of production. To calculate carbon footprint is not easy and demands a lot of research into the production chain. Carbon dioxide can also be produced by natural occurrences, and as long as we use energy, nothing is completely neutral when it comes to emissions. Therefore JF Curated sees the transparency and traceability of the chain as an important factor here. These designers work towards a goal of zero emission, one step at a time, and openness is their tool to get there. They have to take into account the farming, the transport, the storage, business travel, employee commuting, facility management, general carbon travel miles and the production itself. One field at a time, these designers manage to reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases in their production line. Designer who investing in tree planting, donate money or in other ways buy quota elsewhere, do not get the status as a Low Carbon Footprint designers at JF Curated.
Low Toxic
If a product is Low Toxic, it means that the designer is working to reduce use of toxic materials in their production. Low toxic is a complicated category, because most things can be toxic in big quantities, and the term is not a regulated or universally defined claim. It is also a category difficult to measure and control. JF Curated therefore defines the Low Toxic designers as those who actively choose safer and healthier alternatives in their process. They work towards having a minimal effect on people and the environment in their production, and the goal is always to get to the Non Toxic symbol. They focus on chemicals that are generally safer, use natural, vegetable or azo-free dyes and adhesives, and choose natural pesticides, over chemical alternatives. They do not let poisonous, harmful, or otherwise destructive material go into nature by having a proper handling and waste measuring. By looking at the specific ethical info by the designer or product you can read the details regarding that specific designer.
Low Transport Footprint
These designers concern themselves with their Carbon Offset; from the time you buy your product and the travel miles it takes from storage to you. They try to limit the carbon footprint of their transport miles by investing in carbon reducing solutions like train or other renewable energy solutions. This way they support and encourage a part of the transport industry that needs growth. Designers who invest in tree planting, donate money or in other ways buy quota elsewhere, do not get the status as a Low Transport Footprint designers at JF Curated.
Made To Order
Our Made To Order-designers do not start making your product until a confirmed order is received. It is not to be confused with Bespoke or Custom-Made, where a new pattern is created for each individual wearer. The Made To Order design is made after a base pattern, similar to ready-to-wear, but in some cases you will be able to do your own alterations, choosing between different predetermined alternatives. In other cases you will also be able to do your own personal alternations. If these alternatives are available, it will be specified in the item description box, and you can choose this option in the size-box The Made to Order process avoids over-production and produces design solely based on demand.
No Waste
If a product is marked with No Waste, it implies that there are no excess materials in the production process. These designers continue to map out how to save waste in their process, from the pattern making and raw material process, through manufacturing, to the packaging of the product. All discarded materials are designed to become resources for others, or come to use in other part of the manufacturing process. Their aim is to eliminate rather than manage waste in their production.
Non Toxic
Designers who are Non-Toxic do not use any materials in their production that are harmful to people, health or the environment. Non-Toxic is a complicated definition because almost nothing is completely non-toxic and the term is not a regulated or universally defined claim. It is also a question of multitude and size of production, since a bigger unilateral production always will harm the environment in one way or another. JF Curated therefore defines Non Toxic designers as those who do not use chemicals that are defined as poisonous, harmful, or otherwise destructive to an organism upon exposure. These designers regulate their production in regards to multitude; they use natural, vegetable or azo-free dyes, natural pesticides and natural adhesives in all levels of production.
Organic
These products are grown in compliance with organic agricultural standards that protect the environment and wildlife. Natural methods are used to manage soil quality, diseases, and other issues that arise during the farming process. Typical organic raw material may be: cotton, jute, silk, ramie, wool, linen, Tencel, hemp or bamboo. The products made by our organic designers are not made with use of synthetic fertilizers or herbicides that strip land of nutrients, and artificial chemicals and GM (Genetically Modified) crops are banned. Organic products do not produce sewage sludge or ionizing radiation, and the organic materials have been sourced with use of natural pesticides. Organic products can also be made out of leather, fur, feather and down. In these cases the animals do not take antibiotics or growth hormones, and must be free range. The treatment of the material is also chemical free and holistic. Organic clothing can be composed when worn to pieces.
Recyclable
If a product is marked as Recyclable, the designer has planned the process around their product 360 degrees and made sure you know where and how to let your product go back into a recycling program. In this process lies an obligation from the designer to show you how to take care of your item and how to properly get rid of it when it is not usable any more. If the item is not going into the designer’s own system or other predetermined return solutions, they must try to make sure to tell you how and where the item in substance, shape and form can be recycled, regardless of where you are located in the world
Recycled
If a product is marked as Recycled it is fully or partially made from raw material that is pre-used or considered to be waste. The materials, or extracts of material, are considered to be of low value before the designers turn them into new products. Recycling is different from Up-Cycling in the way that you first need to break down the product before you make something new out of it. When you Up-Cycle you use the product as it is or break it into parts.
Up Cycled
If a product is marked as Up Cycled, the raw material is fully or partially pre-used, or already considered to be waste. The materials, or extracts of material are made into a new product with the same or a higher value. Up Cycling is different from Recycling in the way that the product is used as it is, and just alter or broken into parts before it becomes something new. With Recycling you first need to break down the waste or product before you make it into something new.
Waste Reduction
If a product is marked as Waste Reduction, it is part of a waste reduction plan in the designers’ production process. The goal for these designers is to move towards No Waste, where they have eliminated waste completely from their process. The Waste Reduction category also includes designers who work with animal matter in a holistic way. This implies that they make sure that the whole animal comes to use in production, and is not buried, burnt or thrown away.
Water Saving
When a product is marked as Water Saving, it implies that it is made with processes that reduce water use, either through Water Conservation or Water Efficiency. Water Efficiency refers to using less water to provide the same production as before, while Water Conservation refers to using less water by making the production process smaller or slower. These designers may also save water by installing recycling or cleanup systems to reuse wastage water in their production. By looking at the ethical info at the designer or product, you can find information about what the symbol implies to that specific designer.
Production control
Ethically Produced
These designers have gone a long way!! At JF Curated good ethics has a lot to do with trust. We have to see the designers dealing properly with their own moral, and principles. All designers under JF Curated’s umbrella must show a strong will to work towards a total control of their production, this is a given. But some of our designers have worked for several years already, or started out with a total plan within ethics to begin with, and are getting really close to a total ethical production control in all levels of their business. After several years of hard work, there is no doubt that these are viable in growth and responsible in their production while doing so. These are our Ethically Produced-designers, and to become one shall not be an easy task. Their emotional investment in their company is still evident. They still question themselves to come up with the most sustainable solution of the given options. They are making choices that are better for more people than themselves. They actively demand answers from people around them in regards to right and wrong. They have a standard for right conduct and practice that everybody involved in the production chain is aware of, and they know them to their fingertips. They still approach their designing, sourcing and manufacturing, both in a socially and environmentally conscious way.
Traceable Supply Chain
All our designers are open about their production. Their ethical documents, developed and controlled by JF Curated, show details about their process and are a tool we use to stretch even further. However, some of our designers have reached another level in regards to traceability, and these are our Traceable Supply Chain-designers. Traceability is about the designers' ability to verify the chain of own production. A supply chain is a system of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. It is about the life cycle of a product. This symbol is only available after years of working together. They show a close relationship with their production chain that goes beyond direct contact with first-level suppliers. They are now not only in control of their total chain and have worked to change every level of it, but they have come far in regards to actions, and there are less obvious tasks left to be done. They show an unbroken record of documentation and knowledge, from raw material, through consistent contact with suppliers and sub-suppliers, knowledge about production facilities, material treatment, and control regarding manufacturing, transportation, production schedule, material selection, production technologies, production policies, regulations, and laws in the field that they operate. They present both long-term and short-term goals for how to get even further. This symbol also implies that JF Curated can verify every step, and have been in close contact with the supply levels over a long period of time.
Level 1
These designers are in our Level 1 program, which implies that we trust their intentions and their work towards a sustainable business, but are not yet certified by us and therefore not matched with any of our symbols. Ethical info will however be listed by the product and in all cases imply how far the designer has come in knowing their production chain.