not PERFECT LINEN Brand Review
While I’ve featured many brands on this blog with high sustainability standards, I don’t think any brand has been so close to heart! It was a great pleasure to discover not PERFECT LINEN. Not only are their business practices ethical and environmentally conscious but their workshop is close to my home.
ABOUT THE BRAND
not PERFECT LINEN is a Lithuanian company guided by ethical ethos that brings modern designs to life via traditional handcrafted practices. Anyone who has walked the old town of Lithuania’s capital Vilnius will notice a plethora of linen shops alongside amber sellers, which is both quaint and fitting as these are some of Lithuania’s oldest industries. Based on their cuts many of these linen sellers appear traditional; however, unfortunately many are built around global supply chains and distant factories. not PERFECT LINEN takes a different approach, their garments are stylishly designed and they are made (to order) in Lithuania, thereby greatly reducing the environmental impact and ensuring conscientious working conditions. not PERFECT LINEN is a family run company that leads with ethics, champions sustainable practices, promotes transparency, and guarantees high quality material and craftsmanship.
MATERIALS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Each garment is custom made from OEKO - TEX Standard 100 certified European linen, which ensures the product is not harmful to humans or the environment. Furthermore, they only work with suppliers who adhere to their social and environmental criteria and have adopted sustainable production practices. Additionally, in building their business around linen, they are able to source locally and thereby eliminate the large carbon footprint and environmental impact associated with most cotton focused brands. For example a cotton t-shirt requires about 2700 liters of water to produce, whereas linen uses only 7 liters. Likewise, linen uses thirteen times less pesticides than cotton. Additionally, as each garment is made to order it greatly reduces energy consumption and textile waste, indeed at the end of the year their obsolete inventory usually fits in one shoebox.
SOCIAL IMPACT
Complementing their commendable efforts in reducing their environmental impact, not PERFECT LINEN actively works to maximize their social impact. not PERFECT LINEN ensures fair and inclusive standards and they strive to create the best working conditions for their employees. They try to avoid programmed machines and try to use as much human input as possible. Not only does this result in a truly handmade item but it provides good jobs to local seamstresses and dressmakers with meaningful opportunities. Obviously this handmade approach is slower than the mass produced alternative but they see it as a quiet protest against over consumption and they hope it allows their customers to find satisfaction in slow buying and living. Furthermore, they support numerous charities that give back to both the local and global community.
GARMENT DESIGN AND QUALITY
The garments themselves are what one would expect from the combination of high quality materials, ethical considerations, and craftsmanship. These are standout pieces that are made to last and that feel great to wear. Their distinctive style is built around minimal structured lines, colour, and movement and are equally suitable for both day-to-day wear or for special occasions.
In short, if you’re in the market for some quality linen pieces then you’ll be hard pressed to find a brand with better ethics and sustainable practices then not PERFECT LINEN. Give them a try and let me know what you think.
