• We are SoE

    We're all about the three P's: Product, People and Planet and we're pretty darn good at making them all work well together but we need your help.

    Making good, that’s on us. Looking good and feeling good, that’s on you!
    #lookgoodfeelgood

  • Having a good Product always comes first!

    We're leaving no stone unturned in making sustainable fashion truly sustainable. We’re not just meeting industry standards (wish there were some!), we’re exceeding them, without compromising great style, design and fit

  • Material

  • Material

    of our fabrics are renewable and either come from farms or certified sustainable forests. Plus, we have no appetite for virgin synthetics or conventional cotton, and the synthetic pesticides, fertilisers and GMO that come with it.100% organic cotton, down to the linings. Period.

Our Fav Fabric Categories

Since there is no industry guideline or an easy way of evaluating materials, we came up with our own framework for assessing the suitability of fabrics across a bunch of often competing parameters. Mind you, a ton of them! We haven't incorporated all of these materials yet, but we've published this list as a guide to steer clear of the nasties and use this as a compass for the future.

  • Raw material production: usage of insecticides/ pesticides/ GMO seeds, water consumption, regenerative farming practices, crop location
  • Manufacturing footprint: energy, chemical and water intensity, cleaner chemistry, visibility across the supply chain, certifications along the value chain, recycled and diverted waste streams
  • People: Fair trade or other certifications, community engagement and impact
  • End of use: Microfiber shedding, circularity (blends vs single fibre etc.), biodegradability
  • Finally, performance, price, availability, geographical origins

It involves a lot of research and due diligence, physical visits, asking uncomfortable questions (we've gotten some nasty looks for it!). At the end, it’s all about weighing the tradeoffs and being completely honest and transparent about our process

Natural Cellulose

Sweet Spots

  • Renewable
  • Biodegradable
  • Comfortable to wear, breathable, and absorbent

Sour Notes

  • Crops such as cotton require a significant amount of water
  • Usage of pesticides and insecticides in cultivation, especially for conventional cotton
  • Shrinks or wrinkles easily, requiring special care during wash and post-wash
  • Geographical origins for good quality Hemp & Linen are almost always outside India

Our Picks - Regenerative Cotton (once we have access to it), Organic cotton (prewashed to test for shrinkage), Recycled Cotton, Hemp, Linen

Manmade Cellulose

Sweet Spots

  • Renewable
  • Biodegradable, however takes longer compared to natural fibres
  • Soft, lightweight and have a natural sheen

Sour Notes

  • Chemically intensive and can have negative environmental impacts if not managed properly
  • Can lead to deforestation if not sourced from sustainably managed forests
  • Geographical origins mostly outside India

Our Picks - Lyocell, Econyl, Modal, Cupro, Bemberg, Viscose only from established brands such as Lenzing, Asahi Kasei and Aditya Birla that practise eco responsible production

Handcrafted Material

Sweet Spots

  • Energy conservation (~57% compared to a mill or power loom scenario)
  • Support to local artisans
  • Soft, lightweight and have a natural sheen

Sour Notes

  • Chemically intensive and can have negative environmental impacts if not managed properly
  • Can lead to deforestation if not sourced from sustainably managed forests
  • Geographical origins mostly outside India

Our Picks - Lyocell, Econyl, Modal, Cupro, Bemberg, Viscose only from established brands such as Lenzing, Asahi Kasei and Aditya Birla that practise eco responsible production

Pre-Consumer Textile Waste

Sweet Spots

  • Eliminates waste that would otherwise be discarded
  • No minimum order requirements, leading to less wastage
  • Usually discounted, making products affordable
  • Upcycled pieces are usually unique and exclusive

Sour Notes

  • No visibility into the source of the fabric, hence difficult to know the conditions in which fabrics were produced
  • Incentivises fabric mills to purposefully overproduce, since there is a market for it
  • Compounded problem if the fabrics happen to be made of virgin non renewable materials

Our Picks -Waste generated from our production floor: Fabric and garment samples, Fabric from the end of rolls, Fabric leftover after cutting out a pattern, cut and sew textile waste

Recycled Synthetic

Sweet Spots

  • Keeps plastic from going to landfills and oceans - helps in having more fish than plastic in the oceans!
  • Resource conservation - water and energy
  • Reduced reliance on non-renewables

Sour Notes

  • Limited supply of high quality recycled materials
  • Process of recycling impacts the environment
  • Recycling textiles is a complex and energy intensive process (especially for blends) that require extensive research and innovation, which is currently restricted to a limited number of companies
  • Releases micro plastics during product use

Our Picks -Use GRS certified synthetics only if the application demands it i.e. activewear, swimwear, athleisure (if and when we get there!)

  • Trims and Accessories

  • Getting creative with trims and accessories. Lets trim the waste and accessorize the planet!

  • Trims and Accessories

    Our pursuit of sustainable masterpieces goes beyond just the fabric – it's all in the details! We use GRS certified recycled elastics, OEKO-TEX certified Corozo buttons, cotton labels. But don't you worry, we're not resting on our sustainable laurels - we're working hard to eliminate plastic from seams, zippers, and everything in between too!

  • Supplier Certifications

    Why are certifications important? Combined with on-site inspections, they verify that the partners meet certain environmental and social standards, namely

  • We don't mess around when it comes to sustainability - our suppliers are certified rockstars

  • Supplier Certifications

  • We don't mess around when it comes to sustainability - our suppliers are certified rockstars

  • Supplier Certifications

    Why are certifications important? Combined with on-site inspections, they verify that the partners meet certain environmental and social standards, namely

  • Traceability

  • Traceability

    Traceability is like a treasure map, except the treasure is knowing exactly where your clothes came from and how they were made. But just like a treasure map missing a crucial piece, there is still something absent – farm level traceability. However, we hope to figure out that piece of the puzzle very soon

  • In-House Production

    From start to finish, our inhouse production means we're the bosses of the process, and the waste too

  • Made by us, for you Crafted with care in our own workshop

  • In-House Production

  • Made by us, for you Crafted with care in our own workshop

  • In-House Production

    From start to finish, our inhouse production means we're the bosses of the process, and the waste too

  • Packaging

  • It's about the whole package, and we mean that both literally and figuratively!

  • Packaging

    Our packaging is like a chameleon, it not only blends with the environment by being biodegradable, but it adapts to your lifestyle by being reusable!

From Farm to Fashion:Our Value Chain Is People-Powered

Our value chain goes beyond just the product itself. It's about the people who make it all possible, spanning from farmers, mills, and manufacturers to individuals who make up our teams and logistic providers.

We are proud to work with partners who share our commitment to sustainability and elevating human potential. Because even as a young brand, we know that every small action can make a big impact in recognizing the intrinsic link between people and the planet.

  • Happy workforce is the key to producing exceptional fashion

  • Ask price wages - not a penny negotiated

    We make sure our workforce is paid wages that support them - ratio between cut and sew costs and product sale price is ~25%. Thankfully, we have been lucky that we haven’t had to negotiate on the asking price of any of our workforce so far.

  • SoE X RangDe

    Our partnership with RangDe is more than just a collaboration, it's a commitment to invest in change at the grassroot level, in our local communities, and in sustainable livelihoods, one purchase at a time, across the following impact areas

  • SoE X RangDe

  • SoE X RangDe

  • SoE X RangDe

  • SoE X RangDe

    Our partnership with RangDe is more than just a collaboration, it's a commitment to invest in change at the grassroot level, in our local communities, and in sustainable livelihoods, one purchase at a time, across the following impact areas

Farm Pond Program - For small and marginal farmers in Karnataka and Telangana

Unpredictable monsoon and crop failure leads to water stress for Indian farmers. To support farmers through this, Deshpande Foundation started the Farm Pond program in 2014 near Dharwad and constructed more than 8000 farm ponds, impacting close to 20,000 lives by irrigating 15750 acres in the last eight years. This program is now operational in 4 more districts of Karnataka (Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri and Belgaum) and 2 districts of Telangana (Siddipet, Nalgonda) - regions that have experienced continuous drought in the recent past, resulting in severe rural distress. In addition to helping with production and food security, farm ponds are also instrumental in shifting focus from traditional cultivation to cash crops and horticulture, enabling farmers to cultivate more than one crop and gain a 30-50% higher yield while also improving long term soil health. In partnership with Rang De, we invest in these farmers and enable them to construct their own farm ponds and take a step towards better produce and better income

Akshayakalpa Fund - India’s first certified organic dairy enterprise

India, despite having the largest bovine population and ranking first in milk production contributing to 23% of global demand, has a significantly lower than average milk yield per animal. Milk is also the most adulterated food with at least 70% of milk samples collected across the country by the food safety authority not conforming to standards. Milk is laced with antibiotics that are given to cows to treat diseases that are borne out of inefficient practices. This is primarily due to small and marginal farmers indulging in inefficient practices such as feeding low-quality fodder, hand milking, unhygienic cattle management, failure to provide timely veterinary services, etc. as a result of lack of timely credit access and training. Through Rang De, we invest in Akshayakalpa farmers to scale up the farms and implement modern infrastructure, equipment and methods, resulting in Akshayakalpa having an average yield of 3050 litres per animal/year - nearly twice the national average!

  • 4

    Individuals

  • 39

    Potential days of livelihood

  • 11000

    INR invested

  • Cleaning Up Fashion's Dirty Laundry

    Fashion accounts for 10% of the global carbon emissions, 20% of the 300 million tons of plastic produced globally and is the second-largest polluter in the world, after the oil industry. Statistics, not worth bragging about!

    While we may be a small brand, we recognize the impact we can make in setting an example for ethical and sustainable practices. We hope to inspire others to do their part, and through collective effort and action, we can create a more sustainable future for fashion

  • Measure

    We keep a close eye on everything that adds to our carbon footprint - from the materials we choose to the weight of our products, the manufacturing locations, and transportation methods - down to the smallest detail

  • Reduce

    We're working to shrink our carbon footprint further by implementing circular practices, exploring regenerative cotton, and weaving in handcrafted organic materials - all to make sure our style never goes out of fashion!

  • Offset

    We’re aware that offsetting is a stopgap solution, more of a complementary measure than a solution in itself. Our approach to offsetting is to reduce carbon emissions as much as we can and offset the rest

Measure

On an average the carbon footprint of our products is 45%-55% less than a conventional garment

Reduce

Compared to fast fashion, this how it's different

Better Materials

Using materials that are 100% biodegradable and 100% renewable. In addition, materials that are grown with minimal water usage and zero usage of synthetic pesticides and chemicals.

Better Processes

Reducing waste and emissions by following responsible production processes, using low-impact dyeing methods, adopting circular practices to reduce waste and implementing fair labour practices to ensure the well-being of workers.

Better Visibility

Employing transparency and traceability in the supply chain, so you have absolute visibility into where it is made, who made it and how.

Offset

We don't just stop at offsetting - for every product purchase, we plant a tree and clean-up plastic from the ocean, making sure we leave a positive impact on the environment

  • 502

    Trees Planted

  • 1697

    Kgs of C02 Offset

  • 210

    Plastic Bottles Rescued

Transforming Plastic Waste Into Empowering Income

Plastic Bank® builds ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities while simultaneously creating positive economic opportunities for those who helped collect it.

Fighting Extreme Poverty Through Tree Planting

Eden Reforestation Projects is on a mission to combat deforestation by employing local communities to plant trees, providing an empowering means to alleviate extreme poverty through environmental stewardship.

A step forward

We've made some strides, but we're just getting started - there's a marathon ahead, not a sprint!
Few goals that we have set for ourselves

REGENERATIVE COTTON

Work within the regenerative space to support the work done by organisations in transitioning farming communities to regenerative farming methods and practices. The aim is to restore biodiversity, improve soil health, sequester carbon and train farmers on the ground to create a healthier environment whilst supporting local communities

ZERO WASTE PRODUCTION

At SoE, we don't waste anything - especially not our production floor waste. We're turning the 10% - 12% of pre-consumer waste that would normally be thrown away into new, exciting products. It's not just good for the planet - it's good for business, too!

ZERO ENERGY,ZERO DYE

Spinning, Weaving and Dyeing & Finishing together account for 76% emissions during production. We aspire to make products which involve organic crop production, zero energy consumption during spinning and weaving and zilch use of dyes. It may sound like a lofty dream, but we're committed to making it a reality and making you and the planet look fab in it

ZERO VIRGIN POLYESTER

While we've managed to steer clear of using virgin polyester in most of our trims and accessories by switching to more sustainable materials like GRS certified recycled polyester elastics, OEKO-TEX certified corozo buttons, and cotton labels, there's still some pesky polyester lurking in the seams and zippers. But we're not having any of it, we're on a never-ending pursuit to uncover even more sustainable options or maybe even ditch a few trims altogether!