sustainability
More than ever, it is crucial to develop a sustainable design practice; a balance between a healthy planet and empowered people; a practice which can be repeated without compromising the environment or the well-being of present and future generations.
Clara Bosshard is about conscious and slow design. We acknowledge the impact of making products and have sustainability at the forefront of each part of the process. We are at the beginning of our journey and are constantly looking for ways to improve and minimize our impact.
materials
Materials are an essential part of fashion; they provide the physical means by which we form garments. As the synthesis of resource flows, energy use and labour, materials play a fundamental role in our current understanding of sustainability.
cradle-to-cradle.
Our goal is to create garments within the cradle-to-cradle biological cycle. The biological cycle is a circular system, where at the end of a product's life, it harmlessly returns resources taken from nature back to nature. This way, a designed product will function in harmony with ecological processes such as biodegrading or composting.
In working towards this goal, Clara Bosshard garments use all natural fabrics. The next step is to swap out all threads, interfacings and non-removable notions for plastic-free alternatives in order to create fully compostable garments.
deadstock fabrics.
Most of the fabrics used in Clara Bosshard garments are deadstock. This is excess fabric left over from mills and designers, which then either gets sold or ends up in landfill. It is a result of a broken system based on overproduction. Due to the nature of deadstock, there is little-to-no traceability of the origins of the fabrics; its ethical environmental, or chemical impact. Using deadstock draws on reusing what already exists, rather than cultivating and processing virgin materials which are environmentally costly. It is using what is available right now, while at the same time being aware that this will (and must) change, and being prepared to adapt to this.
slow fashion
Slow fashion is a deliberate discontinuity with the practices of today’s dominant fashion sector, away from values of fast pace and growth-based fashion. Slow fashion is about valuing tradition, biodiversity, health, pleasure, enjoyment, community cohesion and safeguarding the future, both ecologically and socially.
make-to-order.
Each garment is individually cut and sewn in our Wellington-based studio. Using a make-to-order model slows down the whole process. By only making what is ordered means there is no overproduction or excess stock. It also alters how we purchase garments; by not receiving the garment immediately, customers move away from impulsive shopping, considering instead their real needs and wants. The aim is to reduce consumption and waste by encouraging more durable and resilient relationships with products.
local.
It is important to our business to be supporting the local fashion infrastructure. All materials and services are sourced from New Zealand owned companies (due to the lack of manufacture in NZ these companies import the majority of their materials). The aim is to contribute and support a thriving and resilient New Zealand fashion industry.
