Our Philosophy

Veshin is formed on a foundation of 5 core pillars. Sustainability, transparency, next-gen materials, giving back & raising consciousness. However it is the last pillar that is fundamental for global positive change. It is from the natural tree of global consciousness where the branches of all other values follow. We take a holistic approach & do not limit ourselves to being the best at one thing. We believe by raising consciousness not only will the fashion industry become more positive, but all industries. Our mission is to use Veshin as a vehicle to radiate this positive energy on a global scale.

For us, sustainability is not just a buzz word but a term that represents our desire to create a more harmonious relationship between humanity and nature capable of preserving our place on planet earth for generations to come. As environmentalists, it is important to remind ourselves that our mission is not to protect the earth itself (it thrived perfectly for millions of years before us and will no doubt continue to do so long after!) but to protect the environment upon it capable of sustaining human life. We believe that by raising consciousness through both our presence and our work, we can play a small part in encouraging humanity to adopt a more sustainable way of living that will preserve our place on earth for many eons to come.

Value Pillars

Five core pillars shape all of the actions and decisions made at Veshin. Each one reminds us of our commitment to build a kinder, greener world where people and the planet can both thrive. We believe that by being more conscious, we can create positive change on a global scale.

  • Sustainability

    Sustainability is at the heart of our operations. We aim to make the world a more circular, sustainable place by replacing harmful leather products with eco-friendlier ones.

    From rain water collection to renewable energy use, we’re continuously seeking out ways to make our operations even more sustainable. We also use our place in the industry to support national and international conservation projects.

  • Transparency

    Radical transparency is what sets us apart. It’s how we demonstrate our progress toward sustainability in fashion.

    Our BSCI accreditation assures our partners that we meet socially responsible, ethical standards. But simply meeting these standards is not enough for us; we aspire to go above and beyond certification requirements.

  • Next-gen Materials

    In nature, everything serves a purpose and nothing goes to waste.

    Taking our cue from nature, we believe that next-gen materials hold the answers to a more sustainable, cruelty-free world. What’s more, a sustainable Veshin product is made to be disassembled and made again.

  • Giving Back

    We believe that a truly circular world can only be achieved when all people have access to health, education, and opportunities.

    We make sure our employees have development opportunities both in and outside of their work at Veshin. We also work with value-aligned charities, foundations and NGOs to give back on a larger scale.

  • Meditation & Consciousness

    In a fast-moving world, we believe in finding time to be still. In these moments, we can connect with ourselves, with each other, and with our world. This helps us to be mindful and remember what’s important in life.

    We believe that by being more conscious, we can create positive change on a global scale.

  • Being sustainably progressive means taking a holistic approach to conducting businesses and creating processes & products that are in harmony with nature. Through our focus on biodiversity and commitment to protect & restore critical species of flora and fauna, we will actively address SDG 12, 13, 15, and 3 in Veshin’s operations while moving to a circular economy through industrial symbiosis systems, creating an interconnected network that collectively optimizes material and energy use in our operations.  

    In practice, Veshin will reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse, using safe, recycled or renewable inputs while supporting the plant-based movement. 

    An environmentally sustainable Veshin product will be made to be made again using next-gen materials and leather alternatives, focussing on zero-waste & durable design while eliminating substances of concern.

  • Showing people, and especially employees and surrounding communities, that we are here for them is the core of Veshin’s social sustainability vision. This will be implemented in line with the concepts of a triple bottom line, which places people at the same level as the planet and profits, and consider all human needs as defined by Maslow’s hierarchy.

    In practice, Veshin will ensure that its entire supply chain meets the standards set by the Fair Wear Foundation code of labour, with a particular focus on non discrimination. Going beyond that, it will aim to provide self actualisation to all stakeholders, by making sure that all other needs are met, including a living wage, and by encouraging a mindful and happy life.

    A strong foundation of trust is key to achieve a positive way of working, with employees, suppliers, customers and consumers. Trust can only be achieved through full transparency and the inclusion of all stakeholders in decision making processes, ensuring that different needs are met.

    A sustainable Veshin product will bring net positive impact to communities, with the goal to give back, contributing to SDGs 10, 1, 3, 4 and 5.

Veshin’s Glossary of

Sustainable Fashion Terms

    • Animal-free: The product contains no animal-derived components

    • Biodiversity: The variety of plant and animal life in a particular place

    • Biodegradable: can naturally decompose (by bacteria, fungi, or other living organisms) in the environment and avoid pollution

    • Bio-fabrication: Produced by living cells and microorganisms, e.g. yeast, mycelium

    • Biomimicry: The design and production of materials, structure and processes that are modelled on natural materials and processes

    • BSCI: Business Social Compliance Initiative. An industry-driven initiative that monitors and assesses workplace standards within the supply chain.

    • Carbon neutral: The balance between emitting carbon and absorbing it, so that the net result of carbon emissions is zero

    • Circularity: Keeping materials in the supply chain to minimise waste and resource extraction

    • COC: Code of conduct

    • Cruelty Free: Developed or produced without inhumane testing on animals

    • Compostable: A product that can break down into natural, non-toxic elements and then used as compost

    • Consciousness: being aware of the environmental impact of our actions, and making choices that prioritise the health of the planet and its inhabitants

    • Current gen: Current-generation materials are petroleum-derived, synthetic alternatives to animal-based materials, which raise sustainability and ethical concerns.

    • Deadstock: Inventory that has not been sold

    • Downcycling: Recycling a product in such a way that it has a lower value than previously held

    • ESMS: Environmental and Social Management System. A set of processes and practices that enable an organisation to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency

    • Fair Trade: A global movement working with farmers and workers to ensure fair prices, standards and processes in the production of goods

    • Fast Fashion: a model of mass-producing cheaply made

    • FSC (certified): A seal of approval from the Forest Stewardship Council to verify that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits

    • GHG: Greenhouse gas

    • Greenwashing: the use of marketing to portray an organisation’s products, activities, or policies as environmentally friendly when they are not

    • Hazardous substance: any material which can cause harm to a person, either directly or indirectly

    • Impact report: A document to communicate positive and negative social and environmental footprints to stakeholders

    • Incumbent materials: Traditional animal-based materials like leather, silk, wool, fur, down, and “exotic” skins pose significant environmental and ethical challenges

    • ISO 45001 certification: A certificate that verifies workplace conditions meet international standards for health and safety

    • Lab-grown: Grown in a laboratory to reduce the need for raw material extraction

    • LCA: Life cycle assessment. A cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-cradle analysis to understand the environmental impacts of each stage of a product’s life, including raw material extraction, materials processing, manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal or reprocessing

    • Leather alternative: A material which mimics the qualities of animal-based leather, without using any animal products

    • Linear economy: The traditional model where raw materials are extracted, transformed into products, used and then discarded as waste, with no concern for their environmental impact

    • Minimalism: stripping back the unnecessary, leaving only the things that provide you with real value and joy

    • MOQ: Minimum order quantity

    • MRSL: A Manufacturing Restricted Substances List created to indicate harmful or hazardous substances that should not be present on any apparel item.

    • Natural resources: Materials created in and from nature that can be used by humans

    • Next-gen: Next-generation. Refers to recently developed, high-performance materials and technologies that will replace existing ones

    • NGO: Non-governmental organisation

    • OE: Original equipment

    • ODM: Original design manufacturer

    • Offcuts: Pieces that are cut off and would traditionally be waste material

    • Organic: A product which comes from living organisms, or which has had no chemical or artificial inputs in its production.

    • Plant-based: A product derived from plants

    • PPE: Personal protective equipment

    • Progressive: being innovative and forward-thinking, creating positive change by developing sustainable, ethical, and socially responsible methods, and committing to ongoing improvement

    • Radical transparency: Being 100% upfront, honest and open about business operations, and embracing of feedback

    • Recycled: Otherwise wasted material that has been converted into reusable material

    • Reverse logistics: A process which moves products from the end user back to the retailer or manufacturer, or encourages the end user to recycle. This helps with the recovery or specialist disposal of materials

    • Renewable resources: Natural resources that can replenish themselves within a human lifetime

    • Regenerative: Something that can be, or helps something else, be grown again

    • Sample: First prototype

    • SDGs: Sustainable development goals developed by the United Nations

    • SMETA: Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit. An audit to examine standards of labour, health and safety, environmental performance, and ethics within the supply chain

    • Social enterprise: organisation that applies commercial strategies to fight an environmental or social issue

    • Sustainable: the use of natural resources when this use is kept at a steady level that is not likely to damage the environment

    • Substance of concern: A chemical or other substance that is associated with potential acute or chronic human health effects

    • Supply chain: a sequence of processes involved in the manufacture of a fashion product

    • Tech pack: A blueprint of a product

    • Traceability: The ability to identify and track product or substance components throughout the supply chain, from raw goods to finished products

    • Transparency: Being honest and open about business operations

  • Upcycling: Recycling or reusing a product in such a way that it obtains a higher value than it originally had

    • Vegan: A person, item or process which does not use any animal-derived products

    • Waste: A materials or substance eliminated or discarded as no longer useful or valuable

    • ZDHC: Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Foundation

    • ZDHC MRSL: A list of chemical substances banned from intentional use in facilities processing textile materials

    • Zero Waste Design: The process of designing and manufacturing which creates no waste

Terms

We Avoid at Veshin

Avoid using the following terms as they are considered to be weak buzzwords, often associated with greenwashing:

  • Ethical fashion

  • Sustainable fashion

  • Eco-friendly fashion 

  • Green fashion

  • Non-toxic fashion 

  • Organic fashion

  • Sustainable – use “more sustainable”