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.
Environmental
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.
Social
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 Glossary of Terms
A
Animal-free: The product contains no animal-derived components
B
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.
C
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.
D
Deadstock: Inventory that has not been sold
Downcycling: Recycling a product in such a way that it has a lower value than previously held
E
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
F
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
G
GHG: Greenhouse gas
Greenwashing: the use of marketing to portray an organisation’s products, activities, or policies as environmentally friendly when they are not
H
Hazardous substance: any material which can cause harm to a person, either directly or indirectly
I
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
J
K
L
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
M
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.
N
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
O
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.
P
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
Q
R
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
S
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
T
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
U
Upcycling: Recycling or reusing a product in such a way that it obtains a higher value than it originally had
V
Vegan: A person, item or process which does not use any animal-derived products
W
Waste: A materials or substance eliminated or discarded as no longer useful or valuable
X
Y
Z
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 To Avoid:
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”