ABOUT ORGANIC STEREO
Organic Stereo is an independent ethical fashion label founded in 2008 by accomplished fashion designer Marie Rendina. The urban/retro style bridges the gap between boutique fashion and street culture; perfectly reflecting the dual aesthetics of Brighton’s off-beat lifestyle; laid back yet refined. The overall look is feminine and metropolitan, with a sense of playfulness and vintage flair.
The Brighton-based label is constantly aiming for a more sustainable product, with a progressive approach to design and manufacturing. Driven by music, art and innovative craftsmanship, Organic Stereo aims to dress the value-conscious yet fashion-minded individual.
Designer Profile
Marie Rendina has a design history that spans over 12 years. Born in Tokyo and raised in Paris where she graduated from Esmod in 1995 with a BA in Womenswear Fashion Design. She then worked as a designer and product manager for iconic denim brand Liberto in South of France. In 2000, she crossed the Channel and designed for the newly launched label Criminal Clothing, developing the women’s collection for the next 4 years. In 2004, Marie created her own design agency in Brighton and, whilst freelancing for many brands such as Mambo, Fat face and Criminal, she concentrated on researching sustainable alternatives in textiles and fashion. In 2008, she was ready to launch her own label Organic Stereo and fulfill her dream of designing and producing clothes that are environmentally and socially sound.
ETHICAL MANUFACTURING
Our responsible approach to manufacturing means we are involved in every step of the garment making process. From the raw fibre we select, to the packaging of our product.
The cotton used for our Spring-Summer 08 collection was organically grown and spun in Turkey, everything else (knitting, dying, printing and manufacturing) made in Porto (Portugal), before being shipped to our warehouse in the UK. This considerably reduces the transport of goods and therefore its impact on the environment.
Certified Organic Cotton
Our cotton is organically grown and spun in Turkey, free of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. It is inspected and certified organic by environmental certification body SKAL. To certify cotton as organic, the soil, water and crop is tested as are all the processing facilities. The inspection and the certification is renewed on a regular basis to ensure all standards are met at all times. Many products may be called organic, but only the certification ensures you that it is truly organic, not organically produced in one place and artificially processed in another.
Lenzig Modal®
Lenzing Modal® is a luxurious and eco-friendly fibre, produced with the reconstituted cellulose of beech trees from certifiably sustainable European forests.
It is 100% natural and biodegradable, is 50% more water-absorbent than cotton and feels softer with the drape and lustre of silk. It is also stronger than cotton, dyes just as well, holds colour fast, is resistant to fading and can be washed infinitely without becoming stiff or dull, or losing any of its colour brilliance.
The production of Lenzing Modal® is fully integrated on-site in Austria: it involves no other transport than shipping in the raw wood from Austria or neighbouring countries, and shipping out the end-product to knitting factories, such as ours in Portugal.
The Lenzing Group has been awarded the European Union Eco-Label (the only fibre company to do so) for its highest level of sustainable practises such as the utilisation of totally chlorine-free wood processing, high efficiency of their wastewater treatment and recycling of their by-products. The latter includes providing their plants with steam and hot-water (100% self-generated), as well as electricity (92% self-generated).
Eco-friendly Printings and Dyes
The dying process of our cotton is free of harmful chemicals (azo-free) and free of chlorine and heavy metals. The prints on our garments are waterbased (pvc-free). Our knitters, dyers and printers have all been audited by Oeko-tex and have achieved the Standard 100 accreditation that guarantees the clothes are free of harmful substances.
Biodegradable Plastic bags
Conventionally, shops receive each single garment from the factories wrapped in a clear plastic bag. This is to avoid dust and damage in the warehouse but ultimately it’s a huge amount of plastic. Our polybags are fully biodegradable - they are 15% more expensive but really worth every penny!
Recycled Paper Buttons
Most of our buttons are made from 70% recycled paper, using a new technology that has been developed in Italy. And they are as tough as plastic.
Biodegradable Swing Tags
Swing tag labels are the first things you get rid of when you buy clothes. Ours is made from recycled paper and the string is natural straw, making it fully biodegradable.
1% for the Planet
Organic Stereo is a member of “1% for the Planet” - an alliance of small businesses that pay a voluntary earth tax of 1% of their gross revenue (yes, that's before tax). That means when buying from us, you know 1% of what you pay will go to charity/environment, we won't recoup anything before we do so.