At The Lissome, we work with thoughtful brands who share our values and produce with integrity and care. When we showcase brands, we engage with their ethos and inform ourselves about where and how they produce.

Besides the use of natural and organic materials sourced in harmony with people, animals and the environment, we pay special attention to transparency and localism in both material sourcing and processing. Our glossary below gives you a short overview of our criteria and guidelines:

Considered Design: Sustainability begins at the design stage. We look out for products designed for disassembly, brands that design with the end-of-life of their products in mind and facilitate repair, and we highly value timeless designs that last.

Ethical + Fair: We encourage brands not only to rely on certificates but to keep close relationships with their producers (e. g. visit the places of production themselves). Guaranteed living wages, safe working conditions, voluntary overtime, and freedom to unionise are key.

Local Sourcing, Making & Supply Chains: We believe in and support a localised economy – independent local businesses, local processing of materials, and where possible, use of locally grown materials.

Natural materials: We support the use of organic fibres that are healthy for the environment and our skins such as linen, cotton, hemp and nettle. Biodiversity is key! Natural materials that are sourced directly from nature are preferable to plant-derived fibres such as viscose/rayon, tencel or cupro.

Cotton: For the use of cotton, we focus on transparent origins. This applies to GOTS cotton as well as to recycled cotton. We strongly support the use of cotton from regenerative agriculture projects.

Avoid Material Mixes: We support the use of pure materials, and in particular the avoidance of natural-synthetic mixes.

Synthetic Materials: Avoid the use of petroleum-based materials when a suitable natural alternative is possible. If there are no good natural alternatives, use synthetic fibers of transparent origin.

Microfiber Shedding: Microplastics cause pollution, be it from washing textiles or from the abrasion from shoe soles.

Recycled Materials: In general, we welcome “closed loop” design and the recycling of synthetic materials. However, at the current stage of development, the industry is not yet capable to take back clothing and keep them in the loop (recycling without down-cycling). 

Dyes: Use of Oekotex-certified dyes or (even better) use of natural dyes or undyed materials.

Handcrafted + Artisanal: Protection and support of the traditional skills and/or the ancient heritage of artisanal communities.

Waste-Avoiding Production Systems: Made-to-order (no stock, no waste); custom-made; a-seasonal production cycles (production on demand).

Animal-Friendly: No animals are harmed in the process of the making. 

Wool: Mulesing-free wool or recycled wool.

Leather: We support the use of leather of transparent origin, which has been processed locally and with natural tanning agents. Where there are no alternatives, certificates (such as IVN natural leather, Leather standard by Oekotex, LWG Gold) must be followed.