After writing last weeks blog post about transparency I continued to think about the reference I made to the place of origin of the goods in my shop. This week I wanted to share more about this idea because I do believe it is a key element of the ethics of goods. Not only from a resource standpoint but also because the place of origin of goods speaks to the value of the goods and why they came to be in the first place. The best way I can think to do this is to cover a few of the products that you will find at Pink Moon Goods and explain why their place of origin matters so much. So let's get into it.
Linen Tales is a family business striving to bring the modern linen classics to contemporary homes. By creating products of high quality they encourage a “less waste, conscious consumption" mindset where products are used over and over again, passed down to family, friends and even through to future generations.
Linen Tales vision for ethical and sustainable production is at the heart of their business. It means respecting people and the environment in everything they do. They strive to create great products in a kind and sustainable way and are committed to reducing their environmental impact throughout every segment of their business. One of the most important ways they do this is by using linen that is sourced close to home which keeps the proud traditions of Lithuanian linen deep within their brand identity. Thus, it’s quite important for them to support local producers by managing the supply chain and general production in Lithuania, not somewhere like say Mexico.
Linen is made from the flax plant, growing of which requires fewer resources like water or pesticides compared to cotton. When the plant is harvested, different parts of it are used for making various products other than linen fabric and it doesn’t require any chemicals to be produced into linen fabric which makes the fabric itself fully biodegradable.
Understanding and valuing the qualities and health benefits of linen, Lithuanians have given this plant a special place in their folklore: linen fabric, as well as other flax products, were an important part of both traditional ceremonies and daily lives. It was common to pass linen clothing and home linen pieces from generation to generation as heirloom. So it is safe to say that the place of origin is significant for multiple reasons and integral to the mission of Linen Tales. If you want to learn more about this wonderful resource you can check out this blog post from a couple of years ago.
In a land filled with so much volcanic activity that there is an abundance of hot springs it is no wonder that towel production would be an important part of its identity. Welcome to the world's finest towels made in Imabari, Japan. This city is located in the northern region of Ehime prefecture on Shikoku Island, home to the largest cotton-towel producing industry in Japan. Blessed with mild year-round climate and an abundance of soft water, Imabari has thrived as Japan's leader in towel production for over 120 years. In fact they take their towel production so seriously that there is a Shikoku Towel Industry Association. This association requires all towels be put to a strict test in categories such as absorbency, durability, and color sustainability. Imabari towels are known throughout Japan as the most absorbent, finest quality towels available. It is a proud symbol of tradition, expertise, and made in Japan quality.
As an Imabari Towel specialty store, I-ori, the brand available in our shop, is dedicated to pursuing the potential of fine quality towel products as a way to enrich and brighten your daily lifestyle. Because towels are something you use everyday, they believe you should surround yourself and your loved ones with the safest, most reliable towels in the world. As a way of honoring the place of origin the design of the towels feature natural elements often associated with Japan such as citrus and camellia flowers.
So far I have shared two examples of products that honor place of origin to explain how the location of creation and production is deeply connected to history and geography. But last week I also shared how sometimes there are choices made by vendors to use a location to manufacture that may be seen as problematic. I want to now share a story about a product that is made in one such place, China. It is commonly assumed that China has lax policies on work conditions and environmental pollution when it comes to manufacturing. Sometimes it is quite literally impossible to vet whether or not this is the case. But Baggu Bags changed the way that I approached products made in China.
Baggu started as a brand with a simple mission: to eliminate single use plastic bags. But in order to do that they realized quickly they would have to commit to ethical and sustainable manufacturing practices. From the design, materials, the production process, and the longevity of the product itself Baggu has done an impressive job minimizing waste and creating a product that is eye catching while also being super helpful and reliable.
Baggu’s ethics are guided by one simple principle: Do the right thing. For them this begins with recognizing that every product they make has a social and environmental impact. They are committed to doing everything in their power to minimize and control those impacts while bolstering the well-being of their own employees and those of their production partners.
Baggu’s products are ethically manufactured in China, where they have a long-standing relationship with their manufacturing facilities that are audited yearly to ensure they are upholding standards of occupational health and safety. Their manufacturers are held to a code of conduct and they never incinerate or landfill deadstock or waste. Furthermore, they except old Baggu's which are recycled into new products, an element of the production that is made possible because of the place of manufacturing. Baggu taught me a lesson that sometimes it is okay to manufacture products in China if you do the hard work of vetting the practices of your production partner. As a friend said to me once, "people in China need jobs too." If we can support that idea while ensuring that those Chinese workers are treated fairly and respectfully then I think we need to.
Hopefully this little blog post today gets you thinking about where the goods in your life come from, why that matters, and also helps you seek out goods that are made in a place that makes sense for the good, for you, the production staff, and the world.