OUR ECO-PROMISE

At Jane Atelier we believe in style over fashion. We focus on timeless, flattering cuts and are less swayed by the latest trends. Clothing is very personal and we are honoured every time you choose to add an item of ours to your collection. Every season we make a great effort to provide classic, versatile pieces to complement and enhance your existing wardrobe. We consider each piece to be a ‘future classic’, an item you will turn to again and again, adding to your life narrative for years to come. The antithesis to fast fashion, our garments are investment pieces made for posterity. 

We have chosen to showcase our collections in an intimate environment and have purposefully abstained from fashion shows. We have never spent large sums of money on seasonal fashion show productions and this has allowed us more freedom to select premium fabrics and components for a first-class product that is often more commercially priced than our competitors. 

We acknowledge that as a business we must strive to implement best practice to reduce our impact on the environment. It will take time to rethink the way we work, shop, wear, respect and care for our clothing. True sustainability is a journey of constant evaluation, and we are forever grateful to our customers who have chosen to join and support us on ours. 

Materials 

We use tried and tested quality fabrics and trims each season whilst always looking for viable ways to make our product more environmentally and ethically conscious. The materials and components we use are from reputable mills and suppliers, and we are always fully in control of the production cycle of each garment. 

The cashmere in our knitwear is from suppliers who are members of The Good Cashmere Standard and Sustainable Fibre Alliance, and can be traced back to four regions of Inner Mongolia. 

The cotton in our knitwear is from a supplier who is a member of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). The BCI is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving both the conditions in which cotton is produced, and the welfare of its growers. They are the largest cotton sustainability programme in the world. 

Our jersey styles have been designed with fabric that has been sustainably made.  Chosen for it's soft, breathable and comfortable quality, the Jane EcoVero ™ jersey leaves a feeling of freshness and lightness on the skin as well as having a lower environmental impact and being biodegradable. 

It is a revolutionary fiber patented by Lenzing AG, an Austrian multinational producer of fibers derived from cellulose that has a production philosophy that is particularly oriented to sustainability. EcoVero ™ derives from the processing of wood pulp through a sustainable circular process. The main resource, wood, comes from FSC-certified forests, mostly located in Austria and Bavaria. 

We have successfully trialled and introduced interlinings made from recycled polyester, and have introduced fabrics from suppliers with certifications regarding responsible forestry management.

Production

As a niche luxury brand, we only produce what has been ordered by our wholesale customers, and website – we do not speculatively make excess stock. We will never burn or damage excess stock in the name of preserving brand exclusivity. Each of our garments is made with great care and attention. It is our intention and great hope that every piece be loved and worn by our customers over many years to come. We hold sample sales twice a year and sell on any garments still in stock after seasonal sales to premium off-price retailers.  

We don’t like waste. After each production run, all leftover fabrics and trims are collected and either used for toiling and sampling for the next season, or donated to local schools and universities. We love seeing photographs of how our scraps and remnants have been repurposed by students. We are proud to have developed and maintained the support of our community.  

We have a very strong relationship with all of the factories who make our goods. We are in constant and regular communication with them and our production team frequently visit each of our London based factories and hold video calls with those based in Europe and the Far East.

Packaging

Garment care

Moth protection 

A lot of our garments are made from luxurious natural fibres like wool, silk, and cashmere. Unfortunately, these are a very popular source of food for household moths, which are attracted to the keratin in the fibres. In order to best protect your garments, we advise storing in a breathable garment bag with a natural moth repellent like lavender or cedar. Other aromatic herbs and spices like bay, cloves and rosemary are also said to have insect repelling properties. 

Knitted garments

Knitted garments should never be hung, and should always be stored flat. Again, we recommend storing in a breathable garment bag with a natural moth repellent. We recommend dry cleaning knitwear as opposed to hand washing, to prevent garments becoming felted and distorted when wet. The natural fibres we use like wool and especially cashmere, are very soft and prone to pilling. This is a natural characteristic of the fibres. We recommend using a fine-tooth cashmere comb to gently remove any bobbles. Avoid wearing abrasive jewellery and accessories when wearing knitwear and other delicate fabrics. 

Velvets

We use a variety of different velvets in our collection, each with their own unique care instructions. To avoid crushing the pile, velvet garments should always be hung, and never folded. When hanging trousers and skirts on a peg hanger, always use a protective piece of fabric under the pegs to prevent impression marks. If not stored in a hanging garment bag, hang items inside out to prevent the pile collecting fluff in your wardrobe. We would advise using a padded or fabric hanger to prevent marking the shoulders of the garment. 

Responsible dry cleaning

There are a few things you can do to minimise your environmental impact whilst dry cleaning.  

• Take your own hanger with you 

Your own hanger will undoubtedly be better for your garments than the standard metal wire type supplied by most dry cleaners, and by using a suitable hanger you can also forgo the cardboard commonly used around the shoulders of wire hangers. 

• Use your own garment bag 

Taking your own re-suable, breathable garment carrier is not only better for your clothes, but also reduces the consumption of single use plastic covers, most of which are only recyclable at larger retail stores, if at all. 

• Choose your dry cleaner carefully 

Traditional dry cleaning uses harsh chemicals which can be detrimental to the planet when improperly managed. We advise that all of our garments are cleaned on a delicate cycle, using less chemicals and heat than standard dry cleaning. 

If you are in London, we recommend Blanc cleaners. They use innovative biodegradable detergents and liquid CO2  to clean garments in a way that is kinder to the planet. 

General advice

Choose hangers carefully. Ensure your hangers are not too wide for the shoulders of your garment, and avoid thin wire hangers. For coats and jackets, use a hanger broad enough to adequately support the weight of the garment.  

Always store and clean garments with all fastenings, i.e., zips and buttons, closed. This will help the garments retain their shape. 

Prolong the life of your garments by regularly rotating your wardrobe to allow all items sufficient resting time. Steaming can refreshen clothes and also help kill bacteria between dry cleaning visits. Placing garments in the freezer can kill unwanted moth larvae and eggs which can sometimes be hidden in wool, cashmere and silk garments.