Braintree was founded in 1995 in Australia, with
the aim of promoting hemp as an environmentally friendly alternative to
cotton. It soon became one of the largest hemp clothing companies in
the world. In 2002 Braintree Europe was founded in London.
They've
introduced lines in new eco fibre fabrics, like bamboo and soybean.
They now produce seasonal ranges for men, women and children, and each
year we introduce fresh new styles.
Wearing what the world can afford. At
Braintree they believe in wearing what the world can afford. That means
not only producing clothing in an environmentally friendly way, but
also ensuring that everyone involved gets a fair deal. All Braintree
garments are made from ecological fabrics like hemp, bamboo and soybean
fibre.
Hemp is one of the untapped wonders of the world. It is also
one of the most environmentally friendly fibres known to man. It
requires no herbicides or pesticides to grow and needs very little
water. Hemp when worn is also UV protective, anti-bacterial and is very
strong and durable.
Partners
The clothing and the
cloth it's made from is all produced in China, the world leader in
ecological fabric development. Despite some bad press, the Chinese
government is very aware of the impact of industry on its environment.
All fabric factories and dye houses are regularly inspected, with heavy
fines for polluters.
Responsibilities
The environmental aspect
of their business sits side by side with the humanitarian aspect. They
make sure that their production partners share our values on important
issues like child labour, discrimination, working hours, discipline
practices, freedom of association and health and safety.
Four
times a year they visit the factories in China that produce their
clothing, so they can see with their own eyes that they're living up to
our standards. They're also working closely with the Fair Trade
Association to develop a template for Fair Trade certification of goods
produced in China. As well as making it easier for consumers to make an
ethical choice, this will help encourage and support other companies
that are trying to do the right thing.
For more information, see www.braintreehemp.com