EcoLab

Welcome to our EcoLab

Through passionate and thoughtful collaborations, we want to create the clothing of the future...

"The sustainable revolution is the single biggest business opportunity in the history of the world. It has the scale of the industrial revolution and the speed of the digital revolution." Al Gore

We want to build clothing that is designed for the future, that is not only good for your body when worn but also helps to solve the climate crisis, not make it worse.

Here are our current and on-going projects we have collaborated on...

Project (1). Accountability is Sustainability

Project running: April 2022-July 2022

This year we have started to manufacture our own yarn, here in the UK. The yarn is being made from SeaCell and Australian 'Super' Cotton which is being spun at our partners, English Fine Cotton, Cotton Mill in the North West of England. We will then go onto knit the yarn into fabric ready for dyeing and finally sewing into T-shirts. We therefore have full control over every aspect of the manufacturing process.

For this project we will be documenting every aspect of the manufacturing process including;

• Full traceability of the supply chain

• The transport used

• The working environments

• The energy used

• The costs

We will be using Blockchain technology to record the full chain to create the end garment, where this information will be available via a QR code which will come with every T-shirt.

The purpose of this project is to prove to consumers how we can manufacture in the most sustainable, ethical and environmentally friendly way. It will also show people the cost involved and the value that should be given to every day items we need such as T-shirts.

We hope to prove a climate positive clothing range, and use this data and information to ensure we improve on this everytime the process is repeated.

We are working with 2 academics on this project; Ngaire Takano and Helena Pribly. You can read about their background and also what their involvement will be below.

Ngaire Takano, a sourcing advisor focusing on traceability and circularity who works across the fashion, food, beauty and drink sectors for over 20 years, presently based in Belgium.

Ngaire`s focus is transparency, circular and next life implementations for fashion brands and traceability.

Ngaire sits within a UN committee on traceability for sustainable garment and footwear.

Ngaire will provide analysis and guidance in mapping the supply chain from seed to finished garment and life thereafter. The focus will be the traceability of each stage (Tier 1 to Tier 6) and also how transparent are the suppliers and partners collaborating with Inland Sea. A Lifecycle Analysis incorporating the environmental, social and ethics will be included. Building relevant documentation for use in engagement and education for consumers and also internally will be included in the work. This will also be used to show transparent knowledge and communication to eliminate any possibility of greenwashing.

Helena Pribyl

Helena is currently a student researcher at Lancaster University investigating local natural fibre textile systems and low-carbon, sustainable fashion.

Previously Helena worked with organisations to calculate their carbon footprint and inform their carbon reduction strategy.

Having also spent time volunteering with environmental and humanitarian charities, Helena strives to play a small part in tackling the climate crisis, protecting biodiversity, and supporting people & planet.

Project (2): Drop in

Project running: October 2019 on-going

In 2019 we chatted on our podcast with Jennifer Wood, from Dirtbags Climbing Co up in the Lakes. They make amazing climbing gear made from up-cycled climbing equipment such as climbing rope. We talked about how wetsuits can't be recycled and will only end up in landfill often after limited use, so we decided to create some up-cycled products such as the Human Coaster, a matt to get changed on.

Fast forward to 2022 and we have now collected literally 1000s of wetsuits and are currently working on a new project to up-cycle into bags and accessories.

If you have an old wetsuit which you need to chuck out, please don't! Send to us and we will give it a completely new lease of life.

We will give you 25% off in store per wetsuit you send.*

If you can ensure the wetsuit is clean and dry.

Please send your old wetsuits to;

Inland Sea, The Old Sunday School, Roe Street, Macclesfield SK11 6UT