Waste Me Not…Let’s Talk Zero Waste
We’ve all heard it - zero waste! sustainable! eco-friendly!
But do we really believe it?
Here at NTA, I can guarantee everything really is eco-friendly. You might think this is a bold statement, but let me break it down.
Since I’m still a one woman show, my “supply chain” is quite simple. I get fabric and then I make everything at home and can make sure everything gets properly repurposed or disposed of. When I first started my brand, I committed to being zero waste, which to me, meant keeping every scrap and reusing it. While I still do this, I have also opted to send some fabrics to be properly recycled because my fabric closet was getting a little too flooded.
Though we always talk about the post-production waste, I also am mindful of my pre-production process to ensure I minimize waste there. Since I make every piece myself, I strategically cut the fabric in a way that reduces the amount of off-cuts. Most factories don’t really care to do this because it can be a meticulous task, but it’s one that I find incredibly important and therefore I do partake in.
Okay so we mindfully cut out a piece, now what? If the fabric is a knit, there’s a 100% chance I will be patch-working it into a new piece (most commonly - my patchwork tanks!). However, if it’s a woven, depending on the fabric, I sometimes also keep it for patchworking or this is where I now step in and send it off to be recycled.
I recently did this for the first time through For Days. I’m a HUGE fan of their company and their commitment to closing the loop. They have a take-back bag system in which you send them all your old clothes or textiles that you don’t want anymore and they partner with textile recyclers to make sure they get reused and turned into new fabrics. For Days recently did a van tour in which you could go drop off textiles in person with them, but normally you can just ship it to them.
Something else that I started doing this year is selling my unwanted fabric. When I lived in Indiana, I’d buy all my fabric online and sometimes it just wasn’t what I was looking for but I felt guilty throwing it out, so I’d keep them. Obviously this is unsustainable for my personal life because it just caused a lot of clutter. Since a lot of my followers are fellow seamstresses, I decided to start selling my fabrics, even if it was 1/4 a yard. You guys have absolutely loved it - so whenever you see fabrics for sale, just know they’re from my own stash!
I know that my system for zero waste is pretty solid, but it’s also important to remember that whenever you’re creating something new (even in a sustainable manner) - it’s still causing some sort of harm. So I’m not going to sit here and pretend this is a perfect solution, but I think it’s pretty close for now.
If you ever have any questions about my process or are curious on how I run my business - I vlog pretty much everything!
I’m always happy to share my process in hopes to create true transparency for my brand!
And if there’s ever anything you’re unsure of, or you think I could do better, let me know! I’m happy to listen and learn :)
Love always,
Natalia
