Certified Sustainability
At Alice Wakes, we want to do things differently. We want responsible production to be an integral part of our label, central to our business operations and design. Given the state of our planet, sustainability is no longer an option, but a necessity. We cannot continue to grow and prosper as a society unless we are mindful of the impact that our production and consumption choices have on the planet.
Sustainability has, sadly, become a buzzword, used a little too freely in marketing copy and rife with subjective claims of positive impact. To make sure that we don't stray into this tokenism, we are looking to an objective principle — certification. We don't want to claim positive social impact or sustainability unless it is certified by a globally recognized body. Our materials and supply partners are chosen after a thorough examination of their certifications, as well as an in-person visit and verification to ensure that our products and the processes followed in their production are truly sustainable.
Ethical Production
All our bags are produced in a family-run factory which holds an SA-8000 certification.
This is the world's leading social certification program for factories. The standard measures a factory's performance on a host of ethical labor practices, including Child labor, Forced or Compulsory labor, Health & Safety, Freedom of Association, Discrimination, Working hours, Remuneration, and sustained Management Systems for compliance.
We have personally visited our factory and spent time with the people who make our bags. They are paid fairly, treated with respect, and enjoy good working conditions. This translates into an operating cost premium that we are more than happy to share with our factory to ensure our bags are produced sustainably and responsibly.
Sustainable Materials
All our leathers are sourced from tanneries which carry the prestigious LWG-Gold certification awarded by the Leather Working Group.
The Leather Working Group awards this certification after carrying out a rigorous audit. A tannery must score 85% to 100% in all critical sections of the audit to earn a Gold rating. The audit pays close attention to Environmental Management Systems, Water & Energy usage, Effluent Management, Chemical Management, Traceability, Health, Safety & Emergency Preparedness.
In effect, our bags are made from leathers sourced from some of the most rigorously audited tanneries in the world.
Trend Agnostic Design
We seek to create timeless designs, forms that hold their beauty and bring you joy beyond trends and seasons. We've chosen full-grain, semi-aniline leathers as our primary materials for their timeless appeal and their ability to last for a long time.
This mindful approach to design translates to fewer seasonal upgrades, conscious production and consumption, and less waste in the landfills.
Stewardship is an ongoing responsibility
We continue to look for better materials and better ways of making our bags. We are evaluating several newer materials that we hope to introduce over the coming years. These include Organic or GRS-certified linings, next-generation plant-based leathers and other innovations that meet our standards for quality and longevity.
