Responsibility and sustainability
It’s no secret that the clothing industry and increased consumption are contributing to the detrimental climate change we are seeing today on a global scale. As a company, we are responsible for taking sensible action to prevent negative environmental impact and to contribute to the positive change we need and want to see. For this reason, we at Maya Delorez have chosen to prioritize sustainability as a fundamental part of our business, right since the outset.
Sustainability at Maya Delorez
We know that we are only at the beginning of our journey to greater sustainability and that there is lots of room for improvement. But we are also aware that, as a startup company, we have both the opportunity as well as the potential to actually do better! We have high ambitions and take a long-term view of our goal of contributing to a more sustainable fashion industry. To achieve this goal, we have developed sustainability principles that illustrate how we work with the production, packaging, and delivery of our products. We see it as crucial to keep track of and be familiar with the entire supply chain, from the very first sample to the finished product, and to ensure that our products are always produced in ethical and environmentally friendly ways. This is an ongoing learning process and we are always striving to further develop our sustainability work.
Production
We don’t have our own factories, but instead work with suppliers in various parts of the world who operate to the highest standards. Our values as a company are fundamental to us, so it is of utmost importance that the suppliers we choose to work with share these values and work in accordance with them. In order to maintain a high standard regarding working conditions and to ensure the quality of production, we maintain a close and ongoing dialogue with our suppliers. We work continuously to ensure that our supply chain has high integrity and we monitor our entire business at all times to make sure it complies with our Code of Conduct.
Transport
Our packaging standards come into play right from when our products leave the factory. To avoid unnecessary excess packaging and empty spaces during transport, we always optimize the space by packing parcels to their maximum capacity. We are also working on developing options for climate compensation, and we closely monitor the development of our carriers on an ongoing basis.
E-commerce has a much higher return rate than for products purchased from physical stores. So we chose not to offer free return shipping, to encourage customers to spend more time on finding the right product/size from the outset. For the same reason, we have developed carefully designed size guides and made it possible for our customers to get assistance through our self-service chat. All of this is intended to assist our customers to find the right size, thus reducing the number of unnecessary exchanges and returns.
Products
When designing and manufacturing our products, we continuously strive to maintain a strong focus on quality because we want our products to stand the test of time. We do this in two ways: by avoiding short-lived trends and by using durable materials. Since riders spend a lot of time in relatively demanding environments, it’s important to us that our products can withstand the wear and tear that comes with them. That’s why we work with durable, functional, high-quality materials, with the goal of creating products for a long-lasting wardrobe, season after season.
The leather we use is vegetable tanned leather. This is a conscious choice as it is a much more gentle alternative for humans, your animals, and the environment, unlike other harmful tanning processes which require large amounts of noxious chromium and can entail enormous health risks.
Packaging
Our e-commerce bags are made from 100% recyclable material. Currently, our products are delivered in ziplock packaging, making it easy to return them in the same bag without creating unnecessary additional waste. They also work great as storage bags for dirty riding breeches or sweaty training clothes – there really is no end to possible alternative uses for our bags! The e-commerce bags have double adhesive strips so you can easily return your product in the same packaging.
What you as a customer can do
The environmental impact of our clothes stems not only from its production but is in part influenced by their everyday use in your home, such as when you wash, tumble dry, or iron them . These activities require energy, and they aren’t always necessary. A good tip to reduce your own environmental impact is to wash less often – airing your clothes after a single use may well be good enough.
Sometimes it can happen that you get tired of your clothes or they no longer fit. In this case, don’t just throw them away, but pass them on and make somebody else happy. Why not swap with a friend or resell? Nowadays, there are lots of different ways to exchange and sell used clothes, both off and online.
Contact us
Sustainability is a crucial part of our daily work. To us, taking responsibility and prioritizing sustainability issues is a matter of course in order to protect our planet and keep it habitable for future generations. If you have questions or objections regarding how we work with sustainability issues, you are welcome to contact us at info@mayadelorez.com. We are always grateful for suggestions and input about how we can further develop and improve our work.