Sustainability
At Aegis Scarves, our vision from our inception is a fair, cooperative company with superb relationships with both communities and the environment. To us, a successful company is one that operates not only without a trace, but to the benefit of everybody and everything around us.
Recycled Cashmere sourcing profile
Please refer to our section in our July 2020 Sustainability Update.
​
Virgin Cashmere sourcing profile
Meet our workers. Our proud supplier is Shandong Glory Silk Products Co. LTD. The factory and offices are located in Shandong, China. Shandong is a few provinces away from Mongolia, where the cashmere wool is sourced. For provinces near the edge of Mongolia, producing wool products is their livelihood and source of income. We are proud to know every one of our workers: from management to ground, and know that our friendship will lead to investments in local communities.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
We selected Glory Silk productions for:
-
Their technological superiority
-
Their full transparency
To us, a highly technologically developed producer equals less overworked employees, and higher wages. They are an old company, with 20 years of experience under their belt. This allows them to reach the high reputation and state of technology that they have now. As well, upon meeting the representatives from the company, they were very glad to offer complete transparency in their processes: from the collection of wool, to the finishing touches on the scarves.
As most of our team is from the area, visitation once a year to report on the condition of the printing factory can be performed.
Sourcing overview
.jpg)
SGS CERTIFIED
SGS is a stringent international regulation that ensures a company's products are in compliance with it's country's standards. As the world's leading testing and inspection certification service, it offers comprehensive certifications for employees as well as machinery and heavy equipment. View more information on the SGS certification here >
​
GOTS CERTIFIED
GOTS is the leading international production certification that ensures the organic status of textiles, from fibre collection to manufacturing and packaging. It limits the use of toxic bleaches, dyes, and other abrasive chemicals. It's globally recognized as the toughest textile standard because it not only includes inspection in organic farming, but every step until the last bit of manufacturing. View more information on the GOTS certification here >
LARGE PRODUCTION VOLUME
Glory Silk Products LTD's annual production capacity is 3 million. It's one of China/Outer Mongolia's biggest textile production and printing companies. Past and current clients include Tom Ford, Sephora, Mercedes-Benz, Sheraton, and many more.
CRUELTY-FREE
Our cashmere is sourced in Inner Mongolia and Outer Mongolia. Cashmere is collected without any harm to the goat. The one concern environmentalists have with cashmere collection is if goats are shorn mid-winter, they could freeze to death as they have very little fat on their bodies. Our cashmere is collected within season and 75% of our inventory is collected during the summer months. There is little to no harm to the cashmere goats in the production of our products.
Our goats are raised on private land and the amount of agriculture they consume is limited. Raising cashmere goats are often times family businesses, supporting local farmers and grassroot efforts. All our workers are paid in full, always.
Giving back/Community Outreach Initiatives
AUSTRALIAN WILDFIRES RELIEF FUND
March 2020 - May 2020
From the beginning of March to the end of May, Aegis Scarves promised $5 from every order to Global Giving's Australia Wildlife Relief Fund. The purpose of this initiative was to help the people and animals directly impacted by the wildfires, and eventually transition into long-term assistance to affected residents. Visit the cause >
NATIONAL BAIL FUND NETWORK
June 2020
In an effort to support Black Lives Matter and its protesters in their journey to create long-lasting changes to the state of injustice in North America, Aegis Scarves pledged the entire month of June's profits to the National Bail Fund Network Visit the cause >
THE INNOCENCE PROJECT
July 2020 - indefinite
In an effort to provide meaningful legal and social assistance to the wrongly incarcerated, from July onwards Aegis Scarves promises that 10% of every order will go towards The Innocence project. Visit the cause >
A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER AND DESIGNER
Sustainability to us is woven in the core of our business model. A successful brand is very in touch with the needs of both the surrounding professional and customer networks, including their struggles and needs. My mother once said that all good relationships in the world goes both ways. As a brand in position of power, it is our responsibility to care for the needs of others. This is why we source from the very best, and make sure that they are compensated in full for all their hard work and values. It's also our responsibility to be fully transparent with you, as a customer base, about what goes on behind the label. We strive for integrity and justice in everything we do.
This is the vision we will keep for the future, but our work doesn't stop there. With the wealth of information technology brings, we are learning slowly but surely about all the damage fast fashion has on both the environment and workers. We will earnestly adapt to the ever-changing world of sustainability, with finding better technologies, better ways to flow money into worthy causes, and better waste-management strategies. We are growing and learning, along with you, the consumer.
We thank you sincerely for shopping at Aegis Scarves, and ask that you stay to experience everything we will do for our planet in the future."
- Catherine Wu, Founder and Designer
Got a cause close to your heart, or a private matter you would like us to support? Write us!
Future Initiatives
The following is our annual sustainability "to-do" list. This page will be updated every time we have a sustainability update (est. every 6 months. Here is the results and progress we made from our last report: July 19, 2020
01
recycled cashmere
Aegis Scarves will make the necessary steps to transition to recycled cashmere. This includes cashmere made from pre-consumer and post-consumer waste. Recycled cashmere has an outstandingly positive effect on the environment, reducing water and landscape consumption dramatically.
​
JULY 19, 2020: Started the transition process (necessary introductions and networking with suppliers)
02
Local-friendly, recycled packaging
Our packaging is already eco-friendly and has a minimal carbon footprint, as our boxes are made of recyclable paper. However, by 2022 or during our next inventory order, Aegis Scarves promises to make the switch to packaging that is composed of 100% recycled paper. Aegis Scarves will also make the effort to source its packaging from Canadian small businesses, as to support local communities.
​
Estimated completion year: 2021
03
plastic-free packaging
Since the start of Aegis Scarves in December 2019, we have been using plastic wrap in our packaging as a way to keep our scarves free of fingerprints and dust. Realizing the harmful effects on the planet and biodiversity, Aegis Scarves will discontinue the use of plastic packaging.
​
July 19, 2020: The use of plastic packaging has officially been discontinued. A search for an alternative is underway.
04
supporting cashmere farmers
To offset the costs of taking away profit from traditional cashmere farmers, once we switch to recycled cashmere we will donate a portion of our funds towards grassroots efforts in both Mongolia and Northern China.
​
July 19, 2020: The switch has been announced, and starting from late September to early October, Aegis Scarves promises at least 10% of profit to grassroots organizations.
02
b-corp (and other) certifications
Aegis Scarves will strive towards a B Corp Certification. The B Corp Certification is one of the highest business certifications on the market, which encompasses both social and environmental impact. "Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy." - B Corp Website
Aegis Scarves will achieve this by making the switch to at least 90% recycled cashmere, 100% recycled packaging, continued investment in good B2B relations and a 20% of net going towards worthy causes.
​
Estimated completion year: 2022