High-end fashion that is also sustainable? That’s Alchemist. Because fashion is more than just a beautiful look. Many fashion brands have the mouth full of sustainability, but at Alchemist sustainability is in their DNA. From thread to LED lighting in Alchemist HQ and the packaging in which Alchemist sends its parcels: everything is as ecological and sustainable as possible. Thumbs up!
Alchemist?
Dutch Caroline Mewe was born on Terschelling, a small island on which people live close to nature. Her childhood was a source of inspiration for Alchemist. Alchemist is a super-feminine brand with lightweight, fragile garments that look stylish and bold at the same time. A bit like Terschelling itself.
Eco: from needle to thread?
Yeah, Alchemist is eco from needle to thread. From the non-mulesing merino wool, to the fibres of the eucalyptus trees for Tencel®. Wait a minute, what’s with the merino wool? Well, to make sure that the sheepskin stays clean and no flies get in or infections occur, sheep farmers sometimes cut away the skin around the bum of the sheep. Not at Alchemist! They firmly choose wool from well-groomed merino sheep.
Tencel ® is made of wood fibres. The process Alchemist uses is environmentally friendly: the products used to extract the fibres are recaptured and reused.
Recycling, that’s what Alchemist really loves. Recycled linen, recycled denim and recycled wool. And thus a lower energy consumption and less impact on the environment.
Other fabrics that Alchemist’s designers like to work with: certified and organic cotton, Modal ® (fibres from Austrian beech wood) and viscose. Because the production of viscose is less environmentally friendly than that of Tencel ® or Modal ®, Alchemist uses this fabric as little as possible.
Alchemist does everything in its power to become even more ecological and sustainable year after year. The brand is very transparent about this: on the website you will find a lot of information about the producer visits, the Dutch Covenant on Sustainable Clothing and Textiles and certificates.
A great place to work?
Since 2015, Alchemist has an employee who helps to make the brand even more sustainable, not least in terms of working conditions. For example, the brand regularly checks whether workers in Portuguese textile factories receive the minimum wage.
By producing mainly in the EU, Alchemist also contributes to a better living standard in countries such as Portugal and Macedonia. A small percentage of clothes are produced – in good conditions – in Delhi, India. Awesome, no?
A circular brand?
Yeah! Or almost. Alchemist stimulates reuse and asks customers to bring clothing to second-hand shops, to make someone else happy with them. Alchemist’s designers like to use recycled denim, linen and recycled wool as well.
Short / overall
Alchemist is sustainable down to the smallest fibre. And on top of that, their clothing is feminine, stylish and bold. Win-win, as we like to call it!
