The clothes are produced in Portugal and Turkey, after which the collections are printed in the Netherlands with beautiful motifs. The brand only works with producers who are members of the Fair Wear Foundation. This ensures safe working conditions and a fair wage for the workers.
Päälä’s products also have the GOTS certificate (Global Organic Textile Standard). This certificate checks not only the use of chemicals but also the working conditions in the production process. Thus, we can assume that Päälä’s clothing is produced ethically.
Päälä uses a variety of sustainable materials, such as linen and organic cotton. As mentioned earlier, organic cotton has a GOTS certificate. Among other things, this assures that no chemicals are used in the production process and that the cotton has actually been grown organically.
Linen is also a sustainable material. Growing it requires little water or chemicals, and chemicals are rarely used in the production process either.
Some of the collection is made of bamboo viscose. This appears to be a sustainable material, since bamboo is a fast-growing plant and requires little fertilizer or pesticides. However, harmful chemicals are required in the production process of the textile.
Päälä also uses more sustainable viscose in their clothing. Some of the collection is made from Tencel, Ecovero and Modal. These are types of viscose developed by the manufacturer Lenzing. The materials are more sustainable because they are made in a closed-loop process where no chemicals can be released into the environment. On top of that, Lenzing also guarantees that all raw materials come from responsibly managed forests.
Päälä wants to reduce their ecological impact as much as possible and therefore chooses water-based inks for the screen printing of their clothes. All designs are printed by hand in Amsterdam. For this, the brand uses sustainable inks that contain fewer chemicals.
Much of Päälä’s collection is made of 100% organic cotton or 100% linen. This is circular, because clothing made from one material is easy to recycle. Moreover, due to the absence of harmful chemicals in the cotton and print, the garment is biodegradable.
A small portion of the collection consists of a combination of bamboo viscose and organic cotton. This is less circular because a material blend is more difficult to recycle. Bamboo viscose is not biodegradable due to the presence of chemicals. It would be biodegradable if the viscose were produced in a closed-loop process.
Päälä’s supply chain is relatively limited thanks to their production sites in Portugal and Turkey. The clothes are produced there and then brought to the Netherlands for printing the designs. Consequently, the collection is widely sold in the Netherlands. In this way, the number of links remains limited.
Unfortunately, less information is known about the origin of the materials. The largest producing countries of cotton are China and India. Bamboo viscose often comes from China as well. Because of this, we cannot give a complete picture of the length of the supply chain.
Päälä does not use materials of animal origin in their collections. Thus, the brand is completely vegan and animal-friendly. Because the collections consist entirely of natural materials, there is also no risk of microplastics being released when washing the clothes. Thus, Päälä helps prevent plastic pollution in our oceans.
Päälä designs modern basics with unique prints. This makes their collection timeless and perfect to combine with your outfit. The simple designs also make the clothes timeless. The brand does not follow fleeting trends but designs clothes that can be worn for a long time. The recognizable prints in watercolor look are typical of the Päälä style.
Päälä chooses quality materials that give a longer life to the garment.
Päälä is transparent about the materials they use. They also share a lot of information about the studio where the clothes are printed. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the production locations in Portugal and Turkey. Because no specific information is known, COSH! cannot verify if these really are members of the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) and what their assessment by the FWF is like.
Päälä’s collections revolve entirely around simplicity and nature. The T‑shirts and sweaters are made from natural materials, printed with water-based inks. Päälä also takes inspiration from nature when designing their prints. You will find minimalist designs and hand-printed animals and plants in their collection.
Would you like to add original t‑shirts or sweaters for men or women to your sustainable closet? Then Päälä is definitely for you. You’ll find sustainable essentials with a twist. Check below where to find the sustainable clothing brand.
