be the fibre

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS

• Belgium 

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES 

Be the fibre states that they work with long-term unemployed and disadvantaged groups to produce their bags, giving opportunities to those who may otherwise be excluded from the labour market. They state that they prioritise fair and safe working conditions, and offer their employees fair wages and opportunities for growth and development. 

The proceeds from the sale of be the fibre products are used to contribute to sustainable development projects worldwide. In fact, We Make Hope supports approximately 250 development projects annually! 
 

MATERIALS 

• Recycled textiles 
• Polyester
• Recycled polyester 

Be the fibre collects donated clothing through ​‘Be the fibre. Be the change’ containers in concept stores like Chameleon in Brussels, Moose in the City in Antwerp, Supergoods in Ghent, and Harvest in Leuven. This helps to reduce the mountain of textile waste in Belgium. 

This recycled clothing is used alongside polyester and recycled plastic bottles to create their fabrics. They also tarpaulin from a company whose offcuts they reuse, reducing their reliance on raw materials, and the straps on their bags are made from recycled jeans. 

PACKAGING 

Be the fibre does not disclose what packaging materials they use. However, they only sell their products in stores, which greatly reduces their need for packaging. 

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS 

By primarily using recycled fabrics, be the fibre minimises their water and chemical usage. Additionally, as they specialise in producing accessories such as bags and coasters, which are unlikely to need washing, the potential for water pollution in their usage phase is reduced. It should, however, be noted that be the fibre uses virgin polyester in their fabrics, which is a plastic-based fabric that will shed microplastics if washed. 

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN 

Be the fibre is truly circular! Every product is made from recycled textiles, which would otherwise be wasted. These textiles are collected by We Make Hope, who resell any high quality clothing in their secondhand shop. Items which are no longer usable are recycled through Wolkat, a Dutch textile recycling company, and turned into be the fibre’s products. 

Previously, up to 50% of collected clothing was no longer usable for sale, a problem for which other textile collectors have no sustainable solution. Thanks to Wolkat, We Make Hope’s waste volume is reduced to only 10%. 

Unfortunately, because be the fibre combines recycled textile fibres with recycled plastic bottles and polyester to produce their products, they are unlikely to be recyclable themselves. This means that they are therefore more likely to end up as waste at the end of their lifespans. 

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS 

Be the fibre does not disclose any circular business models on their website, such as a repair service or return scheme. This would help to keep their already circular products in use for longer, further improving their sustainability efforts.

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Production locations: 

• Belgium 

Be the fibre has a relatively short supply chain, as they collect their unwanted garments from containers in Belgium, and upcycle and sell them in Belgium too! This improves their product traceability whilst ensuring lower emissions. 

TRANSPORTATION 

Be the fibre does not disclose what transportation methods are used in their supply chain. However, as their supply chain is relatively short, their transportation related emissions will be lower. 

All materials in be the fibre designs are recycled. This way, no animals are directly involved in the production process, although it could be that the items contain recycled animal materials.

PRODUCT DESIGN 

Be the fibre’s products give new life to previously discarded textiles, and are designed to be kept away from landfills for long periods of time too. They therefore combine the recycled textiles with polyester, recycled plastic bottles, and tarpaulin to create high-quality, durable goods. 

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES 

Be the fibre doesn’t disclose how many collections they release each year, or whether they participate in sales periods. However, as they use primarily recycled clothing, we can assume that they are a slow fashion brand.

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT 

Be the fibre provides high levels of product transparency on their website, helping to inform consumers about what materials they use, and where their production takes place. Therefore although it’s impossible to know exactly what materials are used in be the fibre’s collection, as they are upcycled, consumers can understand a bit more about what goes into each item. 

A step further in be the fibre’s transparency would be to disclose where they source their recycled and virgin polyester from, and in what volumes it is used in their collections. The use of virgin polyester in particular may cause some confusion for consumers as it is not a sustainable material choice. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESSES 

Both be the fibre and We Make Hope’s websites provide transparency about their processes, especially regarding which initiatives your purchases will support. This will help to reassure consumers that they are supporting more sustainable practices through their purchases.