BeCultures

BeCultures sources its deadstock from UK and Belgium, and trims from various cultural destinations such as Morocco, India, and UK so far. Nesrine works with suppliers personally, and has individual seamstresses employed in Belgium and Morocco to handmake her beautiful pieces. 

Visiting the suppliers and seamstresses herself, ensures fair pay and good working conditions, and using no chemicals during upcycling keeps the garment safe for the workers as well as later users. 

BeCultures uses only deadstock fabric made of natural materials such as cotton, wool, and silk. The use of only natural materials keeps microplastics from affecting the environment. The labels are also made of cotton and satin, the only relatively unsustainable part of the clothing would be the buttons and zippers sourced from YKK.

BeCultures uses paper and reusable non-plastic bags for its ecommerce packaging, and Nesrine uses her own reusable bags while buying deadstock materials within the supply chain. 

The brand also uses no water or chemicals during the upcycling process, choosing the most minimal and sustainable options possible for the making of the garments. 

BeCultures doesn’t outright claim circularity, however the concept is embedded into every aspect of the brand. The use of deadstock material ensures longer usage of the materials before ending up in dumping grounds, as well as natural materials means they are naturally biodegradable and wont harm the ecosystem with microplastics. The clothes, most of them being monomaterial also means they are easily recycled at the end of use. 

The brand is located in Belgium, garment production conducted in Belgium and Morocco, and most of the materials are sourced from within the continent. Due to the cultural nature of the brand, the chain cannot be shortened too much, however this is made up for by avoiding the use of air freights during transportation. 

The brand uses wool and some silk, however as it is deadstock material their origin and treatment of animals cannot be known. 

BeCultures has timeless designs incorporating historical cultural aspects, and made of high quality materials to ensure durability. Being handmade by seamstresses also means the clothes are slow fashion. Nesrine also gives care tips during the sale of clothes in person to ensure they stay in use for as long as possible. 

Nesrine provides some level of traceability on the garment tags, communicating where the garments were produced, and is happy to communicate to the consumers the origins of the materials during in-person sales as well. She provides COSH! with utmost transparency regarding every aspect of the brand, and as it grows, makes an effort to increase her knowledge regarding her own supply chain as well.