el.résidu

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS 

• India
• Turkey
• The Netherlands 

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES 

The majority of el.residue’s pieces are produced in India. The first collection was made in collaboration with an Indian non-profit called Saheli Women. They aim to financially empower the women of rural Rajasthan through creating ethical fashion. This female owned atelier prides themselves on their fair and inclusive principles and their ability to increase prosperity of these women through providing them livelihood opportunities. These women are taught traditional and modern embroidery techniques, and their atelier is a fear-free creative space, where they can also choose their working hours and holidays. 

One of el.residu’s new partners is the small-scale studio Vastraashi, which Ella visited in 2023. She states that this studio offers its workers a fair wage and a safe working environment. El.residue collaborated with Vastraashi to create a collection made from left-over block printed fabric. 

El.residue also has a small denim collection, made from deadstock fabrics, and produced in Turkey. They also offer t‑shirts, which were selected from a vintage department store in the Netherlands, and re-vamped with printed designs by the screen printing company Twee Boys in Amsterdam West. 

MATERIALS 

• Cotton
• Silk
• Viscose
• Polyester

Ella only uses left-over, pre-loved and vintage fabrics for her garments.

One of el.residue’s main collections is their Sari Collection. The items in this line are made from pre-loved, vintage saris, which have been upcycled into dresses, trousers, and shirts. 

As these are upcycled garments, the exact composition of the fabrics cannot be known. However, some products are made from an upcycled material containing viscose and polyester blends. Some products contain a cotton and silk blend, both natural fibres which are gentle to the skin. Other garments are made of 100% silk. The only non recycled synthetic material used in this brand is for the padding within the quilted garments, which reinforces the strength of the used materials and increases the longevity of the garment, to keep them away from landfills.

El.residue also have an Ikat Collection, made from left-over ikat fabrics. Ikat is a printing technique where the cotton fibres are printed before being woven authentically with wooden looms. The items in the Block Print Collection are also made from excess 100% cotton fabric, and are hand-printed with the authentic block print technique. Likewise, only existing, 100% cotton t‑shirts were used for the creation of el.residue’s T‑shirt Collection. 

PACKAGING 

For the packaging, plastic bags are used for the webshop as of now until a more sustainable alternative can be adopted, which will be easier as the company grows. As far as possible, these bags are reused and then recycled, and their quantity is kept to a minimum. However, the purchases during live events are packaged in paper bags that do not have any harmful coatings. 

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS 

El.residue has an eco-dye collection, which features pieces that have been dyed using natural materials such as flowers, plants, herbs, and minerals. Natural dyes are more environmentally friendly than chemical dyes, as they prevent water pollution. Additionally, as el.residue sources second-hand fabrics, the chemical and water usage throughout their supply chain is minimal. 

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN 

This brand works exclusively with upcycled deadstock and pre-loved materials, giving them new life. Ella romanticizes the concept of second-hand materials, saying pre-loved materials have a certain beauty and charm that make them unique and more special for the wearer.

The majority of el.residue’s products are 100% cotton, increasing the likelihood that they can be recycled. However, the items in the Sari Collection are likely to be material blends, although their exact composition cannot be determined. This means these items are more likely to become waste at the end of their lifespans. 

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS 

Textile waste during the design process is minimized and avoided by using any scraps or leftovers to make garment bags, or accessories such as scrunchies or Christmas decorations.

El.residue is yet to offer a take-back service or repair scheme, which would enhance the lifespan of their garments and help prevent waste from being generated. 

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN 

Production locations: 

• India
• Turkey
• Amsterdam 

This brand is located in Amsterdam, and its production and sourcing is primarily in India. This increases the length and complexity of the supply chain. The T‑shirt Collection is the exception to this, as the t‑shirts are sourced in the Netherlands, and printed there too, in close proximity to the brand’s headquarters. 

The products are shipped only within Europe, helping to reduce transport emissions.

TRANSPORTATION 

Currently, air freight is used within el.residue’s supply chain. However, Ella tries to reduce transport emissions by keeping transport to a minimum. If possible, air freight is only used for big bulk shipments, and Ella sometimes brings back items herself when conducting visits to the production facilities.

El.residue offers the option to collect your purchase for free from their Amsterdam office, helping to reduce transport emissions. 

• Silk 

The majority of materials used by el.residue are not animal-derived. However, some items in the Sari Collection may contain silk. The production of silk is sometimes viewed as unethical, especially if it is produced in the conventional manner which involves boiling the silkworms alive. A more ethical alternative to this is organic silk, or peace silk. It is not known which type of silk these garments may contain, as the material is pre-loved. However, this also means that the silk worms are not directly impacted by el.residue’s production. 

PRODUCT DESIGN 

This brand works with high quality fibres such as silk and cotton which have thermal regulating capacity. The viscose and polyester materials are breathable, and the colours remain bright for longer. Any materials that have brittled due to their pre-loved nature, are turned into quilted garments with synthetic padding inside to make them sturdier and extend their existence much longer. Wash and care instructions are also provided to reduce wear and tear on the garments.

Ella ensures that 40% of the collection is unisex, and designed to be styled according to each person’s personal preference. The items also have a large fit range, keeping them in use even through changes in the body.

The designs are timeless, and bright, and bring a sense of warmth to the wearer and anyone who sees them. As upcycled garments can never be identical, every item is unique!

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES 

El.residue produces in small quantities, and therefore eliminates the need for sales. Whilst helping to prevent waste from overproduction, this also means that every item is even more special for the wearer. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT 

Ella includes a tag on each garment with a small story about the maker of the items, to inform customers of the process behind the creation of their garment. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESSES 

Ella aims for high levels of transparency, from material sourcing to garment construction. Her goal for this brand is to increase knowledge on garment making processes within the general population, connecting consumers to their products. 

She also explains that while there is no way for her to know the exact composition ratio of each material, she states the materiality in each product description page, with details about the positives and negatives of each material.