Joseffa

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS 

• Belgium

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES 

Joseffa produces entirely in Belgium, allowing the brand to benefit from high social standards and tight control over working conditions. Fairer wages, safe workplaces and short transport routes are among the advantages of local production. 

The products are entirely handmade in Joseffa’s own atelier, which means that no external suppliers or production facilities are required. Instead of traditional supply chains, the company uses donated or collected textiles – especially second-hand men’s shirts – and processes them locally. The brand bears the ​‘Handmade in Belgium’ label, which recognises quality craftsmanship and local production.

In-house production allows Joseffa to determine and monitor working conditions itself, so there is no need to visit suppliers. The direct proximity to production makes it possible to comply with safety standards and ensure fairer conditions. 

The label also supports the ​‘Ko Neere’ water project in Burkina Faso, which is committed to improving access to clean drinking water.

MATERIALS 

• Cotton (recycled, mostly from second-hand shirts)
• Linen (recycled or from remnants)
• Terry cloth (for slippers and details, from leftover fabrics or second-hand goods)
• Old buttons and zips (reused)
• Elastic bands (partly new, partly from old stock)
• Wool (either 70 % recycled wool from an Italian felt manufacturer or 100 % wool from a German felt manufacturer)
• Mother-of-pearl buttons
• Silk (deadstock)

Joseffa uses almost exclusively recycled materials, primarily cotton from second-hand shirts, as well as linen and towelling from leftover stock. Buttons, zips and elastic bands are also reused or sourced from old stock. There are no certifications – the focus is on the circular economy: existing materials are given a second life, thus reducing waste and resource consumption.

PACKAGING 

• Joseffa uses shipping packaging made from recycled cardboard and uses paper labels with information about the product and the origin of the materials. No plastics are used for online shipping. 
• As all production takes place in Belgium, transport within the supply chain is reduced to a minimum.

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS 

Joseffa attaches great importance to using water more sparingly. By using recycled materials such as second-hand shirts, water consumption in production is greatly reduced. The brand also supports the Ko Neere project in Burkina Faso, which promotes access to clean water. There is no evidence of the use of dyeing or bleaching processes. 

Joseffa mainly uses natural fibres from leftover stocks. This means that little to no microplastics are produced during the use and care of the products, which significantly reduces the environmental impact, particularly with regard to water.

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN 

Joseffa mainly uses recycled, upcycled and deadstock materials, in particular second-hand shirts and remnants, thereby conserving resources. The preloved shirts come from donations or are sourced from sorting centres. The range is supplemented by deadstock fabrics from European textile factories or Belgian fashion labels as well as fabrics with recycled content from European manufacturers. 

As the original composition of these materials is often not clearly traceable, the end products do not always consist of mono-materials and may therefore be more difficult to recycle. Read our blog to find out how important the choice of textiles is for recycling, durability and the environment.

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS 

All Joseffa products can be repaired for two years from the date of purchase. Customers can contact Joseffa for this – either for DIY tips or to request a repair directly from Joseffa. Alternatively, the repair can also be handled by the point of sale where the product was purchased. A replacement button is also attached to the hangtag to facilitate minor repairs. 

The focus is on extending the life of existing materials through upcycling and craftsmanship. Joseffa recommends taking products that are no longer wanted to the nearest textile collection centre.

Joseffa is an active member of the Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) and is committed to increasing the collection rate of used clothing and expanding upcycling and resale programmes. The aim was to source at least 50% of production materials through partnerships with retailers and sorting companies by 2020 and to double the number of points of sale. This emphasises the strategic focus on post-consumer upcycling and the active promotion of textile cycles.

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN 

• Belgium (all production is local)
• Joseffa has its headquarters in Belgium.

Joseffa’s supply chain is kept simple and local.

TRANSPORTATION 

• As all production takes place in Belgium, transportation within the supply chain is extremely low.
• In e‑commerce, shipping is handled by GLS and bpost. 

• Wool
• Mother-of-pearl buttons
• Silk

In future, new felt soles will be made from 70% recycled wool by an Italian felt manufacturer. The felt soles of the slippers presented at CFS Berlin are made from 100% wool from a German felt manufacturer. 
One collection includes silk T‑shirts made from leftover stock from a French fabric mill.

PRODUCT DESIGN 

Joseffa offers nightwear and loungewear for women, including babydoll tops, shorts, T‑shirts, pyjama bottoms, hats and slippers. The collection mainly comprises one-off pieces or small series made from second-hand materials.

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES 

Joseffa has a continuous collection to which new individual pieces or small series are regularly added. Production is not seasonal, but depends on the availability of materials.

The products are customised and available in limited quantities.

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT 

On the product pages, Joseffa communicates basic information such as the design, available sizes and colour options. Materials are only described in general terms. Traceability at product level is limited, as the materials consist of second-hand shirts and leftover stock, the exact composition of which often cannot be traced. It is mentioned that the products are individual items. The statement ​‘Hand Made in Belgium’ indicates the place of production. 

Joseffa is currently working on making more information available directly on the product. Almost all items – with the exception of slippers and sleep masks – are already equipped with a sewn-in QR code. This should soon provide details on materials, origin, care, environmental impact and tips on repair and recycling. The technical implementation is in preparation and is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESSES 

On its website, Joseffa provides basic information about the materials used, the upcycling approach and local production in Belgium. The brand emphasises that all products are made from at least 95% reused or recycled materials and that each item is unique.

Product-specific traceability is only possible to a limited extent, as the source materials consist of second-hand shirts and leftover stock, the exact composition of which is often impossible to trace.

As a partner of the Global Fashion Agenda, Joseffa is involved in industry-wide initiatives to promote greater transparency, circularity and more responsible usage of materials. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of concrete traceability data on the original materials or pre-processing at product level.