Made Out Of

Production Locations

• The Netherlands (own workshop called Makers Lokaal in Oud-Beijerland, plus local production partners)
• Italy (production of the wool felt and vegan leather alternatives)

Working Conditions & Living Wages

Made Out Of designs and produces its collection in its own social workshop called Makers Lokaal in Oud-Beijerland. According to the brand, this lets it guarantee a local and socially responsible production process.

All bags, accessories and office items are handmade in this inclusive sewing workshop. The brand says people with unique employment needs get the chance to join the team there, in a safe and supportive work environment.

According to the brand, its parent company Eco Concept Group is a member of B Corp. The brand says this helps the group improve its brands and production partners on social and environmental matters.

Materials

• Recycled leather (GRS certified)
• AppleSkin (41% apple remnants, combined with polyurethane)
• Polyurethane (as a coating and binding material)
• BambooSkin (24% bamboo biomass, 20% GRS recycled polyester, 16% GRS recycled cotton, 40% PU)
• Recycled wool felt (GRS certified)
• FSC-certified and recycled paper

The recycled leather comes from scraps from the shoe and bag industry. These scraps are ground up and processed into a new material, which then gets a coloured top layer of polyurethane.

The vegan leather alternatives, AppleSkin and BambooSkin, are both produced in Italy. They consist of 41% apple remnants or 24% bamboo biomass. These are combined with polyurethane to make the material sturdier and longer-lasting.

Packaging

The brand states that all packaging is made from FSC-certified and recycled paper.

Water Usage & Chemicals

Made Out Of mainly works with recycled materials and plant remnants, such as leather scraps, recycled fibres and apple remnants. This means its products are less directly linked to growing or extracting new raw materials. Most of the water and chemicals were used when these materials were first made, so the impact is largely indirect.

The GRS certification of the recycled leather, the wool felt and the recycled fibres in BambooSkin sets rules for chemical use in processing. On the other hand, the polyurethane in the recycled leather, AppleSkin and BambooSkin is a synthetic material, and the recycled polyester could release microplastics.

The brand doesn’t share information on water and chemical use in the production of AppleSkin and BambooSkin.

Circular Product Design

By using leftover materials such as leather scraps, apple remnants and recycled fibres, Made Out Of gives them a second life.

Many products combine different materials. The recycled leather, AppleSkin and BambooSkin all contain polyurethane. This keeps the product looking nice for longer, but makes it harder to recycle after use. BambooSkin alone combines four different materials.

Made Out Of’s refillable notebooks are made from FSC-certified and recycled paper. Customers can buy separate refill paper bundles, so they can keep using the same cover and customise it to their liking.

Circular Business Models

Made Out Of offers a share, repair & recycle service:

• Free repairs on all purchases.
• Take-back: hand in your old Made Out Of product and get a discount on a new purchase.

The brand says it refurbishes returned products to donate to charity or recycles them.

Distance & Complexity of the Supply Chain

• Production locations: the Netherlands (own workshop Makers Lokaal and local partners), Italy (wool felt and vegan leather alternatives)
• Materials: the brand states that all materials come from Europe. The exact origin of the leather scraps, recycled fibres and bamboo biomass isn’t disclosed.
• HQ: the Netherlands

Transportation

• Transportation in the supply chain: transport within the Netherlands happens by road and the brand says no air freight is used. How materials travel from Italy isn’t specified.
• Transportation in e‑commerce: the brand states that it ships orders CO2 neutral within the Netherlands. 

• Recycled leather, sourced from scraps from the shoe and bag industry
• Recycled wool, in the wool felt produced in Italy 

Because these materials are recycled, the brand says no animals are needed directly for its collections.

Part of the collection is vegan, such as the AppleSkin and BambooSkin products. According to the brand, the AppleSkin laptop sleeves are certified by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

Product Design

Made Out Of makes office essentials, such as laptop sleeves and refillable notebooks, as well as lifestyle accessories, such as bags, wallets and glasses cases.

The brand describes its style as modern and no-nonsense. It says its products are designed as basics for long and practical use.

Slow Fashion Processes

The brand says it uses quality materials and production techniques to make its products last.

The refill bundles for its refillable notebooks and the free repair service also help you use your purchase for longer.

Transparency on Product

Every product has a transparency label with a QR code. It links to the product’s story and the impact of its materials. The brand says you can see where your purchase was made, by whom and from which materials.

According to the brand, Emissa calculated the environmental impact of all products independently, using a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). You can find this impact on the product pages, or view it by scanning the QR code next to the products. On top of that, the five best-selling products have a Digital Product Passport (DPP).

Transparency on Processes

Made Out Of produces all products in its own atelier Makers Lokaal and works closely with local production partners, such as Drukkerij De Bij. 

As a small, local label, Made Out Of keeps things close and personal. Customers can ask the brand their questions directly, and the short lines make personal contact easy.