Oxious

Production locations

• Turkey
• The Netherlands

Working Conditions & living wages 

Since 2022, Oxious has also been a member of B‑corporation. This organisation assesses the sustainability of brands, also checking social conditions in the production process. In doing so, Oxious achieved a place in the top three of the ​‘Best for the world’ list in 2022.

When Oxious started in 2015, the company partnered with a manufacturer to bring more sustainable towels to market. Gradually, however, the brand set up their own production workshop to work as ethically as possible. Oxious, in other words, practices capacity building. This means that the brand not only produces ethically, but is also committed to empowering local workers and their communities.

So all Oxious products are handmade in their workshop in Turkey. The production workshop grew from three to 14 employees, most of them women. There is little employment for women in the region, so the Oxious atelier offers many opportunities and changes for the local community. For example, the women gain more independence and a fair income, making it easier for their children to go to school. Oxious even notices that other weaving mills in the region are following their example to produce socially and ethically.

For the product labels and accessories, Oxious collaborates with Dutch social enterprises Stichting Stunt and Talentfabriek 010. These are organisations that help people reintegrate into the labour market in the Netherlands. Recently, the brand also launched its own social workplace in Rotterdam under the name Oxious Talent Factory, where residual flows of company textiles are processed and repaired. This sewing studio in the Feijenoord district provides work for people from vulnerable backgrounds to help them build economically independent lives. To complete the picture, Oxious also donates to social charities such as Free a Girl and refugee aid.

Materials 

• Recycled polyester 
• Cotton 
• GRS-certified recycled cotton

Oxious products are made of cotton combined with recycled cotton and polyester. The polyester is made from recycled PET bottles and forms only a small part of the product and contributes to the strength of the fabrics.

The conventional cotton is a less sustainable material due to the use of chemicals. Cotton cultivation also often uses GMO plants, and a lot of pesticides and chemical fertilisers are always needed. This creates a big impact on the soil and ecosystem. Oxious uses cotton that has the OEKO-Tex Standard 100 certificate. This shows that the finished product contains no chemicals and is therefore completely safe.

Finally, Oxious uses a staggering 42% recycled cotton in their products. The brand mainly uses pre-consumer recycled cotton. This means that the cotton comes from production residues that are processed into new yarns. This cotton has the GRS certificate (Global Recycling Standard).

Packaging

Oxious uses paper packagings that are either recyclable or biodegradable.

Water usage & chemicals

To reduce their ecological impact, Oxious does not use dyes in their products. By working with the colours that the recycled material already has, the brand saves water. Moreover, this ensures that far fewer chemicals are used, and that your towel does not contain any chemicals either! Want to know more about the impact of dyeing textiles? Read our blog here.

Circular product design 

Because Oxious’ cloths and towels are made of a material blend, i.e. cotton and polyester, it is more difficult to recycle them. However, the polyester is needed to ensure the strength and quality of the fabrics, the brand is looking for alternative materials to replace the recycled polyester in the future. This would, in fact, facilitate the recycling process.

Oxious does work circularly as the brand uses recycled cotton in their products. This cotton comes from production waste from Turkish textile manufacturers. These scraps are sorted by colour so Oxious can make new yarn from it, without having to dye it!

Moreover, Oxious collects their own production waste to be recycled by social design studios such as Talentfabriek 010 and Ressies Redesign. These organizations create new products with the fabric donated by Oxious. This production waste contains scraps or cloths that are not suitable for sale due to a weaving defect. This way, the fabrics are prevented from ending up in landfills.

Circular business models 

Oxious does not explicitly mention having a take-back service for used or worn products aimed at recycling or secondhand sale. However, their Oxious Talent Factory processes and repairs residual textile flows, suggesting some level of circularity and re-use within their operations.

Oxious chooses 100% recycled materials even as their packaging material.

Distance & complexity of the supply chain 

• Turkey
• HQ is located in the Netherlands.

Oxious’ supply chain is fairly short. The brand’s design studio is based in the Netherlands and their production facility is in Turkey. Because Oxious established their own production workshop, no intermediaries are needed here either. This limits the number of suppliers and improves the brand’s influence on their production chain. Further suppliers are also largely located in Turkey.

Transportation

To reduce CO2 emissions from transportation, Oxious does not use air transport. 

The brand works with the non-profit organisation Trees for all to plant trees as compensation or carbon offsetting.

Oxious does not use any materials of animal origin in their products. 

Product design 

Oxious designs elegant and luxurious bath towels, kitchen towels, scarves and hammam towels. The hand-woven cloths are available in different colours and always contain unique patterns.

Oxious uses high-quality materials to ensure you can use the towels for a long time. Moreover, the design is timeless and multifunctional, it can serve as an elegant wrap, beach towel and bath towel.

Slow fashion processes 

Oxious does not operate on a traditional seasonal collection model. Instead, they seem to focus on a steady collection to which designs are gradually added over time.

Transparency on product 

On the website costumer can find information about the material and applicable certificates. 

Transparency on processes 

Oxious provides a lot of information about their production workshop in Turkey. In addition, the brand shared to COSH! Information about the materials used and the suppliers. This ensures they’re a very transparent brand!