our promise
Here at Silou, we are committed to creating premium clothing that moves with you through all of life's moments, both big and small. We want our pieces to be adored, inspire movement and stand the test of time—through this season, the next and all of those to follow.
We vow to create elevated active essentials that are both premium and sustainable, not either-or. We aim to create pieces that stand the test of time and transcend seasons, and that prove fashion should not cost the earth. We ensure that every touchpoint from conception to distribution is respected and cared for. We promise to never lose sight of this. We promise to be curious, to challenge traditional practices when they don’t align with our values, our present and our future. We would love to guarantee that we will be 100% sustainable by a given date, but to say that is to promise an illusion. What is sustainable now may not be sustainable tomorrow. We promise to keep striving to create a better world.
OUR practice
We approach each of our business decisions with time, care and consideration. Understanding the choices we make now, will impact future generations socially, economically and environmentally. It's a challenge, especially for a small brand, but one we are 100% committed to. We challenge traditional industry practices that we believe are outdated and created for a time passed, rather than our own and the one to come. We are here to make a difference but are aware that we can’t do this on our own. We need help from our supply chain to logistic partners and to you, our customers, who encourage us each step of the way.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY
We strive to be 100% accountable for our sustainable measures—starting with product creation and production, to how our products are packaged and shipped all around the world. Sustainability has become a tool for design innovation and has encouraged clothing to be more than simply beautiful. We want you to feel empowered when you choose to purchase Silou, and know that it is both socially and environmentally conscious.
We want to bring you, our community, on this journey towards progress over perfection. We are the first to admit that we may not always get it right, but we are committed to learn, act and adapt wherever and whenever possible.
With so many brands and industries adopting more sustainable measures, it can at times feel overwhelming, repetitive and downright confusing. Silou was founded through a need for activewear that is sustainable and luxurious, not either or. It is a part of our brand DNA. We want to transform how fashion is created, consumed and valued — not only through product but also people. Our aim is to be accessible and approachable along the way, to not commodify hard truths and necessary learnings.
We work to create more sustainable options. To seek out new materials and methods that support our environment. We want to add value to our Silou ecosystem and accept this is ever-evolving. Sustainability isn't a checkpoint. There is no final sign-off. It's a process. We are on this journey to learn, grow and adapt. We commit to being fluid with our times and to move with change.
SUSTAINABLE CREDENTIALS
Sustainability is increasingly on our minds, and at Silou we have always aimed to make products of the highest quality. We believe passionately that responsible manufacturing is a true mark of excellence. When you purchase a SILOU-ette, you are not only going to receive a quality item; you are also supporting the ethical production process behind that clothing, something that really is so unique today.
Small Batch Production
Small batch production is a term used to describe a small production run. There’s nothing we hate more than overproduction and that’s why Silou chooses to produce collections with minimal units to prevent fast fashion, landfill and return culture.
Within the production line, quality is planned. With quality control checks taking place throughout the manufacturing process, this ensures that each product is identical and meets all of our specifications.
Made In Europe
We work with skilled makers in Europe that have secure and healthy working conditions with fair pay. Our Silou team is in a unique position of knowing our makers and the people throughout our supply chain. Our production teams that are set across Lithuania, Belarus, Portugal and Italy are secured by our Code of Conduct. Our expert makers have trained for years to create beautiful, high-quality garments. We trace all of our supply chains to the final stage of production and regularly visit suppliers and factories to ensure our standards adhere to the best standards.
Sustainable Mills
One of the greatest problems faced by our modern industrial society is the consumption of non-renewable resources such as coal, gas and oil, which will eventually run out. We choose to work with fabric mills that operate using renewable energy. The mills utilise solar energy to power weaving looms and recycle all waste material, including water.
Our mills are also BSCI approved. The BSCI is a global initiative that supports companies to drive social compliance and improvements within the supply chain.
ECONYL®
Shop our ECONYL® range. Kind to you, kind to our planet, ECONYL® is a regenerated nylon waste from landfills and oceans around the world. It's the same as brand new nylon but it can be recycled, recreated and remoulded again and again. That means you can create new products and buy new products without having to use new resources.
TENCEL™
Discover our TENCEL™ range. TENCEL™ is a high-performance viscose fibre made from 100% regenerated cellulose from trees in managed forests. TENCEL™ is completely biodegradable, can be recycled, has antibacterial properties, is odour-resistant and ideal for sensitive skin, making it the perfect material to work out in.
Better Cotton Initiative
Discover our BCI Cotton range. Cotton farming communities are the reason Better Cotton exists – supporting them is at the heart of BCI's work. While cotton is a renewable resource, its production is vulnerable to damaging practices. As stewards of the Better Cotton Standard System, their focus is on providing training and development opportunities for farmers to adopt more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable production practices. One of the six components of the standard system, the Principles and Criteria or the Better Cotton Standard, is a holistic approach to more sustainable cotton production implemented at field level. Better Cotton Licensed Farmers produce cotton in a way that cares for the environment, minimising the negative effects of fertilisers and pesticides, and caring for water, soil health and natural habitats. Better Cotton Farmers also commit to decent work principles—conditions that support workers’ safety and wellbeing.
Global Organic Textile Standard
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) was developed by leading standard setters to define world-wide recognised requirements for organic textiles. From the harvesting of the raw materials, to environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing, and to labelling, textiles certified to GOTS provide a credible assurance to the consumer.
OEKO-TEX®
Every SILOU-ette is approved by OEKO-TEX®. This means you can be certain that every component of each SILOU-ette, i.e. every thread, button, etc, has been tested for harmful substances, and that the article, therefore, is harmless for human health. The test is conducted by our independent OEKO-TEX® partner institutes on the basis of our extensive OEKO-TEX® criteria catalog. The test takes into account numerous regulated and non-regulated substances, which may be harmful to human health. In many cases the limit values for the STANDARD 100 go beyond national and international requirements. The criteria catalog is updated at least once a year and expanded with new scientific knowledge or statutory requirements. It is not easy for manufacturers and customers to keep an overview of the legal situation concerning harmful substances every day. The experts from OEKO-TEX® institutes do this for you.
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