Sustainability

Transparency is the basis for a more sustainable future, and we want to set an example in this. That is why we take it for granted to be open about our suppliers. We choose our partners with care, based on their quality, reliability and commitment to sustainability. Here is an overview of our suppliers and why we chose them:

Honesty is a fundamental value at Atelier Noterman. We believe it is important to be open and clear about the way we work and the choices we make. By integrating honesty into every aspect of our work, we aim to build trust and make a positive impact on people and the environment. For us, honesty is not just a principle, but a daily practice.

Sustainability is central to our way of working. From carefully selecting high-quality, durable materials to designing products that last longer. Our ambition is to minimize waste and maximize the reuse of products and materials. We contribute to a fashion industry that remains innovative in design, materials, and colors while also taking responsibility. A (fashion) world where sustainability and quality go hand in hand.

As a first step in the circular economy, Atelier Noterman is launching the Birng Back System from January 2025. Atelier Noterman wants to learn how the market reacts and what motivates end consumers to participate in sustainability and circularity. Atelier Noterman is keen to learn from the state and number of returned trousers. 

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You are important to us! As this diagram shows, we can only move towards a circular economy if YOU participate too! Without you no returned trousers, without your cooperation our trousers remain waste. And we want to counteract that.

We have set up a pilot with the shops below. In other words, you can bring in your discarded Atelier Noterman trousers and in exchange you will receive a €10 voucher. You can use this voucher for your next purchase of Atelier Noterman trousers.

Transparent communication is the first requirement for a sustainable, fair, and circular economy. Atelier Noterman is taking the lead in this. Sustainability is an all-encompassing story of people and the environment. We prioritize people first, followed by nature, the environment, and the climate. What do we mean by that? Treating people with respect is a given, and that also means fair wages. A pat on the back is certainly nice and necessary in a work environment, but bills ultimately need to be paid. A good wage is more than a subsistence wage—it should cover more than just basic needs and also allow for some leisure activities.

That is why we have published the wages of the Portuguese employees (seamstresses and staff) of Green Dolphin on our website. Green Dolphin is the workshop where almost all Atelier Noterman trousers are made. This is not our own workshop, and these seamstresses are not on our payroll, but we choose to work with a workshop where we are 100% sure that the working conditions and wages are fair. And at Green Dolphin, they absolutely are! We have a very personal relationship with the owner, Miguel Fonseca, and we know that he upholds the same values in business and life.

A crucial aspect of this approach is that when people are paid fairly, they have the ability to consider more "climate-friendly" products. A subsistence wage means that when purchasing a product, the origin and impact of that product cannot be considered—only the price matters.

Ongoing climate change makes it clear that the industry must change. The linear economy, which relies on fossil fuels, is ultimately detrimental to nature, the environment, and the climate. By continuously using new raw materials, we deplete our resources and reduce biodiversity. Extracting raw materials also involves environmentally harmful (use of chemicals) and socially unjust (unacceptable working conditions) practices and requires large amounts of energy, whether renewable or not.

The fewer harmful techniques we use and the more renewable energy we rely on, the better. In fact, eliminating harmful techniques altogether should be the goal! Atelier Noterman recognizes that we must reuse raw materials, avoid chemicals, and eliminate CO2 emissions. We are far from achieving this.

What are our main focus areas?
We purchase environmentally friendly fabrics and accessories, such as denim from Candiani and recycled polyester labels. Our jeans are washed using ozone technology (simulating sunlight), which significantly reduces chemicals and water consumption (see list published on our website). By sourcing primarily European fabrics and accessories, producing in Portugal, and selling our trousers mainly in Belgium and the Netherlands, we keep transport emissions as low as possible.

Circularity remains the biggest challenge.
See: Bring Back Action – product sorting – disassembly – material sorting – recycled material.

Can we adapt our design to make trousers easier to dismantle? Can we use materials that are easier to reuse?

At the moment, it is very difficult to assess what future techniques will make possible on an industrial scale. Right now, they are all (subsidised) pilot projects at lab or small scale, mainly driven by large fashion companies. We are a small player who cannot set the rules of the game, we have to follow what becomes technically possible. Still, we will be among the first to apply whatever becomes possible in terms of circularity.

What can we realistically improve in the short term when it comes to circularity? Monitoring cutting waste and involving our Portuguese partner in our circularity story. Limiting surpluses in fabrics and accessories. Handling the remaining leftovers more consciously: no resellers, but donating to a good cause or selling at a fair price instead. When we sell second-choice trousers, half of the proceeds go to a good cause. Our repair test wasn't viable…

If everyone in our industry is honest, we know we are still far from a circular economy, and in my opinion, fashion needs to move away from the idea that 100% circularity will be possible in the near future (10-20 years). Why? Because 100% means that every button, every zipper, every piece of thread, all woven labels, all hangtags, every piece of fabric, every piece of lining, and even all "new" garments made from old garments, would need to be brought back into the raw materials chain in a controlled way (so not incinerated). Circularity is still mainly focused on mono materials, while the vast majority of fashion is not made from a single material. Assuming 100% circularity right now means closing our eyes to (economic) reality. At Atelier Noterman, we are ambitious on every level, but we also want to be realistic and honest.