Meet The Business - Cotton & Push
Sunday, June 07, 2020
Fashion is one of the most polluting industries, with over 5% of landfill waste being textiles. Not only that, but there is 23 kg of greenhouse gases released per kilo of fabric made, wastewater issues, chemical treatments and many more issues with the fashion industry. Cotton & Push aim to reduce the amount of environmental damage with their cotton clothing. Can we save the planet from fashion?
Could you tell me a bit about yourself and your business?
Cotton & Push is a business I started conceptualising back in 2014. Initially, the idea was born out of necessity, like most ideas. All my life, I have struggled with skin conditions so, I made it my mission to make skin-friendly bras for women. Through sampling the first garments, we scrapped any synthetics, we had initially envisioned for the bras and briefs and sought to find eco-friendly alternatives instead. At first, it was just the INSIDE of the bra cup we wanted to wrap in cotton. We quickly changed our tune with the fight against plastic and the overall importance of sustainability in design.
Why did you decide to start making eco-friendly underwear?
Our initial designs were very different from the items that we have ended up with. They were based on synthetic silks, stretchy laces and shiny polyesters, like most commercial bras are. When looking at premium organic cotton to line the cups with, it made no sense to us to still include the synthetic fabric options.
One afternoon when I was ill, I was watching a documentary called “The True Cost”. It was about the reality of the fast fashion industry and the toll it takes on humans in its supply chain and on the earth. One of the things that stuck out to me the most was the sheer amount of non-biodegradable fabric that was used in most of the clothing, such as nylon, rayon, polyester and acrylic. These fabrics take roughly as long as plastic to break down, around 400 years or more. Organic cotton, however, and organic bamboo (both plant-based fabrics grown without pesticides or dyes) can break down naturally in the right conditions and are cultivated without bringing disease or financial damage to their communities.
What makes your garments special from others out there?
It may sound conceited, but our garments have all been completely put together by ourselves over many years. We have lovingly sourced 100% ethical, vegan fabrics and accessories for them, and watched over the manufacturing from start to finish (all UK based).
Many companies greenwash their products. In fact, one of our biggest competitors greenwash very heavily, and we don’t do that. It is against the companies’ principles and our own personal ethics. We want transparency. For example, one element of our bras that has recently changed to make them more eco-friendly is the plastic sliders. We’ve replaced our previously used plastic ones with ones made from 100% bamboo. Yes, we still purchased and used plastic there, and it was for a reason, but we wanted that to change. It wasn’t “us.” Plastic isn’t Cotton and Push. We love the earth, and we believe in doing things to the highest standard. We also acknowledge that, as a company, we can always improve, not just in the experience we provide to our customers. We can improve in the range of garments we provide from making our bras better for the earth to making them more comfortable and rock-able to our customers.
What is your favourite product and why?
Personally, I’m a big fan of our Narcissus set; a wired bra with bamboo silk cup, paired with either a brief or thong. It’s translucent but not transparent, striped but not garish, wired but not too structured. It’s my favourite LBB, Little Black Bra. I must admit, it was the only item I cheekily kept for myself when I received the first finished collection.
Do you plan on extending your range one day?
We have BIG plans to expand. We will be looking at creating some gorgeous organic cotton waffle robes, men’s underwear and probably some gender-neutral loungewear and clothing. Before any of that, though, we will be making bras in larger sizes. When we first started manufacturing our garments, we were faced with the issues of limitations in terms of how many sizes we could produce. We had a budget and with 24 sizes to make already, we haven’t been able to exceed a DD/E cup. With further funding and further testing, we will soon be able to make larger cups to accommodate and support larger busts. After all, we’re not all size A’s.
What is your favourite part about working for Cotton & Push?
Being at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to fashion and its responsibility for helping create a better world.
Why is it important for people to only wear cotton garments?
People forget that the skin is the largest organ of your body and that it needs to BREATHE. Natural and biodegradable fabrics like cotton or bamboo, hemp or linen let your body breathe through them, instead of trapping sweat like polyester or other synthetic fabrics. Plus, synthetic fabrics often tend to irritate those with more sensitive skin, like myself!
What challenges has your business faced?
Oh Gosh, everything! Well maybe not everything, but a lot of unexpected difficulties. Truth is, when it comes to starting a business, you can read lots of books and complete lots of courses, but the REAL learning comes from just DOING it. Until you DO, you won’t make mistakes. Until you can make mistakes, you can’t learn and grow. We have faced our idea being rejected by panels, running out of money, manoeuvring disagreements with vendors, and more!
Is there anything you’re working towards?
We are working on expanding our range, of course! We want to be a prominent voice in the battle against fast fashion. By being rigorous and not settling when it comes to our choice of fabric, manufacturer, we can set a standard for others to follow. We must ensure that only responsibly grown materials are used to make clothing and that the clothing is made by well-compensated individuals.
If you could have one wish, what would it be?
That’s easy – I would wish for all the animals in the world to be free.
Could sum Cotton and Push in 5 words?
Transparent, Imperfect, Sustainable, Empowering, Ethical
Did you have anything you'd like to tell the world?
Cotton & Push would love to wish ‘Love, Em’ all the success and we would love to watch the venture flourish!
I would like to thank Cotton & Push for this amazing interview! I hope that some people begin to make a switch to a more sustainable lifestyle. I am by no means perfect, but Cotton & Push make switching to sustainable clothing a bit easier! They offer a range of different underwear and sleepwear, with more being added soon! Are you cutting out fast fashion? I'd love to know what businesses you've been supporting!
24 comments
This is so informative. I didn't realise that a lot of fabrics aren't that great at being biodegradable. It has definitley made me aware of what fabrics to look into using, either buying as clothing, or as fabric to make something on my sewing machine!
ReplyDeleteAnother great meet the business post!
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
Thank you for reading! It is crazy to see what goes into clothing and actually how polluting it is. I have read (And linked above) one of the statistics pages I was reading and it is scary to see 95% of the chemicals we use go into clothing! I am glad to spread awareness :)
DeleteEm x
Great post! I love the style of this post and it is very interesting! I am going to have a look at this brand!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see more of these eco friendly companies springing up
ReplyDeleteWow, this company sounds incredible! I've seen a lot about eco-friendly clothing companies but never that much about underwear. This is great to see, definitely going to check them out x
ReplyDeleteSophie
www.glowsteady.co.uk
What an interesting read! It's definitely promising to see more and more sustainable brands setting up and people beginning to turn away from fast fashion; at the end of the day, it's not good for the environment, it's not good for your body and often, the garments don't hug your body as they're supposed to!
ReplyDeleteGabija | EveryLittleThing Blog
I agree, I think it is not only important to shed light on these businesses but to support them. Sustainability is the way forward!
DeleteEm x
This is such an interesting post with some great info that I never even realised! Definitely going to be looking into them!
ReplyDeleteTash - www.agirlwithview.co.uk
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOooh! Love that these undergarments are eco-friendly. It is so important that we try to be sustainable where we can. Thanks for sharing some insights!
ReplyDeleteNancy ♥ exquisitely.me
This is actually such an informative post thank you for sharing! I love the concept of it I will deffo be looking into this brand further!
ReplyDeleteAmber - The Unpredicted Page
I love this because I've been dying to become more eco friendly, this interview style is great. Thankyou for sharing x
ReplyDeleteThis was such an interesting read! I do make sure whenever I buy underwear that at least the lining of the underwear that sits so closely to our privates is made of 100% cotton. I've had underwear that wasn't and it made me uncomfortable and it does trap sweat and such in it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading, I think that it is important to buy cotton for so many reasons!
DeleteEm x
I love investing in sustainable clothing but I hadn't really thought about underwear! This was so interesting to read x
ReplyDeleteThank you for this! I started shopping sustainably for clothes at the beginning of this year and have cut out fast fashion entirely but underwear is something I've been struggling with so I am BOOKMARKING the heck out of them! x
ReplyDeleteJenny
http://www.jennyinneverland.com
I think it is so eye opening to see all these sustainable brands! Thank you for reading. I agree, underwear is something that can be so difficult to find anyway, let alone ones that are eco-friendly!
DeleteEm x
This was such an interesting interview, thanks so much for sharing this! Those stats are absolutely alarming and I am all for natural ingredients and slow fashion. I need to check out this company!
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to read and comment!
DeleteEm x
Last year I switched to being more sustainable and I have been buying from thrift stores & resellers, repairing my clothes if they get a tear, donating my old clothes, etc., but I have not been able to find sustainable underwear & Cotton & Push definitely sounds like a wonderful brand & I'll for sure be checking them out!
ReplyDeleteThat's good - there are so many ways to buy sustainable or at least better for the environment. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment!
DeleteEm x
Love this post will be following them on socials and looking to buy some products. Trying to do all I can do stop buying fast fashion. X
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing - good luck on your journey! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment!
DeleteEm x
This post is so informative
ReplyDeleteWe're already late in moving towards sustainability and eco-friendly products....
But it's not too late.... Every one must realise the importance of eco-friendly products and must support them....
Thank you for sharing this post ��
JENISH | https://knowafactfromj.blogspot.com