From Sheep to Shop: How We Made Blazer Nº1
Clothing isn’t made by robots in a lab.
It’s part science, part art, and almost entirely dependent upon people like us. Agile human hands and resourceful minds keep the process running smoothly, across international borders, with minimal waste and optimal integrity.
We’ll use the production process for our Blazer №1 to take you on this colorful journey – from sheep to shop.
Stage 1: Fiber Farming
Australia | Ross, Tasmania
Our designs aim to celebrate the natural world, from design to delivery.
The production process for Blazer N°1 begins with the friendly Beaufront sheep farm in Tasmania. 25,000 sheep roam freely on the grounds, producing over 180 tons of fine merino wool each year.
The main ingredient of Blazer N°1? 100% cruelty-free, traceable wool. No synthetics, no blends, no harm, no secrets.
Highest levels of animal welfare for wool production are applied. A professional shearing team is employed to certify all wool is harvested in an ethical manner, ensuring the sheep are handled in a stress-free environment.
Stress free! When can we move in?
Meet Julian and the von Bibra family
Stages 2 + 3: Yarn + Fabric Preparation
Europe | Biella, Italy
One-third of Beaufront’s top-cut wool, which at 60 tons produces about a quarter of a million garments, is sent to the revered Tollegno family mill in historic Biella, Italy each year.
“The best wool spinners in the world are in Italy,” Peter Betros of Texyarns told Country Road. Texyarns handles the journey of the Beaufront wool to Italy and then onto the manufacturers (such as VICENZI) around the world.
What’s the secret? Aside from a fine appreciation for craftsmanship, H2O. The water the Italians use is very pure and it’s used in both the treatment and handling of the wool and the dyeing process. It’s used to produce the softest, finest garments.
The same way New Yorkers know the tastiest bagels and pizza in the world come from our fine water source, Italians and everyone in the luxury apparel industry knows the purest water, running from the Italian Alps, produces the softest garments.
- Worldwide Garment Production in 2017, by Fiber Type:
- 64% Synthetics (polyester)
- 24% Cotton
- 6% Natural Fibers (linen, wool, hemp)
- 6% Cellulosic (viscose)
Stage 4: Dyeing + Finishing
Europe | Biella, Italy
This stage covers the bleaching and dyeing of fabric as well as fabric finishing. Dyeing is most energy intensive stage with high energy demand due to wet processes which require large amounts of heated water.
Our partner mill focuses on sustainability and longevity while minimizing water and energy waste:
- Produces its energy through ahydroelectric plant and the use of two photovoltaic panels systems (better utilization of natural light)
- High-level investments in technology to minimize power consumption in machinery
- Purifies the water used for dyeing with a sewage treatment plant for which the resulting purified water is listed in “Table A” for safe consumption in the local community
Stage 5: Assembly
United States | New York, NY
All the raw materials are sampled, collected and shared with our factory in Manhattan’s Garment District. We visited and prototyped with numerous local factories and chose our partners for their commitment to quality assurance, their experience in tailored garments, and their roster of respected past and current clients in fashion and technical apparel.
Cutting takes place in the Garment District, just a few blocks away. Scrap fabric is swept off the floor and saved for use in community art and design projects, as well as special collaborations with visionary designers like zero waste daniel (see below).
Sewing and finishing of the garments takes place back in the factory. Sew is done by a husband and wife team, button application is by a team of handy women, and pressing is done by a fine gentleman with a water-saving steamer. The three factory owners (all related) oversee this entire process from the initial project scope, to quality assurance, through to loading on the van for warehousing. They even text us along the way for quality assurance and real-time problem solving.
We save every single scrap for reuse in packaging, special projects and workshops. We’re proud to partner with non-profit textile recycler FABSCRAP and community repair and remaking center ReMade in Brooklyn to help achieve 0x30 in NYC – zero waste to landfill by 2030.
Stage 6: Distribution
We sell directly to clients through pop-up shops, our e-store, and events. Our Blazer №1 is available exclusively at The Canvas in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and on Bowery Ave. in Manhattan. We partnered with peer-to-peer rental app Wardrobe so you can borrow Blazer №1 for any length of time, anywhere in the United States.
If you are interested in placing a wholesale purchase order (12 units or more), or becoming a selected retail or e-commerce stockist in the future, please contact us.
Stage 7: End of Life
We are proud to offer a guaranteed buyback to resell your garments and give you credits towards new items. Learn more.
Summary
Our designs aim to celebrate the natural world.
This means creating the most durable, beautiful garments with minimal amount of harm. This means quality, attention to detail, and conservation efforts bordering on obsessive. This means fair treatment and respect for all human and living things we encounter.
We strive to support family businesses!
VICENZI is a first-generation family brand, so to bring our ideas to life we strive extra hard to work with and learn from those who’ve been around the block many times over. Many of our partners have passed down skills and craftsmanship for three or four generations. Working directly with the owners and visiting sites frequently helps us maintain clear communication and quality control over your beloved garments.
Designs, projects, ideas ©VICENZI 