sustainability
Pepita’s vision is to become increasingly sustainable and socially
responsible every day in everything she does, including design,
production, branding,
packaging and shipping.
DURABLE DESIGN & PRODUCTS
Pepita makes very high quality products meant to last for many many years.
Kids will very likely outgrow their HoBe pants, swimsuits and Poncho Towels long
before their colors start to fade. Finding second and third lives for your Pepita&Me
clothes reduces the amount of fabric that ends up in landfills. Pepita encourages
kids to pass on their garments to other kids once they have outgrown them. It will give everyone a happy feeling inside and contribute to a more
sustainable world.
We make our own prints and design in a way that transcends fashion trends…
literally, the stories, concepts and characters you’ll find in Pepita&Me garments have been and will continue to be part of our collective imagination for decades to come.
Another way of saying this is: Unicorns will never fall out of fashion! Lions will
forever inspire us to be brave!
REDUCE–REUSE–RECYCLE
CHOOSE FABRICS MADE WITH RECYCLED FIBERS.
Swimsuits are ususally
made with synthetic fabrics so they don’t stretch out when wet. In this case, a good
option is to use fabrics made with recycled materials (from fishing nets or plastic
water bottles for example).
Lucky for you, there’s plenty to choose from with that criteria!; these are still
stretchy and comfortable but generate much less non-biodegradable microfibers
when washed. Pepita has already started making swimsuits with fabrics made from
recycled plastic bottles and wants to reach 100% of its swimsuit production from
sustainable fabrics in 2021!
REDUCE TEXTILE WASTE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
After cutting the pieces of fabric
that will make up your swimsuits or pants, there is always some leftover fabric.
Pepita uses leftover fabric to create products like scrunchies, and bags, reducing the
amount of textile waste ending up in landfills.
REUSE MATERIALS:
Another way Pepita has found to reduce waste, is to reuse the
paper that is left over from imprinting fabrics, as wrapping paper to protect clothes
when shipping them to you. Let’s be always on the lookout for more ideas on how
to minimize waste!
HERE-DAR
DONATE YOUR CLOTHES. With Pepita’s HERE-DAR campaign, she invites you
to donate your garment once you no longer have a use for it, to someone who will
enjoy it. You will see that Pepita&Me products are very durable and high quality so
you can use them until they don´t fit anymore and then give them to someone else
who will love them as much as you did.
If you want to, send Pepita the garments you want to donate and she will send them
to a #HappyPepita that needs them. Pepita works with different foundations that can find #FearlessDreamers who will be thrilled to continue the
story where you left it and write new chapters for it.
PRODUCE LOCALLY
DEVELOP YOUR SUPPLIERS. Pepita does not source production to overseas clothing manufacturers. Instead, she supports local women-owned and women-run businesses by working really close with them to develop new products, improve quality and efficiency and become increasingly sustainable. Pepita has a direct and close business relationship with her seamstresses and if Pepita&Me does well, so do these talented women. USE A LOT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY. Pepita produces everything in Colombia, where 85% of energy used for production and manufacturing comes from renewable sources.
INSTRUCTIONS NOT TO LAUNDRY YOUR CLOTHES
MICROFIBERS CAN END UP IN THE OCEAN. Swimsuits are usually made with synthetic or semi-synthetic fabrics like nylon or polyester. When we wash a synthetic garment, especially if we use the washing machine, microfibers are released into the water, and can make their way into our oceans. The problem with these plastic fibers is that they are not biodegradable and can travel up the food chain Pepita’s recommendation is: DO NOT MACHINE WASH YOUR SWIMSUITS, just like that, you heard it. HAND WASH WITH CARE. Your swimsuit does not need to go to the washer and will last longer and look nicer if you wash it by hand with the same soap you use when taking a shower. Just because there is a little stain or tear does not mean you have to throw away your favorite swimsuit! You can remove small stains with natural basics from your kitchen, such as white vinegar, or baking soda. You can also mend your clothes and keep enjoying them until they don’t fit anymore.
BUY WISELY.
When you buy a piece of clothing you are supporting the person or company that produced it for you; in a way you are telling them to keep doing what they are doing. So you want to make sure they are doing it responsibly and with care for people and the planet. Let brands know if you think they are using excessive packaging, ask them to increase the amount of recycled fabrics in their production, make sure they are producing in countries with strong workers protections and where renewable energy is widely available, make your voice heard.
