Zero waste, slow fashion – these are the kind of descriptors the team at Products of Change can really get behind. Throw that in with a dose of highly-skilled creativity and you’ve got yourself a recipe for success.
And that’s exactly what the small but dedicated team at Pajama Pantry have done by looking at the processes involved in the ethical production of clothing through the lens of zero waste – with a touch of the truly artisan approach.
Pajama Pantry’s Zero Waste Patchwork Slippers are just one of a number of entries already submitted to the Gift of the Year Awards’ Ethical and Sustainable Products Category for 2024. They also do exactly what it says on the tin.
Pajama Pantry’s Zero Waste Patchwork Slippers are the result of fabric offcuts and scraps reclaimed from the production process behind the company’s regular clothing collection. And even that has a story of sustainability woven into its very fabrics. It begins with the purchase of a “maximum of 30 meters” of each fabric from a supplier in Jaipur. The fabric is all hand printed onto natural cotton using mostly vegetable dyes. It is also all end of rolls and deadstock.
This fabric is sent to a Fair Trade Women’s Collective in Bangalore, where Pajama Pantry’s PJs, shorts, hats, and nightshirts are cut and sewn. It’s a system that has created work, provided training, support, and a living wage for local women, many of whom have been helped off the streets.
The clothing they produce is then shipped from Bangalore to the UK, but they don’t travel alone. With each consignment are sent all the scraps and offcuts from the fabrics used. According to the company, ‘every last piece’ is used ‘in the most inventive ways imaginable’ – and in this case in the production of a collection of Zero Waste Patchwork Slippers, all hand stitched by the company’s second sewing team in Scotland and submitted for this year’s Gift of the Year Award.
Having extended its deadline for entries until December 8, the Gift of the Year Awards are calling out for brands to enter its Ethical and Sustainable Product category for 2024, having assembled a panel of expert judges with in-depth knowledge of sustainability practices in retail to whittle down the entrants into a short list, then finally to join the process of selecting a winner.
“In the modern world, consumers are more conscious than ever about the environmental and ethical impact of their purchases,” said Chris Workman, marketing and PR manager at the Gift Association. “They seek out products that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also aligned with their values.
“Gift of the Year recognises the importance of these values and encourages brands to participate, fostering an environment that champions ethics and sustainability, giving a chance for your brand to shine as well as sharing your all-important story or sustainable journey.”
Alongside the Pajama Pantry Zero Waste Slippers, entrants for the 2024 category so far also include Wildlife World’s Fair Trade Artisan Bird Nesters handwoven and hand stitched from recycled saris and natural seagrass by women in Southern Bangladesh; a DIY Bee Hotel Kit produced by Beevive Ltd using sustainably sourced panguaneta poplar wood and designed to be posted through your letterbox and constructed at home; and Willsow’s first leap into licensing with its Shaun the Sheep Plantable Children’s Book in partnership with Aardman.
“The Gift of the Year competition, much like the home and gift industry, is evolving to reflect the shifting values and priorities of consumers,” said Chris. “If you’re committed to making a positive impact on the world through your products, don’t miss the chance to be part of the Gift of the Year competition and celebrate your brand’s dedication to sustainability.
