Barnett

Socially Responsible ∙ Eco-Friendly ∙ Made in the USA ∙ Organic

Our mission is to provide beautiful and sustainable clothing that is good for the wearer and the environment by using sustainable business practices and to provide and encourage healthy, safe, and prosperous working conditions for everyone involved in the process.

Sassis believes in sustainability and truly being responsible for the environmental impact of our products.   We create consciously, making intentional choices that are Socially Responsible and Eco-Friendly.

Socially Responsible means that we understand that we have an impact on the society we do business in, and we are committed to having a positive impact.   We do not use any unfair labor nor do we tolerate unsafe or unhealthy working conditions. We respect the work of the people involved throughout every step of production from farm to showroom floor. Nearly all of the raw materials and supplies we use are manufactured in America and Sassis is proud to support Fair Trade commerce by only using imported goods sparingly and when they are produced in safe work environments by workers paid fair wages.

Eco-Friendly practices ensure a reduced strain on the environment.  Our studio works in a sustainable way by reducing consumption and waste. We recycle, support recycling programs, and use recycled products. Our design studio actively conserves water and electricity, and uses recycled paper products wherever digital alternatives are impractical. While our current items are made from organic fibers, we believe in making use of what is already available in order to further reduce our impact, so we are working with various recycled fabrics (both natural and synthetic) to be used in future pieces. We also minimize shipping waste by reusing sturdy boxes and packing, wrapping garments together rather than individually, and encouraging our customers to reuse packing materials our products arrive in.

Made in the USA means that the design and manufacturing processes of Sassis all take place in the USA.  This supports the domestic economy and the American labor force. We are also able to personally monitor production for quality control and over see working conditions.  Manufacturing domesticly also reduces emissions related to freight.  More than quality control and American jobs, American manufacturing does have some ecological benifits as the US has laws and regulations in place that keep emissions and polution in check.  No country is perfect, and there is always room for improvement, but  in this regard the US is head and shoulders above the countries where most imported manufacturing takes place.

Organic fibers make up our entire current product line – down to the thread and labels.  Our commitment to organic is not simply for the trend of being green, but for the benefit of the cotton farmers and the populations surrounding the farms. The chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides used in growing conventional cotton crops can lead to various cancers and other diseases in the people who work the land, and they can run off into the ground water and impact the surrounding populations.

Organic farming uses compost rather than chemical fertilizer. Insect pests are managed using other predatory insects, and weeding machines are used instead of herbicides. This makes for healthier workers, cleaner water, and less irritating clothing for the wearer.