For us, high quality equals sustainability. We aim to produce long-lasting garments and to minimize negative environmental and social impact while doing so. We believe that the first step to a more sustainable clothing industry is to promote durable and timeless products.
Our high-quality cotton fibres and unique finishing create timeless, durable and long-lasting products.
Having control of our supply chain is a key. We focus on long-term relationships with a few partners and never compromise on fair labour conditions.
We see sustainability as a driver to improve our business. We explore materials with less environmental impact and help our consumer to prolong the life of their shirts.
We are committed to constantly improve and refine our products and production. Being a product specialist, we need to be innovative in every little detail in order to keep adding a sense of novelty and originality. The only way to do so is by controlling every step of the process - from choosing the best cotton fibres to using the exact right sewing technique.
Sustainable design is about creating long-lasting products in a way that minimises negative environmental and social impact. There is no room for shortcuts. Only work with the very best suppliers and always use the highest quality cotton available - spun, woven and finished in the best way possible. It all starts with the design phase. It's when we choose the fit, material, colour, prints and trims that we can make those key sustainable choices that allow for environmental improvements throughout the entire value chain. Finding sustainable materials of high quality is challenging, but we will always do our utmost to secure the best quality materials with the lowest environmental impact.
Cotton is a durable fiber with incredible natural performance. It is soft to wear against your body and has excellent breathability. From an environmental perspective cotton is more complex since it requires a lot of water. We treat cotton as a precious fiber and include it in our carefully produced and long lasting garments. We constantly encourage our customers to care for their shirts in the best possible way to increase the life length of their shirts.
From where do you source your cotton?
We mainly use cotton from Egypt and the US. We exclusively use extra long staple cotton (ELS), which is characterized by its extra fine and long fibers, resulting in durable yarns and elegant shirt fabrics.
Do you use any organic cotton?
No, because organic cotton available today is mainly of short staple quality, which doesn’t reach the quality standard of an Eton shirt. We are testing sustainable alternatives to cotton, such as Lyocell on an ongoing basis and we hope that we are able to integrate this into part of our production in the near future.
Animal fibres are mainly used in the production of our accessories. At Eton, we support animal rights and work to ensure that the rights of animals are respected in all our production processes throughout the entire value chain.
As a product specialist, we can monitor every stage of the production process in order to guarantee the superior performance for which Eton is known.
How do you monitor your shirt production?
We work closely with our suppliers and conduct weekly visits to guarantee the highest possible quality. All our suppliers are required to sign our code of conduct and code of ethics, which regulate the working conditions at each supplier. We perform regular controls, both in-house and external audits from independent third party organisations.
Eton’s unique process of designing and producing our own fabrics differentiates us from other shirt brands. We work with high- quality weaving mills, mainly located in Italy and Switzerland, to actively select fabrics and weaving techniques.
When it was first introduced in 1992, Eton’s proprietary finishing process to make fabrics permanently crease resistant was the first in the world to be used in shirt making. This signature crease resistant process is a unique recipe that we have deve- loped in collaboration with leading specialists in this field.
Ties and scarves are made in Scotland and Italy from premium merino wool, silk or cotton. Pocket squares are made in Italy in collaboration with the finest weavers and printers in the world. Our jewellery is made in England.
Do you work with any Eco-labelling?
These high-quality finishing suppliers are certified by Sustainable Textile Production (STeP) by OEKO- TEX® with the highest result level (3). STeP is an independent system for certification of sustainable manu- facturing processes in the textile indu- stry, addressing the areas of chemicals management, environmental perfor- mance, environmental management, health and safety, social responsibility and quality management. In addition to STeP, all our weavers and f inishing partners are certif ied by OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, which tests textiles for harmful chemicals.
By using high quality raw materials and premium finishing processes, we create durable, timeless products that consumers can use for a long time. This quality and craftsmanship trans- lates into style and comfort for our customers to enjoy, but it is also a more sustainable, less wasteful approach to fashion. When garments last a long time, there is less need for consu- mers to quickly dispose of them to buy new.
By caring for your shirt in the right way, you not only increase its life length, but also decrease its negative impact on the environment.