OUR MISSION

 

One of the biggest ways we can help protect the environment is by producing less.

In 2020 we changed how we worked and became a direct to customer service. This has enabled us to produce in relation to demand rather than be driven by retail seasonality. This simple, yet integral change significantly reduces waste that is often caused by over-production. It also provides us the opportunity to better monitor every stage of the production process and from this viewpoint, we can identify further ways to help lessen our impact.

All of our collections are produced within limited-production runs and any further runs are driven by pre-order demand. Limited runs adhere to two of Tabula Rasa’s core priorities: a dedication to the highest-quality of craftsmanship and a promise to keep waste to an absolute minimum.

Making textiles by hand demands time. We firmly believe that giving time to the full production process establishes more conscious and sustainable working practices that result in producing exquisitely-made pieces that are built to last.

We recognize we are at the start of our journey. There is much more we can and will do as we continue to learn and develop. Throughout our journey we welcome your feedback and look forward to sharing more with you soon.

 

 

Solely dedicated to knitwear, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of the craft and the highest quality of materials to inform both our making process and creativity. The small, but crucial steps we have taken with our yarns come together to help create a collective step towards textile circularity – a key priority of which is to increase the life span of any product, including looking for ways to continually reuse and recycle.

Leftovers. Any useable leftover yarns are collected and carefully stored, these yarns directly feed into our new designs. Whilst this ensures unused cuts from previous collections are not thrown away, it also steers our future production quantities helping to further limit waste.

Traceable. Any new yarn we source is recycled or certified organic and from fully traceable sources. This means that for every yarn we purchase we know the exact route it has taken to reach us.

Upcycling. None of our previous inventories go to waste; we see unsold items as an opportunity for pure creativity. Inspired by all types of textile craft our upcycled range reinvents previous styles into limited editions and true one-of-a-kind items.

Trade-in. For any Tabula Rasa products that have reached the end of their cycle for you we encourage you to continue their journey by sending them back to us in exchange for $30 store credit. Please email us at info@tabularasa-ny.com to start your exchange.

Recycling. While we take great care to use all of our materials there are occasions where stock becomes unusable, but it can have a new life in another recycled form. We partner with textile recycling specialists Marimole to help ensure our waste does not go to waste. Marimole works with its clients and customers to find solutions that increase textile circularity and promote closed loop practices.

We actively consider the impact of all our product journeys, making sure that wherever possible our yarns and factories are within the same country to help reduce unnecessary travel. On the occasions where we are required to transport internationally we consider this fully and make a contribution through approved carbon offsetting programs. It is an area of our operations within which we are actively seeking new developments and setting ambitious targets to keep reducing transportation and improving our processes throughout 2021 and beyond. 

Packaging. We are actively working with our partners to ensure that all our packaging materials are made from recycled materials and are fully recyclable themselves. We are hopeful of fully rolling this packaging out in 2021; included in these plans is a promise to completely phase out the use of plastics.

Our first step has been to ensure all our labels and swing tags are knitted using our own leftover yarns.

Our Partners. We are proud of our established and committed relationships with some of the world’s finest mills and highly-experienced artisans. Selecting our partners with the utmost care and thought, we only partner with trusted companies who are committed to fair work and fair trade policies.

 

10% of our net profits go directly to our charities.

Presently we are contributing to the vital work of Mission Blue who are campaigning to build a global network of marine protected areas.