Here at Noir Velocity we strive to make Performance Lifewear products. Our aim is to create apparel with the qualities Her Majesty has always supported:
Durability – with care and love, they can be worn for many years
Functionality – our base layers are ultra fine and lightweight, yet designed to be keep you warm or cool without compromising movement
Style – our base layers are androgenous and designed in timeless colourways that won’t date
Sustainably made – we aim to design, manufacture and work with the best practice partners here in the British Isles
Why we started with a Merino wool base layer as our foundation product
Foundation by name, Foundation by nature - everyone loves and needs a base layer as a wardrobe staple, whether out in the elements or simply relaxing at home...
From its moisture-wicking and antibacterial properties to its breathability, softness and sustainable warmth, Merino wool has long been lauded as a wonderful, natural fibre with unparalleled temperature controlling performance.
Because it doesn’t absorb odour, the need for regular washing is far less than equivalent synthetic materials. We’ve actually been carrying out our own research here in London on just how long it can be worn without washing. But more on that later.
Why sustainability matters
A review of the Fashion Supply Chain (Code and Adjudicator) Bill, due its second reading on 25th November, illustrates why sustainability matters:
"In Bangladesh, where the garment trade produces 85% of export earnings and employs 4 million workers, an estimated 50% of factory owners and managers say they have been subjected to one or more abusive purchasing practices. During March and April 2020, at least 25% of workers in Bangladesh lost their job."
"A recent survey of female garment workers in Cambodia—where 1 million people are employed in the sector—by the University of Nottingham and Royal Holloway found that 85% had been suspended from work by October 2020 and that average take-home pay had fallen by 20%. This disruption drove the problem of food insecurity and exacerbated an existing crisis of over-indebtedness among garment workers."
The victims of these practices are not only workers but small and sustainable businesses that are unable to compete in such an unfair environment. Paragraph 135 of the Environmental Audit Committee’s report identified
“ … concerns about the extra costs and barriers that the UK’s sustainable fashion businesses face. Innovators are faced with competition from businesses who are focused on reducing costs and maximising profits regardless of the environmental or social costs.”
What we are trying to do about it
The Queen’s long-standing support of companies that manufacture in Britain, such as Harris Tweed and Barbour highlights the rich textile history we have in this country. We at Noir are committed to building on this heritage in innovative ways, and we are committed to designing and manufacturing in the British Isles.
|