Brands and Businesses
We help you create more sustainably And to voice your ethical and green commitment
It is a challenge to be 100% sustainable, but you can do small and big steps toward the level of sustainability you wish to achieve.
WE HELP YOU CREATE MORE SUSTAINABLY AND TO VOICE YOUR ETHICAL AND GREEN COMMITMENT
It is a challenge to be 100% sustainable, but you can do small and big steps toward the level of sustainability you wish to achieve.
Photo: Aaron Burden
Dress Ecode® is a project aimed at informing and consulting for a more sustainable fashion.
Dress Ecode ethical business
The dress code for ethical businesses
This is the section of the project offering services to who has a business or a brand and has ethics and sustainability at heart.
We help you to adopt a Dress Ecode also in business, through our services of:
Counseling and consultancy
Internal and external communication
ETHICS
PROFESSIONALISM
QUALITY
CREATIVITY
Furthermore, if you wish to collaborate with us for an event or if you wish to sponsor one of our initiatives, write us!.
In the page Action you can see courses, workshops and events we have organized. AMONG THE INITIATIVES YOU WILL ALSO FIND OUR SUSTAINABLE CAMPAIGN IN WHICH YOU CAN ALSO PARTICIPATE TO MAKE YOUR ACTIVITY KNOWN.
Our MISSION:
- To spread a business model, especially for the fashion industry, that is ethical and sustainable in:
- Social;
- Environmental;
- Economic
Aspects/features. - To offer more ethical and fair job opportunities, directly or indirectly, to as many people as possible
Profit will be mostly directed toward our activity of reliable, accessible and free information to everyone (Dress Ecode News) and toward Dress Ecode project. We believe in the importance of raising awareness on sustainability issues, especially regarding fashion, and we would like to create a real community of people caring for such issues.
Information allows you to gain awareness to act with greater responsibility for a better world.
The 5% of our annual revenues (as soon as possible to become 10%) is used to support social and/or environmental causes.
At the moment, we have chosen to support Kiva, because it helps people to improve their lives by creating a financially inclusive world. They do not provide donations but renewable loans, to allow individuals to kickstart their projects and ultimately making a difference in their lives.
If you want to get to know the founder of the project Dress Ecode and learn more about her experience, you can read here: About Arianna
Counseling and consultancy
We would like to help you create your green and ethical brand or improve its sustainability. Especially, we want to do so in the fashion industry to support alternative business models to fast fashion.
Would you like to introduce or improve the sustainability of your brand but whenever you think about it you get anxious because there are many facets to consider? You don’t know where to start from? You can begin from a couple of aspects!
People value transparency rather than perfection, and they are happy to see your progresses along this journey. The importance is on never giving up and to show your commitment in improving your ecological and social footprint.
WE HELP YOU
- EXPRESS THE MISSION STATEMENT OF YOUR BUSINESS
- ESTABLISH PHYLOSPHY AND VALUES
- CREATE THE VISION
- DEFINE OBJECTS AND STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THEM
EMBRACING YOUR GREEN AND ETHICAL COMMITMENT.
If you haven’t fully brought your brand’s values and mission into focus, we will support you in this. How? We will help you clarify what is more close to your ideas and the personality of your brand, embracing sustainability through the “3P” (People, Planet and Profit) and the level of sustainability that you are able and want to reach.
How do we apply the standpoint of 3P? By keeping in mind that we desire to support you in order to compete in the market and attract resources ethically (ethical Profit), respecting People and the Planet.
Furthermore, by incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals, presented by the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda: an action program for people, the planet and prosperity. The 17 objectives are interconnected and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.
We genuinely believe in sustainability: we want it not to be a trend in fashion.
People
We are determined to end poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions, and to ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment.
Planet
We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations.
Prosperity
We are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature.
General Assembly of United Nations, 25 September 2015
Defining the mission implies identifying the reason why we are doing the business and the type of business we would like to do. Values are the milestones necessary to sustain the project. They are not rules, but guidelines that identify the philosophy of your business or brand. They include the ambitions and aspirations of your business.
The case of Patagonia
When in 1991 Patagonia, the brand of clothing and outdoor equipment, went through a grave crisis, it was advised to the founder Yvon Chouinard to close. Instead, he re-thought his priorities and created new practices. He brought a dozen of managers on the mountains of Patagonia. While strolling in the nature “we asked ourselves why we were in business and what kind of business we wanted Patagonia to be”, says Chouinard.
When they returned, Jerry Mander, ecologist and one of the directors of the board, conveyed with words written on a flawless article the values and mission of the brand.
The turn was quite rapid even within the same year. “Overnight we became a much more focused and sober-minded company, which limited our growth to a sustainable rate, spent carefully, and managed thoughtfully”.
To this day Patagonia is a clear example of a successful company that is engaged in sustainability.
«We needed philosophical and inspirational guides to make sure we always asked the right questions and found the right answers».
«Having the philosophies in writing playes a critical role in the turnaround»
Yvon Chouinard,
Founder of Patagonia
(«Let my people go surfing», 2005/2016)
Sometimes during the daily tasks required by our businesses the overall picture of the project can be lost. Absorbed by the whirlwind of activities, we can’t stop and look at the complete vision, the direction we are going to and how far we are from our objectives. Because of this, we help you structure your visions in the perspective of social, environmental and economical sustainability.
The vision is the framework of the future situation that clarifies the direction to undertake, aligned with the mission.
WITHOUT a vision clearly expressed and a long-term orientation, a project could easily get lost in the midst of a series of incompatible and vague initiatives that lead to wrong destinations or nowhere.
A short-term direction is short-sighted: it focuses on objectives that do not guarantee a lasting wellbeing and development of the business.
WITH clear vision and long-term perspective, that follows the 3 P and the SDG approach, you can firstly assure the qualitative development of your project even before the dimensional one, that being:
- Obtain a lasting wellbeing of the business
- Being a factor in promoting humanity, society, the protection of the environment and economic growth.
We support you in identifying the strategies to be implemented in order to realize your vision, while never losing sight of the mission. It is a very analytical work, and with a healthy dose of dreams, to be done together to translate the vision into reality: in objectives, in practical actions and in choosing more sustainable solutions.
Efficient communication happens orally, but it is even more effective if it is followed by actions.
Lastly, we offer you our support in other aspects (e.g. what sustainable fabrics to choose from and where to buy them).
We create synergies and connections between the people we work with, our readers, clients, brands we interview and our partners that we choose among expert and reliable professionals.
Are you a designer?
We organize and perform
COURSES
WORKSHOPS
PRESENTATION
ON SUSTAINABLE FASHION
You can ask us to organize them in your city.
IF YOU ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE. TO CREATE A BUSINESS MODEL WITHOUT CONTRAPOSITION BETWEEN ECONOMIC AND ETHICAL POLITICS, CONTACT US.
CREATING ETHICAL AND GREEN FASHION IS POSSIBLE!
To make our support accessible to small organizations and to the ones who haven’t the possibility to organise an internal managerial line, we differentiate the value of our services:
- Artisans/entrepreneurs/designers with a business of up to 10 employees and with a turnover not exceeding €2 million
- SME (up to 250 employees and turnover not exceeding €50 million)
- Large companies (over 250 employees or turnover over €50 million)
ou can ask for a free of charge initial exploratory meeting to define the content and value of the collaboration suitable for your business.
1st Orientation Step for artisans, entrepreneurs and designers with up to 10 employees and revenue not exceeding 2 million:
- 1:30h meeting (1:1 or online) to understand your project, the context and what you wish to improve.
- A document that support you in clarifying your idea: initial analysis, identifying areas to improve, first indications on tools to use and actions to undertake.
For your project the 1st orientation step
will be at the special price of 150 euros
(if you are already subscribed to our email updates, 130 euros)
If you want to get to know the founder of the project Dress Ecode and learn more about her experience, you can read here: About Arianna
Comunication
We would like to help you communicate the value and the social and environmental commitment of your brand, by finding the most appropriate words and modes.
The challenges face by artisans and brands, especially the ones who have chosen the pathway of sustainability, are numerous.
One of these is the challenge to sell at the right price, as it can sometimes be perceived by clients to be too high if the values of the products are not communicated effectively.
Besides the intrinsic value that comes from the quality of the product, from the selection of the raw materials, from creativity, exclusivity and uniqueness of the product, it is necessary to communicate in the right way what is the value of sustainability.
Sustainability has its own jargon, that green and ethical brands should adopt to convey properly the value of their products.
An understanding of the subject is also necessary because the public is becoming more alert about it and because the majority of the people more sensible about sustainability often dig deeper and check on brand’s statements.
If communication isn’t done in the right way, the risk is to:
- Prevent conveying the value of the products (in relation to the selling price)
- Instil the doubt of greenwashing.
Do not ask us for greenwashing actions: it is against our ethics to throw a shade of green onto products that are not green. We only work with ethical brands.
We rather help you catch, highlight and enhance the sustainable processes that you have or are introducing, in order to transparently convey what point you have reached and what your objectives are along the path of sustainability.
- Have you already started green initiatives, but you haven’t brought them into focus yet?
- Do you think that it isn’t anything special what you are doing to protect people and the environment?
- Do you think there are more risks than rewards when talking about sustainability?
- Do you think you lack the right technical knowledge to communicate sustainability?
This is what we call greenblushing. It is the opposite of greenwashing and it can be defined as a sort of embarrassment when trying to communicate the green practices of our activities.
Not only greenwashing, but also greenblushing can be very counterproductive and have negative consequences in terms of results, positioning and external perception of your business in the long run.
It often happens to sustainable projects, also in the fashion industry, to underestimate or ignore their efforts and actions taken in regard to social and/or environmental responsibilities.
We help you better communicate what you do (“talk the walk”).
66% of consumers claims to be willing to pay more for sustainable brands
According to a research by The Nielsen Company, two thirds of worldwide consumers claims to be willing to pay more for goods and services that come from companies that are committed to positive social and environmental impact. This percentage is growing, and it is across the board in terms of regions, income and categories: consumers are willing to spend more on sustainable products that allow them to remain loyal to their values. Sensibility toward sustainable goals is coherent among all income levels. Those earning $20,000 or less are the 5% more keen to pay more for goods and services that come from companies that are committed to positive social and environmental efforts, when compared to those earning over $50,000.
Companies with a strong reputation surpass the others when it comes to attracting talent, investors, community partners and clients.
Despite becoming of age in one of the most economically challenging times of the past century, the Millennials keep on being willing to pay more for sustainable products: almost three out of four of the interviewees (73%).
The percentage of interviewees under 20 years of age (Gen Z) that are willing to also pay extra is also significant: 72% of the interviewees.
Brands asserting a reputation among young adults in being sustainable, social and environmentally friendly have the opportunity to build loyalty of future consumers.
- From Nielsen Global Corporate Sustainability Report -
We help you communicate your brand to the outside (e.g. writing of company profile, press kit, press releases) to reveal the value of your products and the sustainability aspects you have embraced. We bring into focus your commitment to sustainability, what you have already achieved and your objectives.
We offer you our support also in internal communication, thanks to our long and proven expertise in HR.
Conveying mission, values, strategies, social and environmental commitment to whomever works for you is also important to achieve the best results.
WE FIND THE RIGHT WORDS FOR YOU TO COMMUNICATE YOUR PRODUCT’S VALUE AN YOUR CARE FOR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING A GREEN AND ETHICAL FASHION IS POSSIBLE!