At Amschela we have decided taken a leap forward to being able to produce products that are free from animal cruelty. We hope you join us in this new direction.
As an independent emerging brand we joined the market in 2017 using real leather in our processes. But at what cost? We want to move forward in a way that promotes sustainability, is eco friendly and helps to reduce our carbon footprint, but more importantly we want to protect the environment that we live in.
In 2020 we introduced the first of our Vegan products – the beautiful Thais Vegan Croc Mini Tote, in a stunning 5 colour way palette made from PU leather materials. PU is resilliant, resilient, flexible, durable, lighter than real leather and is a material approved by Peta. PU also does not use chlorine which can be harmful to the environment whilst being manufactured.
In June 2021, we produced our last leather product, the stunning Ophelia in Microsuede Leather.
In September 2021, the sister to the Thais Vegan Mini, the Thais Medium was introduced at London Fashion Week on our LFW Designer Profile and had it’s first collection preview as part of the City Wide Schedule at BCorp ethical retailer Wolf & Badger, London.
But, we still need to do more!!!
We are currently working on bringing you new products using more sustainable materials with our goal to use more plant based and fully circular materials that are free from plastic by 2025.
Sustainability is a journey for life.
PRODUCTION
What does our new direction mean to you the consumer? It means that we pledge from now onwards to only use high quality vegan synthetic, materials or materials made from food waste in or products. We take our social responsibility seriously. We have a duty of care to you not to produce products that will harm you, animals or the environment.
With regards to product hardware we pledge that all hardware is consistent with the EU Reach Standards in an attempt to protect human health and the environment from increased risks brought on by the use of chemical.
We also believe that our social responsibility also extends to our packaging and we have redesigned our packaging to recyled board that is biodegradeable in line with guidance cited by the Forestry Commission.
POSITIVE IMPACT – THE ENVIRONMENT
Amschela is an active partner of the Get Mads initative (recently rebranded to Greenspark), a climate change programme that allows Amschela to plant a tree or remove one piece of plastic from the ocean for every website purchase. You can follow us and track our positive impact progress here.
Under the programme Amschela also supports 6 UN Climate Change projects aimed to support those in 3rd world communities.
Our chosen projects are:
UN Project 9933: Improved Cook Stoves in Malawi
UN Project 6848: Hydroelectric Energy in Chile
Plastic Bank: Transforming Plastic Waste into Empowering Income
UN Project 6315: Sugarcane Biomass Power in India
UN Project 5016: Reforestation in Rural India
Eden Reforesation Project: Fighting Extreme Poverty through Tree Planting
POSITIVE IMPACT – SOCIAL MOBILITY
Amschela is a social mobility impact supporter and employer for young disadvantaged persons seeking access to work within the creative industries but whom face barriers to access due to socio-economic factors. We aim to assist young people with the provision of meaningful work opportunities that will enhance their entrance to the general market place. Young people are our future.
MEMBERSHIPS
Amschela is a Peta Approved Certified Brand in respect of its vegan products and will gain full certification once all our products become vegan: You can find the brand listed here. Amschela is also a registered member of the UK Governments SME Climate Hub, and have committed to having 100% traceability in all our products by 2025 and to be a Zero Carbon brand by 2030.
WORKING SLAVERY
We pledge that all of our suppliers and manufacturers abide by the strict standards that we adhere to in a legally and socially responsible manner in regard to the products we design and sell. This includes assurance and prohibition of no child labour, no forced labour and workers being treated with respect, dignity and the allocation of fair wages.
OUR PRINCIPLES
- To refrain from child labour, forced labour including prison, indentured or boned labour.
- To refrain from employing any person under the age of 16 years old in a work capacity.
- To refrain from all types of employee abuse, including sexual, physical, mental or emotional.
- To ensure employees have a safe working environment compliant with health and safety legislation.
- To ensure a fair wage is paid to all employees that do not fall short of meeting the employees basic living requirements.
These principles also apply to Amschela Staff, employed, freelance or contractors.