Some examples of Clothing with a conscience and The Green Line:
1) Designing active modest wear and promoting healthy life styles: we are constantly thinking about how to encourage healthy lifestyles by making clothing to help you be active, while simultaneously preserving a sense of modesty. Our long shirts, track suits, head coverings, night day suit, scarf hats and visors are all efforts to cater to active, modest women and girls. Our latest line is called 'Sisters in Action' and includes a segment called 'Soccer Sisters' (just in time for the 2010 World Cup) to show you how committed we are to seeing you in motion. More here...
2) Fabric: we are committed to using quality fabrics that are simultaneously breathable and easy to care for. We are constantly assessing new trends in fabric to use the best there is for you. Furthermore, we are simultaneously assessing what fabrics are best for the environment and will keep you up to date in this regard. The latest development is that our Monasib Cotton Office Shirt includes an organic cotton component.
3) Green thumb initiative: each person who helps to manufacture Monasib garments is unique, therefore we've started (as of Dec 2009) our green thumb initiative in which each woman/man leaves her own mark inside the garment, by way of a small green leaf. The placement is unique, to reflect the uniqueness of the hand who stiched the garment.
4) Our marketing and advertising: on the social side, we want to showcase our garments without objectifying the women wearing them. We take pride in our Monasib Models. On the environmental side, we try to limit printing by using Internet (including via our Facebook page) and an email-based newsletter as our primary means to communicate with you. Combining social and environmental elements, our company launch was a walk-a-thon, in which we encouraged all of you to walk with us, along the spectacular Sea Point Promenade. Our sales days are organized around other physical activities, including our September hike into the Table Mountain National Park and our November gentle jog and tree planting ceremony, again, promoting healthy lifestyles and also encouraging you to interface with the environment.
5) Monasib's customer service (it's more than simply buying a shirt): we are a service-oriented clothing company. Is that part of a 'social' philosophy? We certainly think so! For us, it's not just a shirt; it's how the shirt gets to you (and how long it takes), the look, the feel, the fit, and the extent to which your feedback is incorporated in our design process. When you decide to purchase a garment from us, we enter into a relationship with you. We want that relationship to be a positive one, and one that grows because you recognize an exceptional exchange. This page provides a little more detail (and more to come).
6) Buy one, give one: this is Monasib's policy to encourage all of you to give of your wealth each time you purchase a new item. Buy a new shirt, then give a shirt to someone in need. Enough said.
7) News/Plant a tree: Although we discourage you from printing our email updates (by way of the following tag line: Please consider the planet before printing this email) undoubtedly pages will be printed. We are therefore committed to planting a trees to try to reduce the overall impact that we have on the environment. We also encourage you to do the same and to write to us about where and how you planted your new tree.
8) Life-long learning: Our essay competitions, which will run at least four times a year (and for which the winner receives a free garment), all aim to probe social and environmental topics to encourage learning amongst us all.
9)Sisters in Action global directory: to help build and sustain healthy lifestyles, Monasib is committed to developing the 'Sisters in Action Global Directory' (aka SIA), which aims to be an international directory of women and girls fitness activities/events/classes. Please send contact information of activities/events/classes to info@monasibclothing.com.
And there's more:
We strive for the smallest possible carbon footprint in our packaging, as evidenced by the green ribbon wrap (rather than a box). Finally, as a primarily Internet-based company, we minimize miles travelled by our customers. Again, we take these steps to be socially and environmentally responsible. We hope you join us, in spreading Clothing with a conscience and The Green Line.
