Yes, our team works hard to piece together pattern pieces at the time of cutting to create minimum waste. Any scraps from our cutting process are used locally for mattress stuffing. Beyond scraps, our cloth bags are made from dead stock fabric in the factory. We are always innovating and finding new ways to use scraps and older fabrics.  

All of our fabrics are made from GOTS certified organic cotton, which means the raw material is grown without the use of harmful (to humans) and toxic (to the earth) chemicals. Our fabrics are dyed with low impact dyes (meaning they use less water than traditional ones) that are free from toxic chemicals like azo and certified for textile use by rigorous GOTS standards.  

Our founder, Elana, has a long standing and well established relationship with our production team in Kathmandu. She lived there for 10 years and has known our producers for over 20 years, visits the team annually and spends at least a few weeks a year with everyone in the factory. Elana speaks Nepali so she is able to talk easily, troubleshoot any issues and make sure everyone is doing well. Our team is paid well and no one works long hours or weekends. The factory is clean and spacious. The owners provide financial help to employees for medical or family needs when emergencies arise. Elana also has a long standing relationship with our fabric producers in Ludhiana, India and visits often.  It is our top priority that every person involved in the making of Una Pluma is treated well.

Yes. Our factory has been through many upgrades over the years and we are constantly making sure the work environment is safe, clean and positive.  Everyone is paid a livable wage with annual bonuses and holidays.

We are proud to be 99% plastic free. We have worked hard to eliminate plastic from as much of our production process as possible. All of our clothing is shipped from our producers in Kathmandu to us in dead stock shipping/shopping bags instead of single plastic bags per garment, which is the industry standard. After stocking our shelves, we use these bags to send out larger orders and from there they continue to be used by customers. 

When clothes are shipped to us there are 6-8 cloth bags full of clothing inside a large box which is lined with a single plastic sheet (our 1%) that we've found necessary to prevent any water damage in shipping. Thankfully, this sheet is recycled into deck materials through Ridwell.

Additionally all of our online orders are wrapped in tissue paper and packed in paper mailing. We are proud to be 100% plastic free in our online shipping.  

Our clothing begins in the organic cotton fields of northern India. The raw materials are locally milled into yarn and knit into fabric in Ludhiana, India. Keeping things local helps reduce the carbon footprint. After being spun, the fabric is transferred in large truckloads to Kathmandu, Nepal (India's neighboring country). In Kathmandu, all of our clothing is cut and sewn with love into our beautiful garments and is then sent in our dead stock shipping/shopping bags to our flagship store in Portland, Oregon.