We scouring the earth for the latest developments in the world of sustainable fibres.
What we stand for.
Our founding purpose has always been changing the world, one pair of briefs at time. At Stripe & Stare we focus on female solidarity and sustainability.
To us this means:
- Over 90% of our range is produced using TENCEL™ fibers, biodegradable cellulosic fibers made from trees. We’ve introduced two new fabrics including EcoVero Viscose from Lenzing and Eco Mesh, using 85% recycled polyamide.
- We have a plastic-free warehouse, with all products packaged and stored in cardboard boxes or compostable bio-bags. Orders are distributed to customers in recyclable paper envelopes or boxes.
- At the end of 2023, we worked with Climate Partner to work out the Carbon footprint for our offices in both Devon and London, as well as our Devon-based warehouse. In total, we used 22t CO2e. This is equivalent to 25 economy flights from London to New York or 1.7kg of Beef. Our biggest hotspot of emissions is our employees commuting in Devon (we are located in the countryside in Dartmoor National Park).
- We are extremely proud to have partnered with the climate action platform, Ecologi since 2020. As of April 2024, we had supported the planting of over 117,000 trees and the prevention of over 276 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted through 49 verified carbon avoidance projects. These include projects producing electricity from wind power in Thailand, Mexico and India and converting landfill gas into energy in Northern Turkey. Read more here.
- The energy in our Devon warehouse and office is provided by E.ON using 100% renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power ad hydro-energy. We have a shared office space in London where the energy is also provided by 100% renewable sources.
- Our factories are located in China, Portugal and Vietnam. Our founder, Katie, has worked with Adam, our supplier based in China, since 2007, when she developed the prototype to our beloved original knicker. We have visited his factory several times since S&S started in 2017. All of our factories are independently audited by either BSCI or SMETA. Both initiatives have Code of Conducts based on international conventions, focused on social compliance and ethical business behaviour. In addition, our Vietnamese factory is certified by the Higg Index.
- We passionately believe in supporting people in the workplace, especially women, who make up over 85% of our team. We offer flexible hours and locations to reflect and support that. Over 1/3 of our team are working part time days/hours. All employees are paid a minimum of the National Living Wage as defined on gov.uk. We offer flexible start and finish times for all staff around core working hours. In the Summer, we operate early finish Fridays.
- Our mission has always been By Women, For Women. We believe we rise by lifting others. During 2024, the Stripe & Stare Foundation was set up by Nicola Piercy (co-founder). This initiative provides free business support and mentoring for female entrepreneurs in early-stage businesses, funded by Stripe & Stare. With less than 2% of investment funding going to female founders in the UK in 2023, despite 20% of businesses being founded by women. So far, the foundation has advised over 30 businesses.
- In April 2024 our co-founders, Katie and Nicola, visited Downing Street as part of the Buy Women Built group. BWB showcases amazing brands built by women to help profile female entrepreneurs and harness the power of consumer spending.
- In the past year, we have donated over £83,000 worth of stock to a variety of charitable causes including Trevi and the National Police Aid Charity and 10% of our sales on Giving Tuesday to The Lady Garden Foundation.
- We offer every employee an annual volunteer day, allowing them to meaningfully contribute to personal causes in the community.
We only produce a new product if we can do it different. Do it better.
In the days when the word sustainable is in itself a dirty world - we aim to be a place people can trust for honesty and transparency. We are not perfect, no one is, but we hope to take our customers on a journey with us as we learn more and technology develops.
In 2021 we became B Corp - one of fewer than 5,000 companies in the world at this point. We are so proud of this independent verification, certifying that we are company built for good. That we do things differently, in a better way for the planet, our people and our customers.
