Itʻs never too late, to make a change.

When I first started this business, how our fabric was made and the type of impact we were having on our environment was the least of my concerns. I would often use the excuse that we are a small business and have little negative impact on the environment. In January of 2021, I found myself in a bit of a funk. While in this funk, I stumbled across the documentary “The True Cost” which reignited the fire under me & helped me to realize that I needed to change my perspective.

Unknowingly, our business model had us practicing sustainable slow fashion from the beginning. We would take custom orders and release small collections throughout the year. In turn, this helped us control what we produced and created less waste. We also have done our very best to utilize all of our scrap fabric.

Two changes we have made in 2021 were finding a more sustainable/eco-friendly fabric and digitally printing our designs. We used to have all our material hand/dyed and screen printed. Practicing Sustainable Slow Fashion means that you are taking the necessary steps by eliminating the amount of waste and pollution to our natural resources that God has blessed us with. 

How do we practice Sustainable Slow Fashion here at Kamea?

1.    Utilize Eco-Friendly Fabric: Tencel

2.    We digitally print our fabric designs which involves very low power and water consumption compared to hand dying/screen printing. 

3.    We do our best to create “timeless pieces,” that can be used every day whether you're at work, an event, a night out or simply going to the store. 

4.    Most of our Garments are made to order here in Hawaii. We recently explored having certain items made for us by a manufacturer. This is a brand-new venture for us as a business. 

5.    When finding the right manufacturer, it was important for us to build a relationship with them. I know what goes into making clothing from start to finish and I value the hands that make the products and want to assure that they are treated fairly and that they are valued. 

6.    The Scrap Fabrics that we have are reused to create accessories, household items, and our favorite patch blankets. 

7.    Our Shipping practices consist of recyclable/biodegradable mailers. We currently package our garments in plastic envelopes. This is to ensure that it stays protected during shipment. We are exploring other options of packaging products to lessen the amount of waste.