Supermarket - Pansy Maiden

http://PansyMaiden.supermarkethq.com

Inspired by clean lines, whimsical shapes, and an urban aesthetic, Pansy Maiden subscribes to a “less is more” philosophy. Our mission is to create attractive, sustainable, cruelty-free bags in a socially responsible manner.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
I wrap myself into every single aspect of Pansy Maiden so I want my bags to be a reflection of my personal values. Social responsibility is huge with me. I believe that all things connect—the way we treat animals, the way we treat our Earth, the way we treat each other—it all connects. And if we are considerate and make efforts to treat animals, the Earth, and each other with the utmost respect, our world will be healthier and an all-around better place to live. I really believe that.

My bags are made to be durable and machine washable (faux leather is not machine washable). I do not use leather, wool, silk, or materials that are tested on animals. The mills where my twill, cotton, Tencel, and hemp fabrics are made abide by Fair Trade regulations, are GOTS and SLA certified, and the dyes they use are plant-based, non-sulfur dyes (no harmful chemical run-off). The fabric detergent and softener I use is plant-based and ecofriendly.

And for those who wonder, Pansy Pauline Maiden was my grandmother. She was a loving mother, grandmother and caregiver. She could play a mean harmonica.

—Laura Collins
www.pansymaiden.com
http://twitter.com/pansymaiden
http://www.facebook.com/PansyMaiden
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

About our materials:

Organic Cotton (Twill):
Organic cotton is an ecologically responsible and green fiber. Unlike conventional cotton, which uses more chemicals than any other crop, it is never genetically modified and does not use any highly polluting agro-chemicals such as those found in pesticides, herbicides and many fertilizers. Integrated soil and pest management techniques—such as crop rotation and introducing natural predators of cotton pests—are practiced in organic cotton cultivation. All organic cotton producers must meet GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) standards in their cultivation and production practices. Both land and crops must be inspected and certified by internationally reputable certifying bodies each year.

Hemp:
Hemp grows extremely fast in any kind of climate. It does not exhaust the soil, uses little water, and requires no pesticides or herbicides. Dense planting leaves little space for light, hence few chances for weeds to grow. Hemp fibers are considered the strongest known to mankind next to silk. With high moisture absorbency, high heat conductivity, and excellent abrasion resistance, hemp can be made into beautiful, comfortable and long lasting items. The more you wash them, the softer they get. They age gracefully. Blended with other natural fibers, their applications become almost endless.

Tencel:
(Lyocell) Made from the natural cellulose found in wood pulp. The fiber is economical in its use of energy and natural resources, and is fully biodegradable. To begin with, the forests are managed based on sustainable practices, and timber is harvested under strict guidelines and supervision, with replanting done for each tree that is cut down. Next, the fiber processing takes place in a nearly closed-loop system that is designed to recover more than 99.6% of the solvent. Water is reclaimed and reused. Tencel garments are easy to pack, resist wrinkling, and dry quickly.

Ultrasuede©:
Ultrasuede© marries luxury with extreme durability (200,000+ double rubs before showing signs of wear), inherent stain resistance, breathability, and easy cleanability (machine washable/dry-cleanable). This material creates less air, water and soil contamination: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), two-thirds less energy is required to manufacture products made out of recyclable plastic. Other studies show that the production of recycled plastic requires two-thirds less sulphur dioxide, 50% less nitrous oxide, and almost 90% less water usage. Ultrasuede© is now being made with 80% post industrial recycled fibers (recycled plastic bottles). In addition, a brand new production process has reduced the energy consumption and CO2 emissions by an average of 80%. Ultrasuede© lessens our dependence on oil (polyester is an oil-based product—Utlrasuede© is recycled!) And of course, no animals died in the making of this fabric.

Our EcoFriendly Faux Leather:
When determining how environmentally friendly textiles are it is important to consider the useful life of the material. How long will the material be useful before it shows signs of wear and needs to be replaced? Our faux leather has been tested and has exceed 200,000 double rubs (Wyzenbeek) which surpasses the requirement of 30,000 as set by the Association of Contract Textiles (ACT) guideline. In 2002, the facility where our vegan leather is produced received ISO-14001 certification and recently achieved the company target of “zero industrial emissions.” They actively promote the reduction of waste, energy and air pollution as declared in the ISO-14001 environmental management program. The company that produces our vegan leather utilizes advanced micro-porous polyurethane wet technology which allows them to completely recycle and reuse their solvent. Unlike genuine leather and vinyl, our faux leather is inherently resistant to extreme weather conditions such as moisture, ultraviolet rays, and excessive hot and cold temperature variations. It will not become stiff or crack and its overall appearance will endure for years to come. Our faux leather does not contain PVC, heavy metals, formaldehyde, nitric acid cellulose, organic substances that continue to contaminate the environment, or any other materials that cause concern regarding the potential toxicity after use. And for a bonus round, our vegan leather is stain resistant! Oh, and of course, giant bonus: No animals (including humans) where harmed in the production of our vegan leather.