CLOTHES TELL A STORY
We have always seen clothing as more than something that serves a functional purpose - just like our experiences and the places and cultures that have shaped us, our clothes tell a story about us. And we want to be a part of making that story a better one. So we considered what the best way forward would be, as we were not interested in putting more stuff out in the world just for the sake of it. We were not happy with the seasonal fashion cycle and the wastefulness that follows and we knew that senseless manufacturing and consumption needed to change. So we set out to do something different and, we hope, better. At every level, our choices are rooted in a commitment to ensure our pieces are always intentionally designed, ethically and responsibly made, and that we are constantly rethinking our way of doing things and looking for better solutions. In the end, we make sure every HAIK stories piece is designed and made with great thought and care for our people and the planet.
DESIGN
All our pieces are thoughtfully designed and evolve from a long process of creation - we are very picky (in a good way) and we make sure each and every piece is perfect before we send it out into the world. That means, for example, constantly rethinking our material and manufacturing decisions in terms of how well the fabric will hold the test of time or how relevant the style of the piece will be in the years to come. In everything we do, we have a zero-waste goal mindset - and when it comes to design, this translates into how we design our pieces and make our patterns: we try our best to make all the pattern parts of different pieces fit together like a puzzle when being cut to dramatically reduce fabric waste. This is not always achievable, so when we do end up with leftover fabric bits, we use them for swatches or take them to an upcycling facility that grinds them back into fibre.
MATERIALS
When it comes to materials, we focus entirely on natural and renewable sources. All the pieces you currently find at the shop are made with 100% Linen - linen comes from the flax plant and it is a strong, breathable, hypoallergenic, biodegradable fibre and extremely comfortable either in the summer or winter time. Linen requires very little processing and its production generates virtually no waste. Aesthetically, it is one of our favourite fabrics due to it texture variations making it perfectly imperfect.
MANUFACTURING
We have great respect for textiles and the art of manufacturing and for the experienced people that bring our garments to life. To ensure that all our pieces are ethically and responsibly made, we choose to only work with factories that care about their workers and our planet as much as we do. In addition, we are very proud that everything we make is cut, sewn and dyed within 30km from our studio in Porto. Our sewing partner, for example, is a small, women-owned, independent workshop that only employs women. Their workers are paid above minimum wage and have flexible work hours and many other benefits. Our dyeing factory, where we garment-dye all our pieces, besides being committed to ethical social practices, is also dedicated to pushing boundaries in textile sustainability and focuses on using only low impact, non-toxic dyes and in the treatment and recycling of its wastewater.
PACKAGING
