KALOPSIA COLLECTIVE

The blog and archive of the award-winning manufacturer of ethically and sustainably made textiles accessories & apparel Kalopsia. Products made in Your fabric (knit, print & weave). No minimum order.

[kalopsiacollective]

EKSJÖ - TRIANGLE CHRISTMAS SACHET

A very sustainable way to use any smaller fabrics for commercial products.

We can turn your smaller off-cut fabrics into triangles shaped CHRISTMAS bags with hanging loops perfect for drawers, wardrobes, gifts etc. The triangles shaped bags are filled with tiny unused fabric and filled with real lavender or Christmas herbs and spices.

When the smell starts to fade, just gently squeeze the sachet to release more fragrance. An ideal product if you like to utilise surplus fabrics or end of roll.

Order today and have them ready for Christmas stalls, events and markets.

Visit assemble.kalopsiacollective.com/collections/accessories/products/triange-lavender-sachet

[kalopsiacollective]

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR SURPLUS FABRIC, END OF ROLL OR FABRIC SWATCHES?

When textiles are wasted so are the resources, both natural and labour, which were invested and embedded into the fabric. By utilising textile surplus, you can prolong the textile’s lifecycle, slow down unnecessary textile production and reduce the reliance on natural resources.

Re-purpose your fabric surplus from as little as 10 cm squares. In addition, by up-cycling unused and redundant textile surplus materials, you can give these materials additional value as products of higher quality. This prevents them from being down-cycled or discarded.

Find out more what we can do to help you turn Your fabric into products, manufactured in Scotland at kalopsiacollective.com

Textile print design by Ellen Martin

[kalopsiacollective]

TRANSCENDS TRENDS

Kalopsia's mission is to provide an open and fair textiles product manufacturing services to anyone with fabric. We do this through our 'Assemble' manufacturing service.

Our focus has always been on helping our clients by producing products that sell themselves - getting them to invest in quality by making something that will be cherished for a longtime, and that transcends trends and fleeting fashions by a person that works in a safe environment.

[kalopsiacollective]

As we move towards the end (!) of the pandemic (hopefully) we are reaching a point were some of our face masks are looking a bit worst for wear and we will hopefully not be wearing them to anywhere near the same extent.

All returned masks will be upcycled in to other products, be recycled for their fibres and turned into be fabric. Or if there is no other use for them burnt to create energy. Absolutely no landfill!

With this in mind we are now offering to take back any face masks made by us for free of charge!

Visit kalopsiacollective.com or contact us on [email protected] for more

PLEASE NOTE - We can only accept the return of Kalopsia Collective face masks.

____

Photo: Assemble APPAREL and Facemasks in Scottish linen

[kalopsiacollective]

Today we at Kalopsia had the pleasure to host Zero Waste Scotland and the Scottish Government when they today (Friday 24 June 2022) launched their new £2m fund to help reduce the environmental burden of textiles.

Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, Iain Gulland, and Minister for the Circular Economy, Lorna Slater, today launched a £2m Circular Textiles Fund at Kalopsia Collective, in Dunfermline. The fund, which is now open for applications, will help reduce the environmental impact of textiles by supporting Scottish businesses to become more circular.

The Circular Textiles Fund will go directly to businesses across the textiles industry in Scotland, from fashion to upholstery.

Rebekah Chapman, Production Technician at Kalopsia Collective said:

“The circular economy is a big deal for Kalopsia and we have worked hard to minimise every aspect of our environmental impact. For us it’s a passion, and it’s one we know is shared by many working in the Scottish textiles sector.

“We’re delighted to help launch the Circular Textiles Fund and look forward to seeing more businesses doing things differently for the future of people and planet.”

Photo: ZWS (left to right: Rebekah Chapman - Kalopsia, Lorna Slater - Minister for the Circular Economy, Iain Gulland - Zero Waste Scotland)

[kalopsiacollective]

HANDY BAGS - JUST LAUNCHED BY @prolongscotland

These bags are specifically for people who prefer to have one item that can be used in many ways.

A very clean and timeless design that will go with elegant outfits as much as leisure ones too.

It's a bag that can be used for traveling too as the straps are detachable so you can use it as a make-up bag and once you arrive at your destination, you can put the straps on and rock the streets in sustainable style.

Because of the side loops, you can also hang this bag on the wall and other places if needed

These bags were produced by us at Kalopsia Collective. Prolong, cut and arranged panels out of unwanted garments before it was delivered to us and made into bags.

Make sure you visit prolong.bigcartel.com/category/handy-bags to find out more

[kalopsiacollective]

DUNFERMLINE

From the reign of King Malcolm III and Queen Margaret in the mid-11th century, Dunfermline became the seat of power and remained the capital of Scotland until it was passed to Edinburgh in 1437.

With our move to Dunfermline earlier this year, we wanted to celebrate our new beautiful home with a very classic, practical and timeless bag - THE DUNFERMLINE BAG

This classic shaped medium sized bag is perfect for everyday use. The box-bottomed is self-standing and chunkier in feel, making it perfect for heavier materials like wool, linen, cotton and velvet.

This bag has two wider hold-on handles which can be made in either our standard 39mm black strapping or with the same fabric as the outer.

Photo: Dunfermline bag in a vintage Marimekko cotton fabric

[kalopsiacollective]

MADE IN SCOTLAND ASSEMBLE - Turning knitted, woven or printed fabrics into commercial accessories and apparel. Assemble works as building blocks and we have created the collection has been thoughtfully designed with simplicity, functionality and longevity in mind.  We hope that through the Assemble manufacturing service you can create timeless classic products that won't only last for a long time but will also be desirable for a long time.  Visit kalopsiacollective.com

[kalopsiacollective]

It's the one about "THE VALUE IN REPURPOSE" again.

The one about coffee sacks being made from the Jute plant, an eco-friendly material with the strength to hold vast quantities of coffee beans. The one about the sack making around 700 standard cups of coffee (as a general rule you can expect an average sized UK coffee shop to sell 230 cups of coffee per day. That's over 9 sacks a month!)

The one where we are talking about the hessian and what we can do with all these "unwanted" sacks after being a "coffee sack"

The one where we are talking about making lovely Assemble bags to prolong the lifetime of this beautiful and hardwearing material.

Find out more about our how we can repurpose your material at kalopsiacollective.com or contact us on [email protected] if you want to hear more about our service.

[kalopsiacollective]

It's the one about "THE VALUE IN REPURPOSE" again.

The one about coffee sacks being made from the Jute plant, an eco-friendly material with the strength to hold vast quantities of coffee beans. The one about the sack making around 700 standard cups of coffee (as a general rule you can expect an average sized UK coffee shop to sell 230 cups of coffee per day. That's over 9 sacks a month!)

The one where we are talking about the hessian and what we can do with all these "unwanted" sacks after being a "coffee sack"

The one where we are talking about making lovely Assemble bags to prolong the lifetime of this beautiful and hardwearing material.

Find out more about our how we can repurpose your material at kalopsiacollective.com or contact us on [email protected] if you want to hear more about our service.

[kalopsiacollective]

Ever since we stopped offering a scarf roll-hemming service a few years ago, we have been searching for a hem option to offer as part of the Assemble range. We wanted to find something that would balance, quality, consistency and affordability across a range of fabrics. Like with everything we do, simple is always best, and today we are finally able to open up order of our new scarf hem fold. Available in both 0.5mm and 1cm. This fold give a classic, clean edge than is neat and hardwearing and fits in perfectly with our existing napkin hems. Visit the kalopsiacollective.com to find out more and order today.

[kalopsiacollective]

We are launching another NEW Assemble item today - Our BÅLSTA bag. A clutch bag with a retro feel, that will hold all your items for that dinner, wedding, party or event. Rounded corners and clean lines. It works in a range of different fabrics. From heavy tweeds to finer silk blends. -- This BÅLSTA bag was made in a printed Scottish linen designed by Rachel Parker many years ago.

[kalopsiacollective]

Looking for a sustainable way to utilise some of Your fabric off-cuts, “waste” and surplus? Would you like to use all those small offcuts that inevitably happen at times to times during the manufacturing process? We turn your smaller pieces of fabric into lovely smelling lavender bags or hair scrunchies - a great way of using all your fabric surplus. -- Photo of Emma Trussler's printed fabric design off-cuts

[kalopsiacollective]

THE ARTISAN BEHIND THE BRAND

Beyond the shop front, sale racks, trends and stock rotations is a skilled worker, an artisan who meticulously made your clothes with passion and attention to detail.

Fashion Revolution Week allows us to celebrate makers craftsmanship whilst reminding ourselves to be thoughtful of those in the industry who are being exploited. Not every skilled artisan is treated as such, with fair working conditions, decent wages and support.

Read more at kalopsiacollective.com/blog/2022/4/21/the-artisan-behind-the-brand

[kalopsiacollective]

ENGRAINED SEXISM INFORMS EVERY ASPECT OF OUR INDUSTRY

Normally, we keep this topic back for International Women’s day in March. But this year for @fash_rev Week, as we finally start to move forward (all be it very slowly) with new laws and regulation around sustainability, we thought it was as important to highlight this!

The fact that it is currently about 60–70 million garment workers worldwide, and 75% are women!

We wanted you to just really think about that for a second.

Just take a minute and really consider what that means...

Read https://kalopsiacollective.com/blog/fashionsexism for the whole article

[kalopsiacollective]

It’s Fashion Week 2022 next week, and we at Kalopsia have as a business taken part in this annual campaign for the last 7 years as we believe that the people in our industry deserve a living wage, safe working conditions and respect at the very least. But are we really ready to pay that fair price? We think that most of us have heard about the unfair working conditions of the people working in Textiles and Fashion industries, abroad (as well as here in the UK). But, has the awareness caused a change in the way we manufacturer our goods or in our buying habits or how we treat people in the supply chain? Do we know who made the clothes, bags and other accessories that we wear and use?

And are we ready to pay a “fair price” for it?

Now more then ever, it is critical that we all come together and support the workers that underpin our industry. Join us next week in the conversation

[kalopsiacollective]

WE ARE HIRING We are looking for an efficient, driven Textile production technician assistant with an eye for details that is good at working in a small team to strict deadlines. Are YOU someone with a desire to grow your role within our business, learn and contribute to our team? Then visit kalopsiacollective.com/vacancies or contact us directly at [email protected]  DEADLINE 15/04/2022 - Start date: 01/05/2022