Our Leather Traceability Work is driving change from the inside
We decided that we need to change the fashion industry from the inside, to create lasting, positive and irreversible change built on animal protection.
Since the start, we questioned the existing systems that fashion is built upon, demanded inclusion of animal welfare throughout the supply chains and the industry as a whole. We saw a need for change and new solutions built on transparency, inclusivity and innovation.
We are working on highlighting the importance of animal protection in food and fashion by linking together two of the world´s largest industries, the fashion industry and the agriculture industry. Today those industries share supply chains, but not responsibility. We are here to change that, so less leather in fashion is linked to less meat and vice versa. To be able to trace our supply chains and give clients insights, we had to develop a new infratstructure for animal traceability, as it did not exist - hence we created Responsible Systems, a supply chain solution for animal based food and fashion. So you truly know what you are and aren't supporting.
Cattle leather traceability for food and fashion is our first step towards improving global animal protection.
Why Leather Traceability Matters
Fashion has always been fundamentally reliant on agriculture, especially for raw materials. Over the past 100 years, the increase in intensive agriculture has taken a devastating toll on the natural ecosystem. Each year, 10 million hectares of forest are lost and agricultural expansion accounts for 73% of global deforestation. The link between intensive global farming practices and; climate change, biodiversity collapse, has never been more clear. This coupled with fragmented supply chains in fashion has driven a negative impact on animal protection and welfare.
This must change.
Around the globe 70 billion animals are reared on 570million farms. 1.5 billion of these animals are cattle. At some farms life is great for these animals, and their welfare is the highest priority. But unfortunately for the vast majority this consideration is overshadowed by profit and supply chain demand.
Motivated by Josefin´s work at WWF to raise awareness and improve animal protection we decided to create a new bridge between fashion and agriculture.
If we are going to use leathers - it needs to be traceable back to the farms, back to the farmers that reared that animal, back to the individual animal, and it needs to tell the story of a life well lived.
It is our vision that that with each leather good sold we can link the two worlds of Fashion and Agriculture. So that creativity and beauty can coalesce to realise an enduring story of animal protection and the highest quality of product. By linking two of the world´s largest industries with each other, we hope to be part of a new system, a system that can arrest the march on biodiversity collapse, whilst supporting trusted farmers to rear and care for their animals in the most transparent and productive ways. By creating a system of traceability, and laying bare the whole story of the product, we hope to be one part of the change we need to see to make our planet a better place, and tell the stories of a life well lived.
Welcome to our leather traceability story
Step 1
Responsible Sourcing
For JOSEFIN LILJEQVIST production and production line, we work directly with family-owned Swedish farms. The biggest farm has 250 animals and the smallest around 20. The leathers we work are directly linked with our beliefs in animal protection and we only work with bovines above 24 months of age, regardless of leather construction and usage. This linked to our close relationship with the tanneries, provide the best quality in the entire supply chain- even if we refuse to use leather made of Calf.
Step 2
Purposeful design
The leather designs are constructed so they are everlasting, can be repaired and adds a dimension of artistic timelessness to the design. The designprocess starts with the sourcing of the perfect leathers, from an animal protection point of view. This is being done in regards of the thickness needed and the usage of the final leather goods.
All leathers are vegetable tanned, to respect our planet and our strive towards circularity.
” Actively we include scars or mosquitobites when possible on the final design, to salute the signs of a life well lived. Normally brand exclude theese signs, as it is regarded as imperfections. ”
Step 3
A dedication to detail
Motivated to reframe fashion's relationship with nature and natural ecosystems, we choose to create beautiful products that have full animal supply chain traceability.
All leather goods designed and produced by us are part of something greater, the idea of a more natural ecosystem, linking good animal welfare practices with the final leather product. This information becomes avaliable to you via our traceable code, it tells the story about the farm, the philosophy of the farmers and the welfare of the animals.
Step 4
Numbers with a story to tell
Each of our pieces comes with a unique RSiD (Traceable Code) which allows full tracability of the leather that was used. Each number tells a story, each piece respects it.
Step 5
Activate Traceability
Upon delivery of your unique leather product, you activate the Responsible Systems Identification (RSID) in your account, in the membership area. This is done in order to discover the leather traceability of the product.
Login to membership-area to Active
We work exclusively with Swedish family-owned farms with attention to animal protection and biodiversity.
