Today I am really excited to talk about another one of our suppliers, Royal Apparel.  Royal Apparel has worked really diligently over the years to exemplify integrity in the way that they do business.  How?

Made In New York

First, they are one of the few manufacturing facilities that still operate in the US.  What is even more surprising to hear is that they are in the garment manufacturing industry, meaning they are competing against thousands of sweatshops who pay workers next to nothing located around the world. Their manufacturing facility is located in Hauppauge,New York.  Here is a small video showing some of the manufacturing facility there:

Here is a short exerpt from their site as well:

“We have the largest collection of US Made apparel available in our industry.  We pour more care into a shirt than the anatomy of its parts; applying contemporary design, zeal of the American tradesperson, and premium materials. From our hand to yours — we can closely tend to the quality of our garments since we’re factory direct, granting the capability to distill the finest value into our line.”

Dedicated To Eco-Friendly Materials

The other reason they stand out from the others is that they are committed to using materials that are sustainable and chemical-free.  They have a wide range of organic cotton, recycled cotton, and recycled polyester. Just like Bespoke Threads, they are investing in the future of our world over the profit of today.  Here is a video telling a bit more about the products they make:

We currently carry Royal Apparel’s organic cotton sweatshirt, along with their organic cotton baby bodysuits. We would love to expand the offerings from them in the near future!

You can find out more about Royal Apparel here: royalapparel.net.

Fair-Trade Brand: Allmade Apparel

One of our main suppliers is Allmade Apparel.  Allmade is a relatively new brand on the custom apparel market, but they have the best all-around product that we have ever seen.  We love the mission and vision that the company has, which is bringing sustainability and fair-trade products to our sector.  All of Allmade’s apparel is made from organic cotton, recycled polyester from Repreve, and Tencel.  All three of these fabrics are focused on being good to the world through their sustainability and the absence of pesticide use on the cotton.  This is an example of a business that is striving to put the stewardship of the earth ahead of sales.

The other priority they have is being good to others.  They partner with Life SA because they found that this manufacturing company is focused on giving a fair wage and a good working condition to all of their employees.  I (Brad) live in Kolkata, India where there are many places (including garment manufacturers) that do not provide this opportunity to employees.  It is frustrating and sad that the buyers of these products cannot see what people went through in order to make their widget.  We as buyers have the opportunity to bring life and dignity to those in developing countries…let’s make the most of it!

Here is a small snippet from Life SA’s website:

LIFE is a boutique apparel factory located in Tabarre, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Daily wages at Life S.A. are 65% higher than the sector minimum and the employees have the ability to earn 140%+ of minimum based on production.

Just a 10-minute drive from the United States Embassy, the 16,000 square feet manufacturing facility is within a private, gated complex.

You can check them out here: Madewithlife.org.

Our goal with this section is to show you how you are creating change simply by purchasing something from us.  We are a new brand though, so it may be good for you to get to know us a bit as we write down the stories to come.

We rise by lifting others.  That is our mantra.  From day one at Bespoke Threads, our culture is to listen, learn, and act.  If BT fails to bring others up as a part of what we are doing here, then we no longer deserve to be a business.  So what does this mean practically?  Here are some of the aspirations we have as a business:

For Our Customer:

We will have the best customer service in the industry. If you don’t have an example of a time that you were blown away by how well we served you, email us…We would like to change that.

Also included in this is getting your product to you as quickly as possible.  From the checkout process to delivery time, we will be the best in our industry.

For Our Employees/Garment Manufacturers:

Our goal is to be a part of the movement to end slave labor and to give all of the people in our supply chain a good opportunity to make a living wage for each person and their families. This is easier said than done, but one of our owners is living in India with this specific goal in mind.

We also want to give the best opportunities for growth within our own organization.  No matter what background someone comes from, we will give our best to help them achieve what they want to achieve, even if it means leaving Bespoke Threads after they have the qualifications necessary to chase that dream.

For Our Neighbors

We have neighbors in two areas right now: Cleveland, Ohio and Kolkata, India.  We will continuously strive to build up people in those two communities…especially children and the elderly. If you work in one of these areas and have a need, let us know!  We would love to talk to you and see if we can be of help in any way.