We’re currently working on revamping our site and updating our sustainability pages, however it is a bigger overhaul and while we were initially planning to have it all done at the end of January, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. So while we keep working on everything else, I wanted to share a quick update to know where we stand now.
OUR TEAM
Currently behind everything you see at Loud Bodies works a team of 9 people. All my employees are paid a living wage – the starting salary for someone joining our team is more than twice our country’s minimum wage, which according to the workers & suppliers, it is greater than a living wage. It is my greatest accomplishment to be able to offer my team good, living wages and a safe environment to work in. We give raises at least once per year, holiday bonuses, birthday bonuses and my goal is for everyone to be paid more than three times the minimum wage by the end of 2024. As we grow as a business, that growth has and always will be shared with my team.
Besides living wages, we prioritise our team’s mental and physical health and do everything in our power to ensure this is the best workplace they’re ever had – a place where their needs are respected and their presence cherished. Nobody has a fixed schedule, everyone can choose their hours and the lunch break is on me – they’ve got a 30 minute lunch break + as many bathroom/snack breaks as needed all within the 8 paid hours they spend at the atelier. At the end of the month, those add up to at least 10 extra hours they would normally be spending at work and wouldn’t be compensated for. Everyone has 20+ paid vacation days per year and unlimited paid sick leave.
As for working conditions, no dark, cold, unsafe factory here – we rent a small house in the city that gets plenty of natural light, we’ve got heating/cooling systems for every season. We offer free filtered water, unlimited free coffee and tea and everything needed for the well functioning of the atelier is provided by us.
OUR FABRICS
Since 2020 when we first took the plunge, we have only been using natural and certified sustainable fabrics. All our cotton is organic and carries the GOTS certification, we only use Ecovero viscose certified by Lenzing as well as Tencel/Lyocell exclusively certified by Lenzing. We source our fabrics as close as possible, so seeing as we are based in Romania, our fabrics and accessories come from Portugal, Germany and France. We pay great attention to all details, so even the accessories we use are sustainable: zippers from recycled materials, interlining from cotton or viscose and buttons from glass, metal or shell. Our thread is made from either cotton or recycled polyester.
OUR PACKAGING
We are proud to say that there is no plastic whatsoever involved in our packaging process. From hangtags, to stationery, to wrapping paper it is all all made from paper or recycled paper and the parcels are tied with organic cotton thread. Orders are shipped in compostable mailers made from corn starch, PLA (synthesised from corn) and PBAT (Polybutyrate Adipate Terephthalate)). We pay extra for each shipment in order for DHL to offset the carbon emissions for our shipments.
ANIMAL WELFARE
None of our items contain any animal components, we do not use leather or fur or even silk. We are a categorically vegan brand, as we love animals dearly (we’re all either cat or dog moms) and would never use any sort of fabric or component that has brought harm to animals. On the contrary, we feed all local stray animals every day at the atelier.
