Once upon a time in the vibrant city of Brighton, a group of passionate individuals came together to create a fashion revolution. They called themselves Ilk and Ernie, a name that perfectly captured their innovative spirit and commitment to sustainability. Led by the visionary founder, Jess, this team of change-makers was determined to shake up the fashion world for good.
Inspired by the wastefulness and negative impact of the industry, Jess embarked on a mission to create quality, comfortable, and sustainable clothes. With a quirky sense of humour and a deep love for the planet, Ilk and Ernie set out to make a difference.
Sustainability
Ilk and Ernie is a sustainable fashion brand based in Brighton that prioritizes reducing waste and environmental impact. The brand takes a zero waste approach to fashion, ensuring that their garments are made with surplus fabric and any cut-offs are used to create accessories.
Ilk and Ernie only produces two collections a year, with each collection consisting of no more than 10-15 styles, to discourage overconsumption and excess production. They encourage transeasonal styling, as their versatile designs can be worn all year round.
The brand also focuses on reducing waste in their fabric supply chain by purchasing and reusing dead stock fabric. They actively participate in initiatives to reduce plastic packaging and lower their carbon footprint, using cardboard instead for packaging. Ilk and Ernie are transparent and accountable!
Additionally, they partner with One Tribe to protect rainforests and support biodiversity and indigenous communities.
Ethical Practises
All the collections of Ilk and Ernie are designed in-house at their studio in Brighton by Jess, and ethically made in Delhi, India. The team in Delhi receives fair wages, holiday pay, health insurance, and works in safe environments with EU standard working hours
Ilk + Ernie take pride in its ethical practices and transparency. They provide customers with an inside view of their production team, highlighting the key players and celebrating their contributions. The team includes individuals such as Sam, the factory manager, Javid, the head tailor, Prabhu, the accountant, Rikita, the head merchandiser, Rohit, the head of quality control, and Nafees, the head of sourcing. Ilk + Ernie also encourages customers to reach out via email if they have any questions about how the business is run, demonstrating their commitment to transparency and accountability.
Why Wednesday Loves
Ilk and Ernie’s story is a testament to the power of passion, creativity, and a genuine desire to make a difference. Through their sustainable fashion brand, they brought joy, style, and a sense of purpose to the world.
Brief History
Their journey began by rescuing surplus fabric from other fashion brands, preventing it from meeting a tragic end in landfills or incinerators. With these rescued materials, they crafted beautiful garments, ensuring that no waste was left behind. But they didn’t stop there. Ilk and Ernie transformed their fabric cut-offs into fabulous accessories, leaving no stone unturned in their quest to eliminate waste from their production line.
As their reputation grew, so did their commitment to ethical practices. Ilk and Ernie partnered with a dedicated team in Delhi, India, ensuring fair wages, benefits, and safe conditions for their artisans. They believed that fashion should not come at the expense of human lives or the environment.