As the word ‘sustainability’ is thrown around on social media more and more, it’s important to remember the real meaning of that word. Sustainability is not just a buzzword to be thrown about. It is an entire lifestyle that is dedicated to making a change for a better world.
Brighton itself has a sustainable and green ethos at its heart. Being the only Green party constituency in the UK, it’s obvious that this mind set is taken on by many of Brighton’s residents.
So isn’t it wonderful when a Brighton based brand and that sustainable mindset come together to create something new and exciting? That’s where Bella + Frank come in.
In this article we will cover:
- Who is Bella + Frank?
- How is the brand sustainable?
- Bella + Frank’s Christmas Giveaway
- Bella + Frank is a Brighton based sustainable children’s clothing brand, with nature and family being part of it’s core values. The idea for the brand was sparked by the uniqueness and individuality of the founder’s nieces. The family dogs, Bella and Frank were the perfect namesakes for the brand, with their cheeky and adventurous personalities.
Books, art and films are a huge part of the family’s connection to one another. This is infused into the brand through their creative vision, seen in the prints and designs in the clothing.
When you put these elements together, you get a brand that is made for families, by a family. The seaside lifestyle of Brighton and it’s great outdoor spaces merges perfectly with Bella + Frank’s values of outdoor living and families spending time together.
All of Bella + Frank’s collections have been heavily influenced by nature itself. With illustrations on the garments of wild flowers, insects and of course the dog’s Bella and Frank themselves.These clothes are made for children who love adventures on the beach, in the woods and the parks of Brighton or anywhere those adventures may take them.Bella + Frank’s clothing is designed with practicality in mind. The founders know how important it is to ensure comfort and durability in their clothing so children can be adventurous without hindrance.
Brighton is sewn into the clothing, especially when it comes to their swimwear, digitally printed with shoals of fish and shells found on our very own coastline.
How is the brand sustainable?
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So now you know a bit more about the brand. But it’s not all about what’s on the outside when it comes to Bella + Frank. Their entire process of creation has been thought out and thoroughly gone over to ensure that all aspects of the clothing do as little harm to the planet as possible.
Everything the brand does is steered towards creating a better future for the children who wear their clothing. With organic cotton, recycled materials and digitally printed illustrations instead of using harsh chemical dyes, this brand has really pulled in all possible ways to ensure that the garments have as little effect on the environment as possible.
By using organic cotton, there is no use of pesticides and harsh chemicals in the cotton growing process. This means that the pesticides that would normally kill wildlife and damage the soil in the normal process of cotton, aren’t used.
Bella + Frank source their wool from farms which follow strict animal welfare standards. This means the animals have large spaces of land to roam and are shorn only when needed and in a less distressing way.
The brand uses a material called seaquel for some of its items. This material is made of plastic found in the oceans. The plastics are collected and ground down into fibres and then turned into yarn. This stops the demand for new materials to be made and cleans the oceans at the same time.
Here in Brighton, we know the importance of keeping the sea clean. We’ve seen firsthand in Brighton the damage that can be caused by humans when it comes to polluting the water. Initiatives like this are what we need to combat the growing debris in our oceans.Recycled polyester is used too. This is made from cut offs or discarded materials that would normally be sent to landfill. Again, this stops the demand for new materials to be made and uses fabrics that would otherwise have been thrown away, despite them being completelyusable. You can tell they’ve been influenced by Brighton’s core values of environmental protection.
They even have clothing made from recycled plastic found in the ocean. So not only does this mean that no virgin materials were created to make these garments but it also means that they helped to clean up the oceans too.
The link between the clothing helping the planet as it’s made and then being worn in beautiful, natural surroundings creates a circle that constantly links back to itself.
When you buy these clothes, not only do you have peace of mind in knowing that they’ve not caused harm to the planet, but you also know they will stand the test of time. And that is the true meaning of sustainability.
- This Christmas, they are doing a fantastic stocking giveaway. Bella + Frank has pulled together items from homemade/sustainable brands, each donating an item for the stocking. These brands are London and West Sussex based, keeping it close to the heart of Bella + Frank. Small independent brands from all over the UK have added items to the stocking to be won just in time for Christmas. Entrants will be within a chance to win this fabulous stocking, full of handmade and sustainable items for children, including clothing from Bella + Frank themselves.
It’s a great way to support these local and independent brands in a year that’s really pushed self owned businesses to the limit. Bella + Frank have noticed the need to support these independent retailers that are so vital in our current retail climate.
Having handmade and sustainably sourced items as gifts this Christmas will be a huge help against the damage to the planet that is usually caused around this time of year. This is due to constant deliveries, high percentages of new items (usually plastic) being made and consumers buying from already established retailers.
It’s a wonderful way to pull brands together who have the same eco minded ethos as Brighton itself. Why not enter the giveaway yourself and be within a chance to win a stocking full of wonderful handmade gifts for children?
Shop the latest Bella + Frank collection now!
