C&P:At Chinti and Parker we have a clearly defined mission: to marry great luxury basics with environmentally and ethically kind production wherever possible.
MG: What sort of production values do you have for your fabric? Tell us about the materials you use.
C&P: All our cotton-jersey is made from 100% organic cotton, certified by GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard. The only exception is the grey marl. Due to its inherent blend of threads is too weak to successfully produce the ultra-lightweight quality we desire. As techniques evolve, we hope this will change. We have, however, pledged from the beginning that production values are to be considered in balance with the overall quality and beauty of a garment.
In the case of our newest jersey range, made from a blend of Bamboo and Seacell, it’s been an instant love affair of style and ethics. Bamboo is highly sustainable with tactile properties akin to silk (it literally pours over your skin) while Seacell is an entirely eco-friendly fibre, made from wood pulp and Seaweed - the perfect fabric choice for our ss11 dresses where beautiful drape is key. We are proud to say that all our jersey is produced within the EU.
Our knitwear is made from the finest Italian cashmere, produced by a family-run business in Mauritius. Though not organic, it has been chosen for its sustainability and superior quality, while its production location has been chosen for its rare craftsmanship and care – the reason we work with The Carbon Neutral Company to offset our garments’ travel, thus keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum. On this count, we are proud to announce that for aw11 two statement cashmere pieces are being produced in Scotland: the Star Intasia sweater and Star Intasia scarf.
While we actively search for a source of certified organic cashmere, we have been careful not to overlook the details: every piece of knitwear boasts hand-finished details with natural trims – even our buttons are made from Corozo, a palm nut that is both highly sustainable and exceptionally hard-wearing.
MG:How do you deal with packaging concerns?
C&P: One of the most wasteful and environmentally damaging aspects of all retail is packaging, which though admired for a second, typically ends up in landfill. For this reason we’ve chosen to keep things minimal. Instead, each Chinti and Parker garment arrives in its own organic cotton envelope, made by Teddy Exports, a fair trade cooperative from the Tamil Nadu region of Southern India. They’re rather lovely and happily live on as shoe bags or protective pockets for delicate pieces in your wardrobe.
MG: What sort of criteria do you have for “conscious cloth”? How do you communicate this to the consumer?
Our knitwear is made from the finest Italian cashmere, produced by a family-run business in Mauritius. Though not organic, it has been chosen for its sustainability and superior quality, while its production location has been chosen for its rare craftsmanship and care – the reason we work with The Carbon Neutral Company to offset our garments’ travel, thus keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum. On this count, we are proud to announce that for aw11 two statement cashmere pieces are being produced in Scotland: the Star Intasia sweater and Star Intasia scarf.
While we actively search for a source of certified organic cashmere, we have been careful not to overlook the details: every piece of knitwear boasts hand-finished details with natural trims – even our buttons are made from Corozo, a palm nut that is both highly sustainable and exceptionally hard-wearing.
MG:How do you deal with packaging concerns?
C&P: One of the most wasteful and environmentally damaging aspects of all retail is packaging, which though admired for a second, typically ends up in landfill. For this reason we’ve chosen to keep things minimal. Instead, each Chinti and Parker garment arrives in its own organic cotton envelope, made by Teddy Exports, a fair trade cooperative from the Tamil Nadu region of Southern India. They’re rather lovely and happily live on as shoe bags or protective pockets for delicate pieces in your wardrobe.
MG: What sort of criteria do you have for “conscious cloth”? How do you communicate this to the consumer?
C&P:Finally, all our products come with swing-tickets that bare a checklist of our ultimate ‘conscious cloth’ criteria. Every season we strive to tick more boxes, until one day they’re all ticked. In the meantime, we feel it’s important to be as transparent as possible.MG: Tell us about your spring and summer 2012 collection.
C&P: Chinti and Parker’s spring summer 2012 collection embraces a palette of off-key primaries,
wide stripes and playful polka dots for a proud, graphic feel. New T styles include the Oversize Granddad, an update on the button-down classic, but shortsleeved and slouchy. Signature Breton stripes, meanwhile, are reinvented with contrasting pockets. Woven cotton pieces offer a grown-up direction, with the wide collar T, and patch-pocket vest the ultimate in throw-on chic. Also on this tip are linen-cotton tapered pants in elegant mineral tones and linen scooped vests that feel instantly worn and loved. The cool ease of the Maxi dress prevails with three dominant styles – smocked, plaited-strap and twisted halterneck – while midi looks include a flirty open-back dress, wide-stripe jersey shift and rope-tie sundress. Luxury purists will adore dresses in 100% Bamboo, a sustainable fibre as tactile as silk. Italian cashmere sweaters and cardigans come in boxy styles that skim the hipbone, while lovers of a fine, fitted sweater or cardigan will fall head over heels with the new Worsted cashmere range – it proves the abundant sex appeal of a neutral knit. Also of note is the introduction of organic cotton knitwear. The mood for spring summer 2012 may be bold and upbeat, but Chinti and Parker’s core values remain as strong as ever: beautiful, ethically made basics to last.
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