It Starts With Fabric
When it comes to fabric, we're all about pushing boundaries. Our team is obsessed with staying up-to-date on the newest, most innovative materials, and we won't accept anything less than recycled, sustainable, or biodegradable.
But that doesn't mean we'll ever let quality slide. We don't just pick fabrics for their planet-friendliness -- we pick them for what they offer as a whole.
Comfort. Stretch. Contour.
These fabrics are on our roster for a reason, and that reason is to make your activewear as high-performing, high-sculpting, and long-lasting as possible. But don't just take it from us.
Meet the textiles that make it all possible.
TENCEL™
The cooler, softer cousin of rayon, TENCEL™ is all about keeping environmental impact minimal.
So how’s it made?
Manufacturers take wood pulp, a carbon-neutral raw material, and process the fibers on a closed-loop system -- which means that 99.5% of the chemicals used are captured and reused in continuous processing. And the small amount of waste that does result is completely non-hazardous.
The finished product is a textile that’s softer than silk, cooler than linen, and 100% biodegradable.
The best part? All of our TENCEL™ comes from manufacturers that use only certified, sustainably managed woodstock -- with zero genetic modification involved.
Recycled Polyester
Full breathability, expert moisture-wicking control… but make it sustainable.
Recycled polyester requires 86% less water, and consumes 70% less energy, than regular polyester -- which means it’s all about high-functionality while reducing damage to our planet.
So how’s it made?
It starts with used plastic water bottles. Our factories collect bottles that’ve been pulled out of oceans -- and bottles that would’ve otherwise ended up in landfills -- and they sterilize them, before crushing them down into tiny chips. Those chips are heated -- until they’re hot, hot, HOT -- and then they’re moved through a spinneret.
The result is yarn. (And lots of it.)
That yarn is knitted into fabric, and voila! Recycled polyester is born.
The best part? Recycled polyester is certified safe by Oeko-Tex and it’s guaranteed recycled, so you can wear the fabric knowing you’re doing your part to minimize waste and cut out the fossil fuel industry.
Econyl
If you take flexible, lightweight breathability and combine it with total sustainability, this is what you get.
The certified recycled nylon textile is the most sustainable fabric on the block -- for now -- and it comes swinging some serious stats.
Stats like: it reduces the global warming impact of traditional nylon by up to 80%. (See? We weren’t kidding.)
So how’s it made?
It starts with fishing nets. Those nets, and other post-consumer waste, are pulled out of the ocean and sorted through, in order to recover as much nylon as possible. Next, that nylon is processed down and heated up -- until it’s hot, hot, HOT -- and the resulting liquid is moved through a spinneret.
The result is fibers that are ready to be spun into yarn -- and that are identical in quality to traditional nylon.
The best part? Since traditional nylon isn’t biodegradable, and so much of it ends up discarded in the ocean, the production of Econyl actually helps marine life -- like sea turtles and dolphins -- stay safe.
Q-NOVA
Moisture wicking? Full breathability? More lightweight -- and stronger -- than traditional nylon? Check, check, and check.
So how’s it made?
With pre-consumer textile waste. That’s right: the manufacturer takes the textile waste from regular cycles of production and moves it through an innovative mechanical process -- free of any unsustainable chemicals -- in order to create the Q-NOVA fibers.
The result is fibers -- and then yarn -- that are made from more than 50% recycled materials, requiring 39% less water consumption and producing 45% less emissions than traditional nylon.
The best part? Every kilo of Q-NOVA fabric saves up to 100 liters of oil and gas -- which means that every kilo of fabric is actively working to better our planet.
Let's Chat About Microplastics
First, the basics: Microplastics are synthetic textile fibers that escape from your clothes every time they go through the washing machine.
These fibers end up in our oceans -- and, together with fishing nets, are the two largest sources of microplastic pollution in our water.
Mircoplastics aren't just pollutants. They're dangerous to wildlife.
Aquatic animals like sea turtles, dolphins, and fish -- and even ocean-visiting animals like birds -- are at constant risk of harm because of them.
We're against filling our oceans with pollutans, and we're against putting these species in harm's way.
That's why we recommend Guppyfriend Bags -- to make sure that no more microplastics make it into our beautiful water.
Next Stop: Factories
When it comes to the factories and manufacturers we partner with, here are our three non-negotiables...
Ethical. Environmentally-Conscious. Trusted.
Our partners are crucial to everything that we do -- and everything that we accomplish -- so it's safe to say that our vetting process is intense. But once we find the factories and manufacturers that embody our core values, we can't wait to show them off. Ready to meet them?
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Quick Facts:
Family-Run Business: Yes
Employees’ Work Day: 8 hrs
Employees’ Work Week: 40 hrs
Employees’ Vacation Days: 22/year
Employees’ Benefits: Transportation, Food, Insurance
Certifications: SMETA (in progress)
Factory Bio:
In this factory, environmental and social responsibility are everything. That’s evident in production methods, in workplace spirit, and in the training and education they offer to keep their team reaching for new, innovative practices.
Factory Specialties:
Seamless Technology ✓
Waste Reduction ✓
Commitment to Sustainable & Ethical Innovation ✓
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Quick Facts:
Family-Run Business: Yes
Employees’ Work Day: 8 hrs
Employees’ Work Week: 40 hrs
Employees’ Vacation Days: 22/year
Employees’ Benefits: Transportation, Food, Insurance
Certifications: GOTS, SA8000, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, bluesign
Factory Bio:
Another factory that prioritizes environmental and social responsibility, this Apulia-based facility is committed to reaching as many gold-standard benchmarks as they can -- all while maintaining complete transparency.
Factory Specialties:
Seamless Technology ✓
Sustainable Fabrics ✓
Best Possible Certifications ✓
-
Quick Facts:
Family-Run Business: No
Employees’ Work Day: 8 hrs
Employees’ Work Week: 40 hrs
Employees’ Benefits: Accommodation, Food, Insurance, Birthday Parties
Factory Bio:
For this factory, maintaining a high-quality workplace for its employees is top priority. That means keeping up with the newest sustainable production practices, but it also means building a sense of community among the staff.
Factory Specialties:
Seamless Technology ✓
Sustainable Fabrics ✓
Top-Rated Work Environment ✓
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Quick Facts:
Family-Run Business x
Employees’ Work Day: Shift Work
Employees’ Work Week: Shift Work
Employees’ Vacation Days: Extensive, + Several ‘Recovery Days’ After Shifts
Employees’ Benefits: Health & Safety Prioritized, Work-Life Balance, Training & Development, Staff Restaurant, Performance Bonuses, Staff Events
Certifications: EU Eco Label, FSC, PEFC, Oeko-Tex Standard 100
Manufacturer Bio:
This Austrian manufacturer is leading the sustainable textile industry with its TENCEL™ fabric -- but that’s not all it’s doing. It’s also prioritizing the health, happiness, and education of all of its employees. It’s not just about creating more sustainable products -- it’s about acting more sustainably, and ethically, in every facet of life.
Manufacturer Specialties:
TENCEL™ Fabric ✓
Best Possible Certifications ✓
-
Quick Facts:
Family-Run Business: Yes
Employees’ Work Day: 8 hrs
Employees’ Work Week: 40 hrs
Employees’ Vacation Days: 22/year
Employees’ Benefits: Transportation, Food, Insurance
Certifications: SMETA (in progress)
Factory Bio:
In this factory, environmental and social responsibility are everything. That’s evident in production methods, in workplace spirit, and in the training and education they offer to keep their team reaching for new, innovative practices.
Factory Specialties:
Seamless Technology ✓
Waste Reduction ✓
Commitment to Sustainable & Ethical Innovation ✓
-
Quick Facts:
Family-Run Business: Yes
Employees’ Work Day: 8 hrs
Employees’ Work Week: 40 hrs
Employees’ Vacation Days: 22/year
Employees’ Benefits: Transportation, Food, Insurance
Certifications: GOTS, SA8000, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, bluesign
Factory Bio:
Another factory that prioritizes environmental and social responsibility, this Apulia-based facility is committed to reaching as many gold-standard benchmarks as they can -- all while maintaining complete transparency.
Factory Specialties:
Seamless Technology ✓
Sustainable Fabrics ✓
Best Possible Certifications ✓
-
Quick Facts:
Family-Run Business: No
Employees’ Work Day: 8 hrs
Employees’ Work Week: 40 hrs
Employees’ Benefits: Accommodation, Food, Insurance, Birthday Parties
Factory Bio:
For this factory, maintaining a high-quality workplace for its employees is top priority. That means keeping up with the newest sustainable production practices, but it also means building a sense of community among the staff.
Factory Specialties:
Seamless Technology ✓
Sustainable Fabrics ✓
Top-Rated Work Environment ✓
-
Quick Facts:
Family-Run Business x
Employees’ Work Day: Shift Work
Employees’ Work Week: Shift Work
Employees’ Vacation Days: Extensive, + Several ‘Recovery Days’ After Shifts
Employees’ Benefits: Health & Safety Prioritized, Work-Life Balance, Training & Development, Staff Restaurant, Performance Bonuses, Staff Events
Certifications: EU Eco Label, FSC, PEFC, Oeko-Tex Standard 100
Manufacturer Bio:
This Austrian manufacturer is leading the sustainable textile industry with its TENCEL™ fabric -- but that’s not all it’s doing. It’s also prioritizing the health, happiness, and education of all of its employees. It’s not just about creating more sustainable products -- it’s about acting more sustainably, and ethically, in every facet of life.
Manufacturer Specialties:
TENCEL™ Fabric ✓
Best Possible Certifications ✓
Let's Chat About Seamless Technology
It's knitting reimagined.
Increased efficiency. Greater yarn flexibility. Minimal fabric waste.
That's what seamless technology offers. How? By adding circular looms into the mix.
These looms make for a continuous process of production that takes away the need for lateral stitching, turning the textile into a stretchier, more comfortable piece of fabric -- without any weak spots.
No sewing. No cutting. Just a whole lot less fabric wasted, a whole lot less manual labor required, and a whole lot more yarn saved. It's ethical sustainability at it's best, and it's best, and it's a feature we're proud to say that each one of our factories uses -- every day.
Introducing... Packaging
Our commitment to sustainability doesn't end once our products are made. Not even close. At June Label, our eye is on the whole journey -- which means we track our ecological footprint from our partner factories to our warehouse, and then all the way over to you.
Our aim? To make sure that we're doing everything in our power to reduce waste, carbon emissions, and environmental harm. Every step of the way.
One major part of how we do that is through our packaging.
Kraft Paper Shipping Envelopes
We always ship our products in style. And by 'in style', we mean in the most eco-friendly option our here.
These shipping envelopes aren't just FSC certified -- which guarantees sustainable foresting practices -- but they're also 100% biodegradable.
That means that they leave no impact whatsoever on the environment.
But they're pretty cute, so they just might leave an impact on you.
Biodegradable Cornstarch Zip Bags
These inner bags are way too badass to be kept under wraps. They deserve a spotlight of their own -- so let's give it to them.
Completely made up of cornstarch (which is, you guessed it, a renewable resource!), these zip bags don't just produce 68% less greenhouse gas emissions than their plastic counterparts -- they're also 100% biodegradable.
Use them, reuse them, then wait for them to blend right back into the environment they came from.
Now that's the beauty of sustainability.
A Sports Bra Breakdown
Meet Our Cheetah Deep Lilac Sports Bra
Step 1
Our partner factory takes plastic water bottles -- you know, the plastic water bottles that are thrown away and end up in our oceans -- and sterilizes them. Those bottles are crushed into tiny chips, and then they're heated. Really heated.
Step 2
Then, the melted substance is passed through a spinneret, which looks like a round utensil with tiny holes in it.
Step 3
That yarn is then knitted into the recycled polyester textile, making it possible for you to wear discarded water bottles. Pretty cool, right?
When you place your order, we slip the bra into a biodegradable cornstarch zip bag -- and then into a Kraft Paper shipping box. Then, we send it over to you -- in the most ecologically-minded way possible.
Step 1
Our partner factory takes plastic water bottles -- you know, the plastic water bottles that are thrown away and end up in our oceans -- and sterilizes them. Those bottles are crushed into tiny chips, and then they're heated. Really heated.
Step 2
Then, the melted substance is passed through a spinneret, which looks like a round utensil with tiny holes in it.
Step 3
That yarn is then knitted into the recycled polyester textile, making it possible for you to wear discarded water bottles. Pretty cool, right?
When you place your order, we slip the bra into a biodegradable cornstarch zip bag -- and then into a Kraft Paper shipping box. Then, we send it over to you -- in the most ecologically-minded way possible.
The Future
We know that sustainability isn't just a box to check off -- it's a lifelong commitment to bettering our planet. That's why we're constantly on the lookout for new ways to make our products, processes, and company culture even more eco-friendly.
At June Label, we have a list.
This list is home to all of our goals -- and actionable ways to achieve them. Since we'are big (read: HUGE) fans of transparency, we through we'd give you an all-access pass. So here it is... the list!
The 'How We're Planning To Improve' List:
But here's the thing...
When it comes to sustainability, there power in numbers.
We'll never stop aiming to radically change the fashion industry,
and we'll never stop aiming to breathe rejuvenation, health, and prosperity back into our oceans
-- and our planet. But we can't do it alone. We're asking for your help. What can you do?
Learn about harmful practices still commonly employed by factories, manufacturers, and brand all over the world.
Understand that these processes have catastrophic real-world effects on our planet -- and the many species that call it home.
Choose to buy from, invest in, and wear the brands that are standing up to the unsustainable, unethical industry norms
Let's demand more from the fashion industry. Let's demand more for our planet.
When we all band together to affect change, unbelievable things happen. So join us in fighing for sustainability.
Join us in giving our planet the love it deserves.