Our Responsibility Philosophy
At Ekta Helsinki we are guided by our strong believe in making responsible and ethical choices in every aspect of our business, from sourcing the Finnish wool we use to collaborating with local suppliers and ensuring fair working conditions for all. We also strive to promote conscious consumerism by encouraging our customers to invest in high-quality, timeless pieces that can be worn for years. By embodying these values and principles, we hope to make a positive impact on the fashion industry and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future.
The Finnish Sheep
In Finland, we don’t have many sheep, and therefore we treat them especially well. Only about 130 000 sheep inhabit an area much larger than New Zealand, which has 26 million sheep. Our sheep have room to live and graze in a way that increases biodiversity.Â
Our sheep are handled extra gently and are sheared once to twice per year. The painful practise of mulesing is prohibited by law, and no environmentally harmful pesticides are used on our sheep.
Finnish Sheep Wool
We use only 100 % Finnish sheep wool. It is a natural and renewable material, it’s ecological and 100% biodegradable and recyclable. We are proud to save tons of Finnish wool from otherwise being discarded as waste.
The Finnish sheep wool has more lanolin than other wool types and is good for your skin. The lanolin makes it softer, more stain resistant and water-repellent. The wool is elastic, breathable and durable, and does not itch or pill easily. Our wool is comfortable to wear all year round and it is easy to care for.
Undyed wool
At Ekta Helsinki, we don’t dye our knitwear. Our yarn is totally natural, and we celebrate the beautiful natural colours of Finnish sheep wool. Our natural sheep wool colours range from natural whites to greys, beiges and browns.
We choose not to use harmful chemicals that are used to dye textiles. Textile dyes are a great environmental concern as they are carcinogenic and will eventually end up as toxic waste.Â
The Production
All our products are made ethically in Finland from Finnish sheep wool. Our farm to wardrobe philosophy ensures that the welfare of both the sheep and the people involved are optimized, and all our processes are ethical and transparent.
The journey from sheep to sweater is as short as possible. The Finnish wool is sheared, spun and knitted in Finland, within a mere 500 km radius.
Timeless Design
We don’t believe in the fast-paced seasonal fashion trends that create unnecessary waste. Our knits are designed to last. Our designs are timeless and can be worn on many different occasions. They are designed by us for comfortable and versatile year-round wear.
Our garments are authentic and sustainable and produced locally in small batches. They may have a higher price point than others, but the benefits for the planet, for climate awareness and for animal and human welfare are immeasurable.
Packaging and transportation
Our whole supply chain, all the way to arriving at your doorstep, is climate smart.Â
Our shipping partners are carbon neutral. For packaging your orders we use recyclable packages made of recycled materials, and we follow a zero plastic, zero waste policy.Â
The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of our total carbon emissions, and 85% of all textiles become waste each year. We refuse to be a part of that.
Certifications
Ekta Helsinki is the first brand in the Finnish fashion industry ever to have been certified with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, one of the toughest environmental certificates in the world.
We are proud to have this certification that ensures that our whole product life cycle from raw material to the end customer is climate conscious, ethical and ecologically sound.
We have also been granted the Keyflag symbol which only products that are made in Finland receive, as well as the Design from Finland mark, for designing all our products in Helsinki.
