This piece is the start of a series of Deep Dives into some of the most common sustainability terms, concepts and ideas. In this post, we are exploring what it means to be truly transparent.
In the world of sustainable luxury, transparency isn’t just a buzzword - it’s the foundation of trust. For conscious consumers, across generations, a brand’s value goes beyond exclusivity and price. It is about responsible sourcing, ethical craftsmanship, and openness at every stage of production.
At Elvis & Kresse, transparency means being open and honest about everything we do, from where collect our waste materials to how our teams are treated. It’s not a one-time achievement, but a continuous commitment to accountability and honesty.
In the luxury sector, transparency builds credibility. When brands openly share details about their supply chain, production, and impact, they empower us all to make informed, ethical choices. In contrast, vagueness and opacity are essentially greenwashing and can cover up exploitation and environmental degradation, and who wants to support that!
Transparency means answering the difficult questions and taking responsibility for both successes and shortcomings.
If you’re wondering how to tell whether a brand is truly sustainable, start by asking questions. A transparent brand will be willing and able to answer all of the following.
Where do your raw materials come from?
Where do you manufacture your products?
Who made this particular item?
Are your makers paid a living wage?
Can I visit your production sites?
If a brand avoids or cannot answer these questions, it may not be genuinely transparent, and might not deserve your support or investment.
Here’s how we at Elvis & Kresse answer those same questions:
Raw Materials: Most of our materials are rescued. They were wastes that we saved from landfill or incineration. We collect, clean, and transform them into beautiful new goods, giving them a long and healthy second life.
Manufacturing: We produce everything across our two dedicated sites - at our Kent UK HQ and at our workshop in Istanbul, established in 2012. By keeping production in-house, we ensure fair wages, quality control, and full transparency.
Craftsmanship: Our team is small and skilled. Each piece is hand-crafted by the Elvis & Kresse crew.
Fair Pay: We are a Certified Living Wage Employer, ensuring every member of our team earns a fair wage. Fashion Revolution has done a lot of work around Fair Pay, learn more here.
Open Access: Our Kent HQ is located on a working farm. You are welcome to visit, and join a workshop or stay in our cottage, or even see our Istanbul workshop by arrangement.
Certifications: We are a Social Enterprise, a founding UK B Corp, and a Living Wage Employer. Third-party verification is a crucial part of being transparent about our ethics and impact.
Fashion has long thrived on secrecy - not just around design launches or introducing new fabrics or techniques, but also around sourcing and labour conditions. This secrecy hides uncomfortable truths. including:
60–70% of clothing is made from synthetic fibres derived from oil, a non-renewable resource.
98% of garment workers globally do not earn a living wage. Let that sink in. 98% of our clothing is made by people who aren't paid enough to live.
At Elvis & Kresse, we reject that culture of silence. We use reclaimed materials that would otherwise be discarded, and we share our operations openly with partners and customers alike.
We don’t just share information about our products, we also open our books.
We share financial information with the London Fire Brigade, The Fire Fighters Charity, and Barefoot College International.
We donate 50% of our profits to our charity partners.
The remaining 50% is reinvested in R&D, our team, and a host of regenerative projects such as our chemical free vineyard, our renewable energy system and establishing and maintaining our wetland.
Transparency, for us, is part of a circular, regenerative business model where openness, sustainability, and craftsmanship are all necessary elements.
We believe in showing, not just telling. Visit our Kent workshop and farm, meet our team, and see how we turn rescued materials into sustainable luxury goods.
Want to know more? Ask us anything - we have nothing to hide.
