Ethical Policy

Global Artisans & Cooperatives

What is the relationship between TOAST and its artisans from around the world?

We have been collaborating with our network of craftspeople from around the world for over 25 years. We pride ourselves on working closely with all our suppliers. We have written a TOAST Code of Conduct that all suppliers must read, sign and agree to before carrying out any production.

We regularly work with fair trade co-operatives and smaller workshops on artisanal crafts such as block printing, embroidery, tie-dyeing, hand spinning and hand weaving among others. Our intention being to celebrate the profound and timeless skills of these makers and to do what we can to sustain them. We recognise that homeworkers are a vulnerable part of the supply chain due to their complicated employment status and remote rural locations in which they are based. We expect all our suppliers to commit to a transparent and accurate method of recording working hours and costing time frames for work conducted by homeworkers or artisans. As with all our suppliers we require that terms and conditions of work are legally compliant, clearly defined and communicated to the workers.

It is our requirement for all suppliers that wages and benefits paid for a standard working week meet, at a minimum, national legal standards or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher. In any event wages should always be high enough to meet all necessary living costs and to provide some discretionary income. 

Manufacturing & Supply Chains

How does TOAST choose its suppliers?

At TOAST we search globally for suppliers with the best strengths for their product areas, and put equal importance and emphasis on their ethical standards and working practices. Please read our Modern Slavery Statement. We pride ourselves in developing longstanding relationships with many of our clients.

How does TOAST audit its suppliers and monitor the ethical statement?

We have worked in partnership with most of our suppliers over many years. We visit them regularly and work through any problems constructively. We do this through a corrective action plan with an agreed time frame and do our upmost to support their efforts to conform to our standards. We have written a TOAST Code of Conduct that all suppliers must read, sign and agree to before carrying out any production.

What happens if a supplier is not conforming?

In the first instance, if we find that a maker is not looking after its workers, or the environment, in the way that we would expect, we dedicate resources to working hand in hand with that maker to help them carry out improvements, rather than simply cutting ties with them. In our own way, we are trying to help to broaden awareness and understanding of these important issues in the communities that we touch. If we find repeated violations and the supplier is not willing to make corrective actions over an agreed timescale, it is our policy to terminate the co-operation with the supplier and cancel our existing orders.

Why do you produce in China?

We select our suppliers because they demonstrate specialist skills and techniques. China has some of the very best textile manufacturers in the world. Two of our woven garment suppliers are based in Hangzhou and Suzhou - regions renowned for their silk production. We also work with knitwear suppliers offering farm-to-garment traceability. We have long-standing relationships with our Chinese suppliers, and have been working with them for an average of six years. We value their level of fibre expertise and reduce the transportation of materials by working with them. For example, if a certain fabric is made or woven in China, we seek to produce the garment in the same region. Whenever we work with a supplier, one of our team visits them in-person to examine working conditions, meet the makers, and ensure that we are satisfied that the supplier’s practices match up to our standards and code of conduct. In addition, all of our suppliers have an annual third party audit, using the social auditing methodology and reporting provided by SEDEX and Amfori BSCI.

What processes have you put in place to minimise waste?

We forecast our buy and focus on maximising our sell through rate to avoid any excess product. 

As part of our evolving circular strategy, our teams have developed creative approaches for turning potential waste into a valuable resource. This includes breathing new life into existing garments through visible repair and repurposing surplus materials.

Environment

Why is my item Dry clean only?

We consider carefully our choices regarding fabric cleaning and we want our customers to have the best performance possible for their purchase. It is only when absolutely necessary do we accept the dry clean only care instructions. We recommend GreenEarth® cleaning through Johnsons. They offer a more environmentally friendly method of cleaning.

How do you offset your carbon footprint?

We consolidate our shipments to maximise space on transport vessels and weigh up the most cost effective and most efficient way to transport our goods, be it by road, air or sea. We avoid excessive shipping of raw materials, fabrics or trims around the world and source our materials as close to place of manufacture as is possible.

Do you use recyclable packaging?

Both our shop carrier bags and packaging for online orders are made from kraft paper which is 100% recyclable. Kraft paper is also incredibly strong which means that it can be reused for longer.

Do you offer a repair service?

TOAST clothes are designed with longevity at their heart. TOAST Repair is our free mending service that brings new life to worn TOAST garments. The Repair service is available for all TOAST garments regardless of when and where they were bought. We strongly believe in fostering a more circular lifestyle, and together with our customer, we help to keep our garments in use for longer.

Are you researching sustainable fabrics to replace man-made or synthetic materials?

We have been steadily decreasing the use of man-made fibres in our garments over recent years. We are proud to be able to say that at present, over 85% of the materials we use are natural, including organic cotton. We only accept synthetic materials, such as polyester or nylon, under exceptional circumstances where the performance or durability would be compromised, such as socks, or certain blended yarns for knitwear or tailoring. However, even then we will limit the blend to no more than approximately 20% of the overall fibre composition. We are working hard to find alternatives for elastane and are researching options for using recycled materials – we currently use recycled cashmere in our loungewear collection.

Animal Welfare

What is your animal welfare policy?

At TOAST we have a preference for natural textiles such as cotton, wool and linen in our collections. In sourcing our materials, we place equal measure on quality, sustainability and good animal welfare practices.

TOAST will not tolerate any cruelty or mistreatment of animals. We will not support any associations or individuals who are found to be in contravention of our principles. We value the long-lasting and strong partnerships we have built throughout our supply chain and we are consistently working to achieve good visibility through our supply chain and working practices.

We strictly prohibit the use of fur, angora, exotic skins and protected, threatened or endangered species.

How and from where does TOAST source its wool, cashmere and mohair?

In sourcing our animal based materials, we select suppliers that demonstrate the highest standards of animal welfare, best practices for land management and traceability of materials at each step of production.

We source yarn from reputable spinners who source their wool from the UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, China and South America. Spinners we have been working with for several years include Donegal Yarns in Ireland, Artwell, who are specialists in cashmere, in China and Knoll in Yorkshire.