Safi - News 2019-12-04T17:14:00+00:00 Safi 2019-12-04T17:14:00+00:00 2020-07-29T11:38:18+01:00 Why plant trees? Sabrina Nascimbeni Why are we giving back to environmental causes? 

Discover the benefits that planting a tree has and why we have chosen to give back to One Tree Planted, a non-profit organisation focused on global deforestation. 



Planting a tree

Why have we chosen to give a percentage of each sale to planting a tree?

As we are still a small and growing brand, it is hard to decide ways in which we can give back to society and our planet. In a previous interview, we mentioned the efforts we would like to take in the future by giving back to the people that make our garments, however, as we are still growing we would also like to contribute to Environmental Causes. 

So here is why we have chosen a to work with One Tree Planted in order to plant trees:

Climate Change

We are living at a time where we are having to deal with excess Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere, majorly contributing to Climate Change, one of the world's biggest current problems. Now, as much as we urge people to stop burning fossil fuels, this is difficult to do and will still not be enough. As George Monbiot mentions in Nature Now, a Tree is a magic machine that is right in front of us. Trees help keep the planet cool by sucking in and storing harmful greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere.

According to One Tree Planted, trees in cities can reduce the overall temperature by up to eight degrees Celsius. With more than 50% of the world’s population living in cities—a number expected to increase to 66% by the year 2050—pollution and overheating are becoming a real threat. Fortunately, a mature tree can absorb an average of 48 lbs of carbon dioxide per year, making cities a healthier, safer place to live. Annually, an acre of trees absorbs the amount of carbon dioxide equal to driving your car 26 000 miles. Trees are our main survival tools; only one tree can produce enough oxygen for four people.


Air Purifying

Trees help purify the air, just as it was mentioned above, trees absorb pollutant gases, such as nitrogen oxides, ozone, and carbon monoxide. Trees also absorb odors, sweep up particles like dust and smoke, acting as a filter, as little particulates get trapped in leaves. 


Their intricate root systems act like filters; removing pollutants and slowing down the water’s absorption into the ground, which contributes to the prevention of natural disasters. This process prevents harmful waterside erosion, it also reduces the risk of over-saturation and flooding. According to Greenpop, trees need about 15 water gallons a week to survive but they release about 200-450 gallons of water per day. 

They can also prevent water pollution, as stormwater can be full of phosphorus pollutants and nitrogen. Without them, stormwater flows into oceans and waters without being filtered. Trees break the rainfall and allow water to enter the earth and seep into the soil. Therefore, they prevent stormwater from polluting oceans. 


One tree alone can be a home and a food source to hundreds of species ranging from insects to fungi and from moss to mammals. Of course, it depends on the kind of food and shelter they need, different forest animals require different types of habitats, for example, Oak and Sycamore Trees are most planted as homes for birds, squirrels, and bees. 

Without trees, forest creatures would have nowhere to call home.

Planting a palm tree

Social Impact

Job opportunities provided by the forestry industry extend from arborists to loggers, to researchers. Trees are not only relied on for work but sustainable tree farming also provides many other benefits, such as; timber to build shelter and wood to burn for cooking and heating. Let us also not forget about food-producing trees that provide fruit, nuts, berries, and leaves for consumption by both humans and animals, and guarantee health and nutrition. 

Benefits to Health

Trees aid with the reduction of stress, anxiety, and they allow us to reconnect with nature. In addition to this, trees provide shade and coverage that helps protect our skin from the ever-increasing harshness of the sun. 

Reinforcing Soil

Trees provide benefits to agriculture in many ways, such as by reducing soil erosion, increasing fertility and helping soil obtain moisture. Fallen tree leaves reduce soil temperature and prevent soil from losing too much moisture while decaying leaves that fall onto the ground, turn into nutrients for tree growth and promote microorganism development.


Giving back by planting more Trees


In case this information has not convinced you of the benefits of planting trees yet, please take the time to watch Nature Now, brilliantly narrated by Greta Thunberg and Goerge Monbiot.

"We need to stop funding things that destroy nature and pay for things that help it". 

 Information and photo credits go to One Tree Planted and Greenpop

]]> 2019-11-14T11:33:00+00:00 2020-01-06T14:36:20+00:00 Sustainable Fashion Glossary Sabrina Nascimbeni More


Sustainable Fashion Terms 

Extinction Rebellion Sustainable Fashion Glossary

Sustainability is now the word of the moment, sometimes it is even overused or misused by brands that are Greenwashing (explained below), that is why it is important to stay in the know and find out what brands actually are sustainable. As a small and independent brand that is starting up, we cannot guarantee that we necessarily tick all of the boxes, however, we are slowly working on improving. 

Now, if you do not come from a background with a particular interest in sustainable fashion or you are just getting started into understanding it, this glossary (taken from High Snobiety) has you covered on all the terms you may not already be familiar with, listed from A-Z.


Biodegradable means that a product can break down naturally without any negative effects on the environment, such as releasing harmful chemicals. In the fashion industry, biodegradable often refers to non-synthetic fabrics such as organic cotton (description below), silk, and hemp — those without dyes and finishing chemicals.


Carbon, as The Guardian explains, is shorthand for all the various greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide — that absorb and emit radiant energy that increase the temperature of the earth’s surface and therefore contribute to climate change. A company striving for carbon neutrality means they are aiming to eliminate all carbon emissions from their supply chain.

Gucci is currently aiming to do this and while it acknowledges that going completely carbon-neutral is impossible given its business model, it has promised to offset its emissions with donations to wider REDD+ (a program that supports countries’ efforts to reduce emissions and tackle deforestation) efforts.

Circular Fashion

Circular fashion refers to the entire lifecycle of a product and centers on a circle of create, use, recycle, rather than create, use, dispose. It looks at products beyond their original function and timespan and focuses on how their materials can be consistently utilized and repurposed. Circular fashion takes in to consideration everything including the design, sourcing, transportation, storage, marketing, sale and disposal of the product.


Cost-per-wear considers the value of a piece in relation to how many times it’s worn. For example, you buy a pair of $200 sneakers and wear them twice, that’s $100 per wear. You wear them 100 times, its $2 per wear, and so on.

In a nutshell, the price you pay for an item should be reflective of its value to you. Think of items less as objects but more in terms of use. It’s much better to spend more on a pair of jeans you can practically live in for the next few decades than a cheap $30 pair that fall apart in under a year.

Closed Loop

A closed loop cycle is a common term and its very similar to circular fashion but can be applied to products outside the industry, too. In fashion it means that all new clothes are made from preexisting clothes and textiles, The Guardian explains. Once an item has fulfilled its use, it can be broken down through an environmentally sound process and turned back into yarn/fabric and then recycled into another garment. This forms a “closed loop” in that an item would have an eternal life cycle and therefore eliminate waste.


Cruelty-free means that companies did not test ingredients or products on animals during the production phase. Cruelty-free, therefore, also means that no animals were killed or harmed anywhere in the world during production. Items that meet this standard normally carry a heart symbol.

In terms of materials, there are certain standards you should look for to ensure the product you’re purchasing doesn’t hurt the animal it comes from. For example, while wool (if free of synthetic blends) is technically biodegradable, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the sheep it comes from was treated well. PETA has documented horrific cases of sheep mistreatment in Australia. The country produces much of the world’s merino wool but also uses a grim procedure called “mulesing” in which flesh is cut from a sheep’s buttock’s to prevent flystrike (flies laying eggs on the animal that grow into maggots and eat flesh) but does so without anesthetic.

Then of course you have leather, down, fur, and a bunch of other fabrics to wade through. Your best bet in terms of finding out how a specific brand handles animal-cruelty is checking Good on You as the app rates brands based on their treatment of animals.

Cruelty-free does not mean, however, that animal ingredients are avoided. The verdict is still out on whether using animals for human-intended products and purposes can be considered entirely cruelty-free. For products that don’t use animals at all, you want to be shopping vegan (definition below).

Eco-friendly Fashion

Eco-friendly, like sustainability, is an all-encompassing term that takes many factors into account. “Eco” is short for ecology, the study of interaction between organisms and the environment. Therefore, eco-friendly is about minimizing anything that would negatively affect that balance. Things to consider include what material a product is made from, such as organic cotton or hemp, whether its dyed with organic dye (using vegetables, for example) or chemicals, and how much water is used to grow the fabric.

Ethical Fashion

Like sustainability and eco-friendly, ethical fashion is an umbrella term that includes fashion design, production, retail, and purchasing. The exact definition is vague but overall ethical fashion is understood to indicate an active approach to creating goods that positively impact the environment and the lives of those making them, reducing poverty through non-exploitative (fair pay, good conditions) employment.

In reality, it’s virtually impossible for a brand creating new products from new materials to ever be completely ethical as it just does not positively impact the environment. It is, however, a good reference point for brands to have in an attempt to better their production practices.

Fast Fashion

Fast fashion is the term used to describe clothing that is produced quickly and cheaply. Brands and retailers that engage in fast fashion often create products based on seasonal trends directly inspired by the runway. Fast fashion brands are generally associated with overproduction, low retail prices, mass waste, poor working conditions, and negative environmental impact.

Fair Trade Fashion

Chances are high that you’ve come across The Fairtrade Mark, used as a signifier for products that meet internationally agreed social, environmental, and economic Fairtrade Standards in the last few years. Profits made from products that qualify for the Fairtrade Mark go towards supporting farmers and workers, and improving lives and communities. Fairtrade Cotton has its own mark as does Fairtrade Textile Production, and these symbols are good indications of how ethically sound a garment is.


If an item is FSC-certified it means that the fabric is made from tree fibers that come from sustainable sources in that they do not originate from endangered or ancient forests. Rather, the fibers here come from well-managed forests and large scale areas of conservation. TENCEL and MONOCEL products, for example, are often made from FSC certified eucalyptus and bamboo respectively.

For more info on FSC, head to the official website.


Greenwashing is what happens when a brand gives a false impression of its sustainable endeavors. With the increasing demand for sustainability in the fashion industry, some brands are launching “sustainable” capsules such as a line of organic tees. Through a line like that, the brand hopes to convince consumers that that small collection speaks for the brand’s production values as a whole, regardless of whether or not that’s actually the case. Learn how to spot greenwashing tactics here.

Living Wage

Paying someone a living wage is to pay workers from all aspects of the production process a fair salary so they are not trapped in poverty. The Asia Floor Wage, for example, takes into account how many family members a person is supporting, their nutritional needs, education, housing, and other living costs, and calculates wages based on that. Of course, a living wage varies from country to country and that is also taken into consideration.

Ocean Waste

Ocean waste or marine debris, as Ocean Service explains, is concerned with “persistent solid material (such as plastic) that is manufactured or processed and disposed of into the marine environment.” Not only does this injure and kill marine life and causes potential navigation and safety risks, but it also poses a threat to human health.


Standards differ as to what “organic” means from country to country but generally speaking organic fashion refers to the materials used and how they’re grown. Namely, this means that the materials are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), sewage sludge, ionizing radiation, or other chemicals.

The term “monoculture” and “monocropping” are used a lot in relation to organic farming, too. According to World Atlas, monoculture refers to the agricultural practice of growing or cultivating a single species of crop or animal. It’s predominately a large-scale production technique, allowing for specialization, efficiency, and simplification. However, it comes with side-effects.

In a varied cultivation set-up, each plant contributes to that particular environment, keeping the nutrients in the soil balanced and replenished. The growth of only one crop has a negative effect on the texture of the soil due to the lack of varied bacteria and promotes contamination, which leads to the use of more pesticides, fertilizers, and ultimately more water usage. Read more about monocultures and its effects here.

Pre- and Post-Consumer Waste

As Research Gate explains, pre-consumer waste refers to manufacturing waste. Post-consumer waste is what’s collected after the owner has disposed of it.

Recycled and Upcycled Fashion

There’s often much confusion about the difference between recycling and upcycling. Simply put, recycling refers to the industrial process in which a product is broken down into its base materials, which are then used for the production of something new. Upcycling, on the other hand, is about creatively re-imagining the purpose of an object, transforming and reinventing its function.

Slow Fashion

As you would expect, slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion. It’s about rejecting consumeristic impulses and embracing a slower, more mindful model of consumerism. While this doesn’t eradicate shopping entirely, it refers to only buying things you actually need and items of quality that will last. It’s about being conscious of what you buy and how that purchase will impact others (asking who makes the clothes and how, for example) and the environment.

Social responsibility

Social responsibility means that a company adheres to a business framework that values people and the planet as well as profit. It’s about benefiting local communities and their environment. Unfortunately, brands claiming social responsibility can’t always be taken at face value. Recent studies have found that sound brands aren’t always straightforward about their responsible endeavors. For more information on how to spot these tactics, see Greenwashing.

Tier 1 Factories

Tier 1 factories are either where a product’s production process is finished or where a product is prepared for distribution. They’re described as the most important part of the supply chain as often its the Tier 1 factory that directly supplies the brand. Companies that share their factory information, names and address, help consumers understand more about where their products are coming from.

Adversely, however, companies can use Tier 1 factories to their advantage. As the New Yorker pointed out back in 2013, brands can list the location of the factory on the “Made In …” label, rather than the country in which the majority of the work was done, opting on the location that seems more premium.

The FTC has published guidelines on what constitutes a legit “Made in America” label, stating that “all or virtually all” of the product must be made in the United States. For a full breakdown, head here.

Transparency and Traceability 

Transparency and traceability go hand-in-hand. In order to be transparent, a brand shares the names and information about every factory (and ideally every worker) involved in the manufacturing process. In turn, this gives a product traceability, meaning consumers can trace a product and its components back through each step of the supply chain, right down to its raw material.

Vegan Fashion

If you want to avoid animal products entirely, you need to be shopping vegan. Vegan fashion means that no animal testing nor animal-derived fabrics such as leather, fur, or exotic skins are included in products and collections. For more information on vegan brands and fabrics, head to PETA.

Anything we are missing? Comment below your thoughts and opinions - we would appreciate knowing what you see as a priority in Sustainable Fashion and what you think Safi is doing right or what we are missing.

(Reminder that you can also find the original link to this glossary, here. Image credits to Independent)

]]> 2019-09-17T17:05:00+01:00 2019-10-11T16:09:47+01:00 Your Sustainable Winter Coat Guide Sabrina Nascimbeni
What is better than finding the perfect winter coat? Finding a winter coat that is as sustainable as it is equally feminine. Our designs are taken from vintage inspired coat trends.
So feminine, so ethical and so empowering. The coats that put the “power” in “empowering”.

See how Safi has you covered this winter (quite literally):

The Joanna Coat - The one you wear with or without clothes
Not only is the Joanna coat the most precious staple piece of clothing you can have, but is it the silkiest wool coat you will find. There’s just something about the fabric that Model standing wearing safi sustainable black alpaca wool coatadds to the design of this coat, that you just do not seem to find elsewhere. We don’t just say “wear it with or without clothes” because we think it ranks highly with the sex appeal but because it suits any item of clothing you wear with it. Of course you can wear it post gym session, but we prefer to save it for the work to night approach.

he Fiza Jacket - The one you will want to keep
Why steal it from the boyfriend, if you can already have it? Designed to be the boyfriend jacket, we added in the elements to keep you classy and cool at the same time. The Fiza Jacket has it all - the boxed fit, a tailored cut, and an authoritative collar. Remind us why they call it ‘the boyfriend jacket’ again?
model standing in sustainable fitted boyfriend alpaca wool jacket with coconut buttons
The Anna Coat - The one you wear to steal the sights
The Anna Coat is the saviour of style when you are stuck in plain jeans and a shirt, it’s elegance brings all the attention. The wide neck and long fit gives that sense of authority but the clenched waist brings the feminine impact. It is a vital piece for women who aren’t afraid to own. What’s best is that when you don’t feel like owning it all, you can hide away and snuggle up in the wide neck.
model standing wearing sustainable and vintage style grey alpaca wool coat with wide collar
The Alexandra Coat - The one you wear to get what you want
This one is for the women who have persuasion at their fingertips, The Alexandra Coat carries that unquestionable innocence that just manages to get their way. They have the sass and confidence to reach their goal. Think Daphne from Scooby Doo and Blair Waldorf merged as one.
model standing in mid-length sustainable brown alpaca wool coat


]]> 2019-09-17T17:04:00+01:00 2020-01-14T12:36:35+00:00 Why is Alpaca Wool better? Sabrina Nascimbeni More


Discover why Alpaca Wool is more sustainable

Of course, your average sheep wool is natural and biodegradable - we will not argue with that, however, once discovering the benefits and softness of alpaca wool, we could not look back.


alpacas in peruvian andes peru


Alpacas are gentle with the land


Alpacas do not damage the pasture when grazing 

They nibble only the tops of grasses and other plants: they do not rip other plants out of the ground, resulting in less disturbance of the vegetation and allowing it to grow back.

Alpacas feet do not damage the pasture

In contrast to goats and sheep, which have sharp hooves that damage pasture and soil, alpacas have two toes with toenails on top and a soft pad on the bottom of each foot that minimizes their effect on pasture-land. The grass system is not disturbed by alpacas, allowing the soil and their habitat to remain intact.

Alpacas do not use the land or water destined for food production 

The natural habitat of alpacas is about 3.800 metres above sea level. At this altitude, the water supply is natural and the land is generally not suitable for agriculture. This makes alpaca more environmentally friendly than all other fiber-producing livestock that often contributes significantly to serious environmental problems. Vegetable fibres also represent a problem for the environment. For example, in Australia, 2.830 litres of water is needed to produce 1kg of cotton.

Alpacas are highly efficient animals

They require much less food intake than other fibre-producing livestock. Cashmere goats, for example, require at least two times the amount of dry grass that alpacas need to produce 1kg of clean fibre.


alpacas in peru


Alpacas save energy 


Alpacas natural colours are undyed, hence, the environmental issues associated with the dying process are minimized

Alpaca fibres come in more than 22 natural colours. These colours are classified into nine purer colours: White, light fawn, light camel, camel, light brown, brown, grey, brown/black and black with many other subtle shades and hues.

The treatment system for the water used in the washing process requires less chemicals and energy than what is needed for other animal fibres

Compared to other fibres, alpaca fibre has a low grease content (2, 8 - 3, 9%), which means that much less energy and chemicals are required to treat the water used for its washing process. 

Alpaca Wool is an excellent insulator and highly flame resistant

The alpaca fibre is an excellent insulator for both heat and cold. It is also highly flame-resistant, making it an important eco-friendly natural fibre material used by the construction industry to insulate homes and businesses.


The Alpaca History


Alpacas were domesticated between the year 4000 and 5000 B.C.

"Alpaca" is a Spanish word derived from the Aymara name "Allpacu", or the Quechuan names "Pacos" or "Pacoshas". Paintings made on rocks more than 8000 years ago were a reference to the interaction between the ancient Peruvians and Alpacas. Early inhabitants began their domestication process of alpacas between 4000 and 5000 B.C. 

Alpacas had a strong impact on the ancient Peruvian cultures

The use of alpaca fibre in textiles began around 2500 B.C., and became increasingly important through time in ancient Peruvian cultures. Woven textiles reflected different levels of power and were often given as tribute to the State or to local lords in return for favours or services, such as in barter trading. 

Alpacas survived the Spanish conquest

It is estimated that there were more than 10 million alpacas in Peru before the Spanish conquest, and only one out of ten survived. The Spanish invasion and conquest resulted in a severe setback to the breeding development of alpacas. Also, the importation of foreign cattle resulted in the displacement of alpacas to hire, colder and more arid areas. At present, it is estimated that 3,7 million alpacas inhabit the highlands of the Peruvian Andes (in the areas of: Puno, Arequipa, Cusco, Ayacucho, Huancavelica and Apurimac), representing 80% of the worldwide alpaca population. 

Alpacas are an important source of income for many Andean families

 To more than 1 million small alpaca farmers in the central Andes of South America, alpacas are an important pillar for livelihood. Alpacas are also an extremely important element of cultural identity. According to the Peruvian National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) census in 2012, a population of 3, 7 million alpacas support these Peruvian families. 


alpacas in peru


Why alpaca fibre is unique


Excellent appearance and durability

The physical characteristics of alpaca fibre, such as its range of colours, structure and resistance, make it possible to create garments of an exceptionally fine quality, luster and drape, properties difficult to replicate using any other textile fibre. The strength, density and curveture of the alpaca fibre make alpaca garments very resistent to wear and tear.

Efficient humidity absorption

Due to the hygroscopic characteristics of the alpaca fibre, garments made of alpaca readily absorb moisture from the environment. In other words, the uncomfortable feeling of a "damp garment" is minimised in very humid climates. 

Incredibly soft touch

Microscopically, animal fibres have the appearance of a palm tree with scales. While the height of the scales in wool is between 0, 65 to 0, 90 microns, the alpaca fibre hardly reaches 0, 25 microns. These characteristics make alpaca fibre much softer and smoother than other animal fibres or cotton. 

High performance in extreme weather conditions 

The physical characteristics of alpaca fibre allow the manufacturing of products with superior performance in extreme climates, in both cold as well as warm weather. Moreover, alpaca fibre is more flame resistant than vegetable or synthetics fibres. Incase of fire, alpaca does not melt onto the skin as synthetic fibres do.


All credits for this post go to our suppliers. More information can be found here.