People and planet, at every stage.
2253 Apparel is a full-service ethical and sustainable apparel manufacturer optimizing design, quality, speed and cost. We care deeply about people and the planet — and we hold ourselves, and every partner in our supply chain, to the highest standards of social responsibility and environmental sustainability at every stage of manufacturing and distribution.
Five standards behind every program.
Fair labor & positive working conditions
We are committed to ethical practices, fair wages, reasonable hours, and positive working conditions for all workers — and we partner exclusively with factories who share and practice these same values.
Vetted factories
We work with vetted factories, invest in employee education and training, and embrace new QA techniques and technology. When a partner can't meet our standards, they don't make our product.
Independent auditing
Factory compliance and reporting is based on regulatory and retailer-specific requirements. We use third-party auditors to verify that our partners remain compliant — the highest standards in social responsibility and compliance, as part of our CSR program.
Our own people on the ground
Employees are on the ground in our key sourcing countries to supervise all sourcing, production and quality assurance. In addition to our overseas QA teams, our domestic QA managers ensure an additional layer of scrutiny in our process.
Supplier oversight
Our vendor compliance program covers verification, audits, supplier requirements, accountability, and training. Read our supplier standards →
Integrated throughout our supply chain.
Our commitment to sustainable and ethical manufacturing begins with our Product Development and Design teams, who evaluate and incorporate new and advanced technologies. We partner exclusively with suppliers who share our dedication to environmental responsibility and ethical and fair working conditions.
We require our suppliers to work in innovative ways to find more sustainable solutions to raw materials and manufacturing. Our core values and focus on sustainability drive improvements in our manufacturing practices across every aspect of our supply chain.
- 1. Fabrics & Materials
- 2. Cutting & Sewing
- 3. Laundry & Finishing
How it shows up at every stage.
From the fibers we select to the way garments are washed and finished, sustainability practices are built into each step of production.
Fabrics & Materials
Eco-friendly fibers including Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Repreve®, organic cotton, Tencel™, Lenzing™ EcoVero™, modal, natural plant-based dyes and natural fibers — plus 100% recycled polyester fabrics.
Labels, Papers & Trims
Recycled polyester, organic cotton and hemp labels; sugar cane, FSC-certified, recycled, seed and cotton papers; Natulon® chemically and materially recycled zipper tape and Acroplating® hardware.
Cutting & Sewing
Supplier facilities support our initiatives with effluent treatment plants, rainwater harvesting, chimney heat-recovery systems to cut CO2 emissions, tree-planting programs, and solar and energy-efficient lighting.
Laundry & Finishing
Eflow nano-bubble technology, ozone fading and waterless washes, laser finishes that eliminate chemical abrasives, hanger drying systems, and EIM scoring to measure water, energy, chemical and worker impact — with strict accountability.
Consider every component.
Fabric, trims, wash, and finish all shape a garment. Our development teams consider these choices together, with attention to the requirements of each program.
- Recycled and alternative fibers
- Labels, papers, and trims
- Wash and finishing techniques
For information about materials and processes available for your program, talk with our team.
