In a world already overflowing with things, do we really need more products?
We asked ourselves this question many times while establishing ABODE OF SNOW. We are living through a climate crisis accelerated by industrialization and economic growth. Our lives are filled with inexpensive, disposable products. Fast fashion has made clothing more accessible, but it has also shortened the life of many garments. Clothes are discarded, incinerated or shipped overseas, where mountains of textile waste accumulate.
What does it mean to make something both beautiful and responsible today? How can we celebrate creativity and fashion culture while minimizing our impact on the environment?
Our values also extend to animal welfare and the people involved in production. We strive to avoid cruelty and exploitation, and to support supply chains that respect human rights. Balancing environmental responsibility with our concerns about animal-derived materials is a complex challenge, and one that can involve difficult trade-offs.
We have been fortunate to meet people and companies who share these concerns and are already putting their values into practice. Working together, we continue to learn with every product we make. We are proud of what we have achieved, but remain committed to doing better and to creating with respect for the environment and all living things.
One of our core values is a deep respect for Mother Nature and an awareness of our responsibility to sustain this one and only planet.
Our journey to find materials that are both sustainable and effective has been a challenge. Our methods are not perfect, but we believe in the progress we have made so far.
As vegetarians, we have questioned whether to use animal-derived materials such as down and wool. While alternatives exist, we recognize that ethically sourced animal materials can sometimes offer a more sustainable choice for the environment.
We have therefore chosen to use recycled down feathers from the Green Down Project.
Tibetan yaks naturally shed hair from their bellies each summer. Down feathers can last for decades when properly cared for. By reusing feathers already in circulation, we can make use of existing resources rather than relying solely on newly sourced down.
The Green Down Project works with companies that share its values to promote recycled down as an alternative to virgin down, helping reduce waste and the environmental and animal-welfare impacts associated with new production.