Faire Child Makewear Limited

Faire Child was founded on the belief that waste is a resource. Fashion has become disposable; it’s worn and discarded as waste quickly in favour of the next trendy item. Faire Child is determined to help change this by offering sustainable, environmentally conscious clothing made entirely out of recycled plastic bottles.

Each Faire Child raincoat is made from 19 plastic bottles. The bottles are broken down and made into a fabric known as rPET.  Once the garment can no longer be worn, customers can return their jackets so that they can be recycled and made into new products.

Faire Child has the potential to reduce the amount of plastic waste being deposited into our landfills and oceans, a potential that increases with our growth. We also have the opportunity to demonstrate to other fashion retailers that clothing can look good and be good for the planet. 

The problem that Faire Child is trying to solve is a global one. We are all consumers and we all wear clothing without necessarily realizing how the clothing we wear impacts the planet.

One of the biggest problems facing our world is plastic waste. As of 2015, the world had produced 7.8 billion tonnes of plastic waste.  Less than 20 percent of all plastic waste is recycled. The textile industry is the 3rd largest producer of plastic waste.

Each year 9.5 million tonnes of clothing is discarded in North America alone of which 95% could be recycled or reused. The rise of fast fashion has meant that clothing is designed to be disposable. Clothing production in 2018 had doubled since 2000 with over 100 billion articles of clothing being produced annually.

Disposable fashion is having an enormous negative impact on our planet. A lot of clothing is not being recycled or reused and much of it is not being produced from sustainable materials. As a result, textile waste continues to increase and negatively impact the environment. 

Faire Child sells its products globally. Our goal is to provide environmentally conscious and sustainably produced children’s rainwear to all those who are interested around the world. Consumers everywhere are becoming increasingly conscious of the products they buy, the materials used to make them and the methods used to make them which is why Faire Child is open and transparent about our products and the manufacturing process. Right now the market for sustainable clothing is a relatively niche market. However, we hope that as we continue to grow that our products and all sustainable products will become the norm rather than the exception.

Faire Child markets children’s clothing focused on enabling children to enjoy the outdoors regardless of the climate. The fabric used to make Faire Child products is produced from recycled plastic containers, and the products themselves are fully recyclable. Faire Child's high-quality products are both waterproof and comfortable being made from recycled materials that can be upcycled into new products which is a first for Canada. Not only that, but they are also wind proof, water proof, and breathable. All of Faire Child’s products adhere to Bluesign, Global Recycled Standards, and Oeko-Tex standards. This means all of our products and their parts are safe for your child, ethically produced, and constructed of recycled materials.

Faire Child is the first company to create clothing for children that has these features, while also being sustainably made. As mentioned earlier, each raincoat is made from 19 recycled plastic bottles. The fabric is manufactured by Sympatex, a company specializing in sustainable textiles. Each raincoat consists of three layers; the upper, membrane, and lining. The upper layer is waterproof and windproof. It is also free of toxic chemicals like PFC and PTFE. The second layer consists of the Sympatex membrane and is made only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen which allows it to be fully recyclable. The last layer is the lining which is moisture wicking and breathable allowing the wearer to stay comfortable and dry.

Faire Child also believes in ethical production practices. As such, all Faire Child garments are hand sewn in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the home of Faire Child. This allows us to oversee the production directly to ensure the best possible garment is sent to our customers. Furthermore, once the garment is no longer wearable, we encourage customers to send their garments back to us so that they can be recycled and turned into new products.

What makes Faire Child product’s innovative is our materials and our approach. All of our products are biodegradable and made from recycled plastic. Within the realm of children’s outerwear, we are pioneers and the first company in Canada to do what we are doing. We view waste as a resource which allows us to create new products from old products. Faire Child is leading by example and showing the world that clothing can be good looking and good for the planet. 

Our garments are made from Sympatex which is a fabric made from recycled plastic. The plastic is broken down and spun into yarn and constructed into fabric. The fabric is 100% waterproof, windproof, and fully recyclable. Further, it takes 19 plastic bottles to make one Faire Child raincoat. We also feature taped seams on our products to ensure there are no leaks. Our products are free of toxic chemicals like PFC and PTFE as well.

Studies have shown that people want and are willing to pay more for sustainably made products. Climate change is one of the biggest issues we are facing and people want to do what they can to help. Faire Child is a brand for consumers that care about sustainability and the environment. Faire Child products are environmentally friendly, high quality, and stylish and we are confident that our products will continue to grow in popularity as people become more conscious of the environmental impact of clothing.

Currently serving: 300

Serving in one year: 500

Serving in five years: 2000

Our goals are to constantly and consistently grow as a brand. Faire Child is a relatively new start up so our main focus is on building our customer base, getting the word out about who we are, what we do, and the products we make in hopes of appealing to individuals who share our values. We are also hoping to continue to expand our product line offerings.

Current challenges and Challenges for next five years:

The main challenge that Faire Child is facing is developing a partnership with a recycling textile company to create new materials for our garments. 

In order to overcome our textile challenge, we are in talks with Sympatex. Sympatex is the company that manufactures the fabric we use to construct our garments. Sympatex has advised us they are currently conducting trials for their PES material and are working with us to develop a solution. 

Full-time staff: 3

Part-time staff: 6

Contractors: 4

Tabitha Bio.

Partners: FedEx

Faire Child operates on a business model. We manufacture the children's clothes in house and sell the garments on-line through our website. We have received a number of grants and awards since opening the business in February 2018. We have several wholesale customers but a large percentage of sales are to individuals attracted to the garments and the message of sustainability. Our shipping costs are kept to a minimum with support from FedEx, a shipping company that awarded Faire Child $25,000.00 in marketing support in 2018. We are able to hire student interns through a variety of programs offered by the Government of Nova Scotia and administered by the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD).

Faire Child projects a profitability model in five years. 

If selected for the GM Prize on Circular Economy, Faire Child would utilize the prize money to focus on marketing and expansion. While we are always innovating to ensure our products remain cutting edge, we believe that we have perfected our current products and the next step would be to get our garments in the hands of interested consumers all across the globe. As Faire Child is still a new venture, the money would also be utilized for the day to day costs of running a business.