Third party/External labels & certifications 

Below is a list of labels and certifications we use at Monki that have been obtained from external organisations.

PETA-approved vegan

All our faux leather and faux fur bags, shoes and accessories are PETA-approved vegan — now and forever!

How does the certification process work?

Our suppliers/manufacturers submit the application and Statement of Assurance to PETA, whereby a certification is granted upon meeting the following requirements:

• The products must be free of any animal-derived fibres, materials and ingredients.  Examples of animal fibres and materials are silk, leather, wool and pearls.  Examples of ingredients that could contain animal content are dyes, prints and glues as part of the final products.

The elements that are not included in the certification scope are the chemicals used in production that are not part of the finished product (detergents, softeners etc.). Also, machine components and substances used for the maintenance and cleaning of the machines, product packaging (such as hang tags, display cards, display packaging) and transport packaging.

Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is a non-profit organisation that helps cotton growers convert to more environmentally friendly, and socially and economically sustainable farming methods. By the end of 2020, BCI had worked with 2.4 million farmers, equal to 23% of the world’s cotton production.

Cotton sourced through BCI is mixed with other cotton on its journey from the field to the final product. This is called a mass balance system.

Mass balance is an acknowledged way to boost sustainability. It is like when you buy renewable energy. You contribute to the growth of cleaner energy production rather than ensuring that a specific kind of electricity comes from your power sockets.

By sourcing cotton through BCI, we are playing a part in raising cotton production standards as well as helping farmers and the local environment.

In-conversion cotton

Demand for organic cotton has boomed in recent years — which is a positive development! — but we can’t source the amount of organic cotton we need for our collections. To encourage and support more farmers to transition to organic cotton we’ll start using cotton from farms that are in the process of converting. This is called in-conversion cotton — a more sustainable option than conventional cotton.

On average it takes three years for a farm to convert to organic cultivation. During this time the farm follows the principals of organic farming – no pesticides or synthetic fertilisers – and is independently audited each year according to international organic agriculture standards. The only difference is that the crop is not yet certified organic.

By buying in-conversion cotton, we’ll help scale up organic production and support farmers committed in making the transition to organic cultivation.

FSC

Most of our labels, hand tags and hygiene stickers are made with FSC-approved material. The Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC) is a global, independent, non-profit organisation that develops sustainable forestry certification standards. Paper products can contain any balance of pre-consumer and post-consumer reclaimed material if all applicable parts of the product are verified as reclaimed. The FSC™ Recycled label is not, however, a guarantee that the wood originally comes from an FSC™ certified forest.

Clevercare

All our garments feature the Clevercare™ label so you can wash them at a lower temperature and/or choose more energy-effective alternatives for drying.

 Monki labels and hang tags 

Below is a list of the labels we have created for you to learn more about what you’re adding to your shopping bag.

Made from leftover textiles

The garment has been created using fabric cuttings from old garments or fabric rolls that haven't been used. Old garments mean they have been rejected from production because of the wrong colour, because of tears during the production process, rendering them unfit for selling.

This label also applies to garments made from deadstock, meaning leftover fabric from previous seasons that haven't been used. An example would be our most recent fleece upcycle capsule.

Made from recycled materials

Recycled materials mean the raw material going into the construction of the garment is repurposed content from post-consumer waste and pre-consumer waste. This could be recycled cotton and recycled polyester, for example. You can read more about these materials here.

This label is applied to a garment that is composed of 50% or more recycled materials.

Repaired with love

Garments that have had minor tears from the production process and have been fixed with embroidery or patches, to reduce waste and offer customers something unique.

Naturally dyed

When we use natural dye for our garments, we reduce the amount of chemicals in the process and lower our environmental impact. This could be plant-based dyes which are extracted from waste, such as food scraps. We also use a laser finishing technique — a way to create vintage wash effects without the need for water.

PETA-approved vegan

All our faux leather and faux fur bags, shoes and accessories are PETA-approved vegan — now and forever!  You can read about this certification in the Third party section above.

Designed for circularity

At Monki, we aim to create products made for a circular fashion system. To make this transition we need to design products that last longer, are easier to recycle and made from safe, more sustainably sourced or recycled materials.

The vision of a circular fashion industry according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is that products are designed to be used more, made to be made again, and made from safe and recycled or renewable inputs. Keep reading to learn more about what each of these three pillars mean.

USED MORE

In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in use at their highest value at all times. Reuse is the preferred option wherever relevant.

MADE TO BE MADE AGAIN

From the outset, products are designed and manufactured so that they can be reused, remade, recycled, and - where relevant, and after maximum use and cycling - safely composted.

MADE FROM SAFE AND RECYCLED OR RENEWABLE INPUTS

In a circular economy, substances that are hazardous to health or the environment are designed out to allow safe material circulation and ensure that no pollutants are released into the environment.

Moving away from a take-make-waste model, a circular economy aims to decouple production from the consumption of finite resources. This is achieved first and foremost by drastically reducing the need for virgin inputs through reuse, remaking and recycling, and then, by sourcing the remaining virgin inputs from renewable materials using regenerative production practices.

As part of the H&M Group, we also have access to the Circulator tool. This takes into account customer needs, a product’s purpose, choice of materials (footprint, durability and recyclability), and design strategy (physical and non-physical durability, increased use of product, repairability, waist avoidance, and recycling factor.)  You can read more about circularity and the Circulator tool here.

Preloved

Our second-hand initiative, with the aim to source quality, trendy, and one of kind pieces from Monki and other brands. To ensure volumes, product categories and inclusive sizing, we are partnering with Sellpy to source hand-picked selections of second-hand items to sell alongside the community items.

Feel good wear

Our Feel Good Wear collection is activewear that will have you feeling good no matter the activity! All garments are made with recycled polyester and designed to offer movement, support and breathability.