Mindful Growth
As we grow, we are on a journey to be more mindful and make considered choices across every part of our business, caring for both people and the environment. We believe transparency and honesty is key – we know we can constantly strive to do better and we are working on it.
Mindful Growth
As we grow, we are on a journey to be more mindful and make considered choices across every part of our business, caring for both people and the environment. We believe transparency and honesty is key – we know we can constantly strive to do better and we are working on it.
The name, The Fold, was intentionally inclusive and welcoming. Our mission is to empower women to realise their ambitions, putting working women in the spotlight and at the heart of our brand.
We’re proud to be part of our customer’s career journey and the same goes for our suppliers, our team and everyone who comes into The Fold. It’s always been important to me that we grow the business mindfully, making responsible choices across every part of the business and treating everyone fairly and kindly.
That has meant taking our time, doing things properly and finding the right people to work with. We haven’t always got it right, but we are on a journey to be the best we can be, across everything we do.
Polly McMaster,
Fold Founder and CEO
Our Commitments
From suppliers, to products and packaging, we are asking how we can approach things more sustainably and ethically. We’ve taken steps to reduce waste, improve our carbon footprint and make positive changes wherever we can, but that’s only the start.
What Matters To You
Matters To Us
Our Commitments
From suppliers, to products and packaging, we are asking how we can approach things more sustainably and ethically. We’ve taken steps to reduce waste, improve our carbon footprint and make positive changes wherever we can, but that’s only the start.
What Matters To You
Matters To Us
Our Commitments
From suppliers, to products and packaging, we are asking how we can approach things more sustainably and ethically. We’ve taken steps to reduce waste, improve our carbon footprint and make positive changes wherever we can, but that’s only the start.
What Matters To You
Matters To Us
Product
We never compromise on quality or finish. The focus is always on products that are fit for purpose and will stand the test of time – each product has to earn its place in our collection.
What we are doing
- We champion slow fashion, not fast fashion.
- We are careful with our commitments and mindful of the impact of these on our supply chain.
- We design and fit every piece in-house at our London atelier. Care is taken over every detail.
- We seek out the unique, the extraordinary and the exquisite – nurturing relationships with the best fabric mills and talented artisans.
- Being a direct-to-consumer business allows us to deliver high-end design and at an attainable price point.
- Launched Clever Crepe – a new washable tailoring collection made from a sustainably produced crepe.
- Transitioning our wool suiting to a sustainable fabric including recycled fibres – discover our Ultimate Wool collection.
What's next
- Using tech innovation to create easy-care workwear with greener washing solutions. At present 80% of our core collection and 55% of our fashion range is now water washable on a cool hand wash setting.
- Improving the end to end circle of our collections, looking at ways to recycle excess fabric and encouraging responsible purchasing and donations.
Product
We never compromise on quality or finish. The focus is always on products that are fit for purpose and will stand the test of time – each product has to earn its place in our collection.
What we are doing
- We champion slow fashion, not fast fashion.
- We are careful with our commitments and mindful of the impact of these on our supply chain.
- We design and fit every piece in-house at our London atelier. Care is taken over every detail.
- We seek out the unique, the extraordinary and the exquisite – nurturing relationships with the best fabric mills and talented artisans.
- Being a direct-to-consumer business allows us to deliver high-end design and at an attainable price point.
- Launched Clever Crepe – a new washable tailoring collection made from a sustainably produced crepe.
- Transitioning our wool suiting to a sustainable fabric including recycled fibres – discover our Ultimate Wool collection.
What's next
- Using tech innovation to create easy-care workwear with greener washing solutions. At present 80% of our core collection and 55% of our fashion range is now water washable on a cool hand wash setting.
- Improving the end to end circle of our collections, looking at ways to recycle excess fabric and encouraging responsible purchasing and donations.
People
We are a small but growing business, The Fold is just as much about our head office team as it is our suppliers, makers and the inspiring women we dress. Our aim is to treat everyone fairly and with respect. Empowering women to realise their ambitions is our mission and drives our purpose.
What we are doing
- Proudly working as part of the Ethical Trading Initiative. The ETI brings together companies, trade unions and voluntary organisations to affect long-term change and spotlight extraordinary workers worldwide.
- Supporting the charity Smart Works by raising donations and awareness. This remarkable charity works tirelessly to help unemployed women get back into work through mentoring, coaching and styling.
- Harnessing the skills of talented tailors based in London and Europe to produce exceptional suiting.
- Bringing together an international community of like-minded women and giving them a platform to shine.
- Thanks to our customers we’ve raised over £15k for Smart Works through sales of our beautiful reusable silk face masks.
- By shopping our Event Style Edit in collaboration with Noëlla Coursaris Musunka, our customers have helped us to raise £5,000 for the charity Malaika, which empowers girls and their communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
What's next
- Assigning a team to outline and deliver our goals around ‘fairness and responsibility’, driving change from within our team and suppliers.
- Continuing to seek out the innovators, the creatives and the ateliers to work with on future collections and championing talented artisans.
- Driving awareness for Smart Works and continuing to push for donations.
People
We are a small but growing business, The Fold is just as much about our head office team as it is our suppliers, makers and the inspiring women we dress. Our aim is to treat everyone fairly and with respect. Empowering women to realise their ambitions is our mission and drives our purpose.
What we are doing
- Proudly working as part of the Ethical Trading Initiative. The ETI brings together companies, trade unions and voluntary organisations to affect long-term change and spotlight extraordinary workers worldwide.
- Supporting the charity Smart Works by raising donations and awareness. This remarkable charity works tirelessly to help unemployed women get back into work through mentoring, coaching and styling.
- Harnessing the skills of talented tailors based in London and Europe to produce exceptional suiting.
- Bringing together an international community of like-minded women and giving them a platform to shine.
- Thanks to our customers we’ve raised over £15k for Smart Works through sales of our beautiful reusable silk face masks.
- By shopping our Event Style Edit in collaboration with Noëlla Coursaris Musunka, our customers have helped us to raise £5,000 for the charity Malaika, which empowers girls and their communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
What's next
- Assigning a team to outline and deliver our goals around ‘fairness and responsibility’, driving change from within our team and suppliers.
- Continuing to seek out the innovators, the creatives and the ateliers to work with on future collections and championing talented artisans.
- Driving awareness for Smart Works and continuing to push for donations.
Environment
Now more than ever, businesses should be considering their environmental impact. We are working towards building a more sustainable and responsible business and reducing our carbon footprint. We are asking how we can approach things differently.
What we are doing
- Using less plastic in our supply chain – all of our deliveries are now sent in a recycled and recyclable plastic bags – removing the use of single-use plastic in our deliveries.
- We flat-pack goods wherever we can and avoid the use of plastic hangers in our deliveries. Only 10% of our collection is hung, these hangers are recycled and reused.
- Sourcing sustainable packaging. Our UK catalogues and all of our online and in store packaging are made from FSC accredited responsibly sourced paper and are fully recyclable.
- Reducing air shipping for our product deliveries wherever possible. Since 2019 we have cut back on air shipping and now send 80% of our products by sea, significantly reducing the environmental impact.
- We strive to consolidate deliveries together wherever possible, factoring this into our product strategy and planning.
- We want to see our clothes benefit different women and lead many different lives. That’s why we are proud to work with the charity Smart Works who take pre-loved clothes, in a good wearable condition, and donate them to women as interview outfits and work clothes. With mentorship, coaching and style advice they help unemployed women find their confidence and get the job.
What's next
- Reducing waste in our head office, products and our supply chain. We’re aiming to reduce single-use plastic wherever possible, eradicating all single-use plastic by 2025.
- Reducing our carbon footprint – streamlining deliveries from suppliers and finding more eco-friendly ways to transport goods.
- Increasing our use of sustainable fibres. This season 30% of the collection is made from a fabric that includes sustainable fibres within it’s composition.
- Sourcing from suppliers with ‘circular’ manufacturing, who are reducing the use of materials and energy in manufacture.
Environment
Now more than ever, businesses should be considering their environmental impact. We are working towards building a more sustainable and responsible business and reducing our carbon footprint. We are asking how we can approach things differently.
What we are doing
- Using less plastic in our supply chain – all of our deliveries are now sent in a recycled and recyclable plastic bags – removing the use of single-use plastic in our deliveries.
- We flat-pack goods wherever we can and avoid the use of plastic hangers in our deliveries. Only 10% of our collection is hung, these hangers are recycled and reused.
- Sourcing sustainable packaging. Our UK catalogues and all of our online and in store packaging are made from FSC accredited responsibly sourced paper and are fully recyclable.
- Reducing air shipping for our product deliveries wherever possible. Since 2019 we have cut back on air shipping and now send 80% of our products by sea, significantly reducing the environmental impact.
- We strive to consolidate deliveries together wherever possible, factoring this into our product strategy and planning.
- We want to see our clothes benefit different women and lead many different lives. That’s why we are proud to work with the charity Smart Works who take pre-loved clothes, in a good wearable condition, and donate them to women as interview outfits and work clothes. With mentorship, coaching and style advice they help unemployed women find their confidence and get the job.
What's next
- Reducing waste in our head office, products and our supply chain. We’re aiming to reduce single-use plastic wherever possible, eradicating all single-use plastic by 2025.
- Reducing our carbon footprint – streamlining deliveries from suppliers and finding more eco-friendly ways to transport goods.
- Increasing our use of sustainable fibres. This season 30% of the collection is made from a fabric that includes sustainable fibres within it’s composition.
- Sourcing from suppliers with ‘circular’ manufacturing, who are reducing the use of materials and energy in manufacture.
