At SISSEL EDELBO, we have always focused on minimizing our footprint – long before it became a trend. Our approach is built on reusing existing materials and choosing better alternatives, such as surplus textiles and organic cotton. In this way, we work actively to reduce waste and minimize our use of resources.
We believe it is our responsibility to make conscious choices, both for the environment and the people we collaborate with. We have a deep love for India and work closely with local suppliers and partners. We value building strong and trusting relationships, where dialogue and collaboration are central. That is why we regularly travel to India to meet our partners, exchange ideas, and gain insight into their work and processes. These visits give us the opportunity to strengthen our relationships and follow the development of our designs from idea to finished product. This close dialogue and understanding help us create collections that celebrate both the materials and the culture they originate from.
RESPONSIBILITY
OUR APPROACH
Clothing production will always have an environmental impact, but our ambition is to minimize it by focusing on reusing materials and reducing waste. Our approach is about making the most of existing resources and creating designs that give new purpose to even the smallest leftover fabrics.
We work with a variety of materials, including vintage saris, surplus textiles, and organic cotton. Upcycling Indian saris has been a central part of our approach since the beginning. We handpick each sari used in our designs because we believe in the value of slow fashion and textile reuse. By repurposing these traditional fabrics, we help preserve and carry forward India’s beautiful cultural heritage while reducing the need for producing new materials, which helps ease the pressure on the planet. Additionally, we work with surplus materials, often transforming them into patchwork, accessories, or other thoughtful details that allow the fabrics to be enjoyed for longer. Our collections also include styles made from organic cotton, grown without harmful chemicals. Many of our organic cotton designs are decorated with traditional Indian embroidery techniques, adding colorful and unique details.
Although we cannot eliminate all environmental impact, we continuously work to make better choices and improve our processes to reduce waste and lighten our environmental footprint. Therefore, we strive to optimize our logistics, including prioritizing sea freight over air freight whenever possible, to lower CO₂ emissions. We see this as an ongoing journey – one we are constantly refining – with the belief that even small improvements can create meaningful change.
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
Everything we do comes from a heartfelt desire to create a better world for future generations. With the launch of SISSEL MINI, our little heart project and a universe created especially for the little ones, we combine playfulness and creativity with a thoughtful approach to materials and production. We are dedicated to creating designs that celebrate little ones and embrace thoughtful craftsmanship, all while holding on to our vision of a brighter and more peaceful future. SISSEL MINI reflects our love for design and craftsmanship, along with our wish to make a meaningful difference for the next generation.
PACKAGING
We care deeply about reducing our environmental footprint and continuously finding better solutions across our supply chain. That is why we aim to use as little plastic as possible, and many of our styles are delivered in 100% biodegradable bags, ensuring they are protected during transport and storage. For our B2B retailers, we reuse boxes and other packaging materials from shipments from India whenever we can, giving them a longer life and reducing waste. We are also proud to be climate-neutral certified in partnership with DHL. Through this certification, we contribute a percentage from every shipment to offset CO₂ emissions. This step is part of our ongoing commitment to more thoughtful packaging and shipping practices.