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The Brand Bio

Founder:

Francesca Canepa

Established:

2017

Headquarters:

New York, USA

Country of Manufacture:

Peru

Port Zienna is designed and draped for all who value time and taste.

Founded by Francesca Canepa, Port Zienna emerged from the draping tradition of the runway to create a ready-to-wear line of uniquely contoured sustainable clothing. Prior to launching Port Zienna, Francesca earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design and Patternmaking from Mod'Art International in Paris, followed by a postgraduate degree in Fashion Marketing and Merchandising from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Francesca then went on to design for major fashion houses including Oscar de la Renta and J.Mendel, as well as designing embroidery for luxury designers like Tom Ford, Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier, and Burberry.

At the core of Port Zienna are its sustainable values. For Francesca and her team, this means providing a healthy work environment, steady income and flexibility to their family of employees, while using the best quality of sustainable fabrics.Port Zienna also believes that it's all about transparency and the values they share with everyone. The brand is committed to creating luxurious products that have a positive social and environmental impact. While the brand is based in New York, all of their manufacturing is done in Francesca's home country of Peru.

Port Zienna dares to stand apart from the world of fast fashion as an ethical producer whose goal is to support the well-being of their family of artisans, designers and makers. Since the brand does not outsource any of its manufacturing or rely on third parties, Port Zienna is able to closely monitor their practices, ensure that they remain wholly ethical, and that their employees are treated with dignity and respect.

As a proud female founded and 100% female-owned business, Port Zienna is an official member of the Female Founder Collective, as well as a member of the Peruvian Fashion Council.

Ethics and Aesthetics

Highlights from Port Zienna's environmental, social, and personal commitments

Environmental Commitments

Ethical Sourcing of Raw Materials

Rainforest Alliance Certified: products are recognised for originating or containing components sourced from Rainforest Alliance certified farms or forests
Raw materials originating from nature are sourced from sustainably managed ecosystems
Ensures responsible and ethical sourcing policies are implemented within its supply chain
Uses natural and/or biodegradable fabrics in its collections and products
Uses organic materials in its production
Sources raw materials from accredited programs, including Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified
Uses recycled materials

Sustainable Product Design

Considers social and environmental factors during the product design process and development stages
Is committed to removing microplastic materials from all its products
Designs its products to last and withstand many wears over the years
Designs its products to be recycled or reused

Environmental Conservation Efforts and Practices

Protects the local environment and its biodiversity in the areas of operation
Uses water respectfully and aims to reduce its water consumption
Energy efficiency: takes steps to reduce energy usage, increase energy efficiency and educates its staff on best practices
Collects scrap materials and/or by-products from its own production for outside recycling and/or repurposing
Product take-back scheme: takes back preloved products and/or packaging for reuse, recycling and disposal

Sustainable Marketing and Packaging Materials

Uses environmentally-friendly marketing and packaging materials made from recycled, recyclable, FSC and/or PEFC certified materials
Packaging materials are designed to be reused, recycled and/or upcycled
Uses biodegradable and/or compostable packaging and/or marketing materials
Does not include any single-use plastic in its packaging

Animal-friendly, Cruelty-free

Ensures that animal-based materials are from cruelty-free suppliers that track animal welfare
No endangered species: does not use materials or substances from species listed as endangered by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
Angora-free: does not use angora in its supply chain
Ethical sourcing of feathers: does not use feathers or down obtained from the live plucking of birds
Uses Alpaca from Colca Fabrics S.A.C. that is a by-product of existing farming practices

Ethical and Sustainable Production / Manufacturing

Manufacturing and Production Processes

Factory is local in Peru, the Brand's country of origin, reducing its carbon footprint
Sources more than 50% of its raw materials and labour locally from independent suppliers
Works with a recognised ethical / certified factory: Port Zienna S.A.C.
Provides employment opportunities for marginalised communities through its production
Manufactures its collections and products in limited quantities, avoiding mass production
Practices eco-friendly screen printing and dyeing in the development of its fabrics
Ensures it monitors its own toxic chemical use during production
Ensures its suppliers monitor the use of toxic chemicals in production

Waste Management and Recycling

Has taken steps to reduce its manufacturing waste and has targets in place to achieve this
Optimises its design and production to minimise fabric and material waste
Recycles more than 50% of its waste
Supports the reclamation and recycling of textile materials (fibres and fabrics)

Design and Material Innovation

Sources and uses innovative and sustainable fabrics for its collections and products, including Naturtex, Colca Fabrics and Zentex

Personal and Social Commitments

Good Corporate Governance

Fair pay: All employees and subcontractors are paid the local minimum and/or living wage
Committed to and has policies/standards in place to ensure responsible labour practices and conditions (e.g. Code of Conduct)
Equal employment: ensures its hiring and employment practices do not, in any way, discriminate
Gender equality: implements a gender equal pay policy
Has policies in place to support and promote diversity and inclusion
Ensures safe working conditions for all employees
Employees are incentivised to achieve environmental and social progress
Provides training to artisans that are part of its supply chain

Product Safety Assurance

Products do not use finishes, paints, and/or adhesives containing Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) content
Uses materials that are Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex® certified
Products are PVC-free
Uses non-toxic dyes for its fabrics and other materials

Fair Trade Practices

Conducts audits of its suppliers to ensure compliance with international labour standards
Has a policy in place that requires knowledge of its suppliers' social and environmental practices
Suppliers pay fairly: ensures that its suppliers pay employees and subcontractors the local minimum and/or living wage
Ensures no child or forced labour: has policies in place preventing any child and/or forced labour throughout its entire supply chain

Traceable Supply and Manufacturing Chain

Has policies and systems in place to maintain knowledge of and manage relationships within its supply chain
Utilises its own vertically integrated facilities for the production of its collections and products
Publicly discloses its supply chain/supplier list

Handcrafted, Artisanal

Products are handcrafted in the Brand's own studio or factory
Supports the preservation of cultural traditions, skills and techniques through handcrafted production

Charitable, Philanthropic

Donates a portion of its profits to Housing Works - Fashion for Action 2020

Relevé Fashion in partnership with

share with you the UN Sustainable Development Goals supported by Port Zienna

The State of the Art

Take a peek into the world of Port Zienna