Our Sustainability Journey
The Problem
The fast fashion industry is notorious for being one of the biggest contributors to waste. Globally, about 92 million tons of textile waste is created each year. That’s like having a truckload of clothes being burned or dumped into a landfill every single second. And guess where it all ends up?
In third world countries. Unwanted clothes end up polluting these countries’ local water systems while their landfills become so toxic that catastrophic fires will ignite at random.
Anyone who thinks fast fashion is “fun” and “affordable” isn’t thinking about the cost of turning rivers black with waste.
They’re not thinking about the fish and turtles literally being strangled by trash.
They’re not thinking about the people whose eyes burn and lungs hurt from breathing the fumes of the fires.
By 2030, researchers are estimating that more than 134 million tons of clothes will be thrown away annually. (BBC)
“I was raised by Asian immigrant parents who ingrained in me the skill of saving everything. They saved plastic grocery bags and used them as trash bags. They saved pickle jars and used them as tupperware. They saved clothes by evolving them! When my dress ripped, my mom turned it into shirt. And when the shirt was too tattered to wear, she turned it into a rag to clean the house with. To waste was a crime.”
– Lily Thompson, CEO + Head Designer
Today, Lily Thompson has amassed a devoted following with millions of fans worldwide, captivated by her journey as CEO and Head Designer of two thriving brands: flyladybug and her innovative line of women’s products.
Starting with a simple yoga bag, Lily has expanded her range to include products designed to enhance women’s lives and their connection with their bodies. Her ingenuity is recognized with the recent award of her first patent for the popular Pirouette Skort.
Joined by her husband, Sam, as COO, and a predominantly female team, flyladybug is dedicated to developing innovative solutions that not only solve problems but also ensure women feel and look their best.
Stay tuned as the story of flyladybug continues to unfold, with many more exciting developments on the horizon.
The Solution-in-progress
we are anti-fast fashion. We design and produce slowly and thoughtfully because we are conscious about reducing waste. Below are things we’re currently doing on our sustainability journey.
1. We produce high-quality, stylish, and durable bags.
The most anti-fast fashion move we can make is crafting bags with premium fabrics and solid construction. Why? Because creating bags designed to last for years—not just a few days—in people’s wardrobes is the first step towards minimizing the amount of fashion waste that ends up in landfills.
2. We design with you and only make what you want.
We appreciate receiving your feedback because it enables us to design bags that you truly wish to purchase. We oppose the practice of blind production, as it entails the substantial risk of creating products that are not in demand. Unfortunately, not every brand maintains the open communication with their customers that we do. (We are deeply thankful for your support!) This can lead to the production of bags that remain unsold, which unfortunately may end up in landfills.
3. We use the "test first" model.
We are always on the safer side with quantities when it comes to production because we never want to overproduce something you guys don’t want! Once a style sells out and our waitlist grows, we are able to confidently make a bigger and more accurate reorder based on true demand. We know it’s frustrating how many of our styles sell out so fast, but we hope you now understand why!
4. We use corn bags.
Yes, corn! We protect your garments in non-plastic bags made of fermented corn starch called Polylactic acid (PLA). Made from a renewable resource, our corn bags are also biodegradable, meaning it will break down under certain conditions into harmless natural compounds. PLA also uses 60% less energy than regular plastics to produce, it’s non-toxic, and it generates over 65% fewer greenhouse gasses! Pretty cool.
5. We ship like it's Tetris.
Have you ever received a big box with a tiny mascara inside? Don’t even get us started. Our shipping team is trained to pack your order in the most space saving way possible because 1) it saves boxes and 2) it saves us on shipping costs. But sometimes Tetris-ing an order isn’t good enough. We’ve even gone to the length of nesting your order (like putting a mini backpack in a big backpack Russian nesting doll style) because we love saving space like that.
6. We save bags so good it would make Cassey’s parents proud.
Because we all work remotely, the product development team is shipping packages to each other to check fabrics, lab dips (colors), and samples. Every member on the design team actively saves boxes and shipping bags for at least a second use when it’s time to ship!
