From 0 to get me on a plane now, how desperately do you wish to travel? I have never been one with the number count of countries I have been to on my IG bio, but having been seperated from my partner because of the pandemic for almost a year, I could do with a flight ticket for sure.
Already, I am imagining the amount of protective gear I would need to bring on my flight – the masks, the sanitizers, and that’s when my friend and ethical manufacturing business owner Bonnie Poon told me about Better Off Alone, the company she has started with two other partners, Eli Caner and Tanya Amini of Lady and Butler.
Combining Bonnie’s know-how in sustainable manufacturing and Lady and the Butler’s expertise at creating stylish uniforms for upscale hotels and restaurants, Better Off Alone is a brand that presents well-designed cover-ups and protective wear for travel and beyond. I can imagine they would be great for going over a set of sustainable sweats on your flight. My favorite items from their offering are the travel kit and the jumpsuit – let me show you more below!
Founding Story
Needless to say, events in 2020 have changed the course of a lot of businesses – especially those in hospitality, F&B and retail. Although uniform brand Lady and the Butler aren’t in these sectors, they are closely tied to it, for they produce uniforms for companies such as Equinox Hotels, Four Seasons, Museum of Ice Cream, and Via Carota.
The onset of the pandemic means a sudden decrease in demand from their hotel and gym partners for uniforms, but an equally sudden increase in inquiry for protective garment items for staff that are still working onsite at those companies. This is when Tanya and Eli turned to their long-time production partner Bonnie. Bonnie, who is based in Hong Kong and has faced the pandemic a few months ahead of her brand partners, has already done plenty of research into materials of reusable masks and protective garment. Soon after, an organic partnership formed between the trio and they combined their individual strengths to create Better Off Alone (a name came up with by Eli) that considered four key factors: fashion, protection, comfort, and environmental responsibility.
My Favs
My favorite items from the brand include a clever travel kit for my next flight and the jumpsuit.
Both items come in a drawstring bag. The travel kit includes a face mask (with adjustable straps for a diverse audience), an eye mask, a pillow case, a blanket with removable cover and a seat cover. The best thing is you could use all this on your flight, put them back in your bag upon landing and put it all straight in the laundry when you get to your destination.
I also find the jumpsuit incredibly cool and in fact all their garments – jumpsuits, overcoat and trenches are under the category of “coverups” – meant to be worn over your other garments as a protective layer. I’ve actually never been much of a jumpsuit person but I think I’m getting converted!
Materials
Not prohibitive pricepoint vs using silk
Aside from the design of the products, the next big selling point of Better Off Alone is probably their material. All of their products are made of 100% ethically sourced long-staple Egyptian Cotton, finished with eco wash. This means less chemicals are used to create the final fabric. These fabrics are not sanforized, mercerized or bleached… leaving out many chemicals you don’t want near or on your skin.
On top of that, the fabrics are treated with non toxic, OEKO-TEX®-certified (one of the world’s best-known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances) Silverplus antimicrobial technology. Its mechanism prevents many odour-causing bacteria cannot adapt to the effect of silver ions, plus contributing to the avoidance of infections in clinics and hospitals.
Ethics
When we talk about sustainability in fashion, we often focus on the environmental part of it, but the social responsibility portion of sustainability is equally important, if not more important. Think about it, it is only because the industry and our economy allows the production of cheap products with cheap labour made by people who are unfairly treated, that causes the shocking amount of waste from the industry.
Dare I say, if we solve the ethics problem in fashion, we will solve a large portion of the environmental problems in it?
Talking to Bonnie about how she manages her supply chain has opened my eyes to how a factory could be socially responsible beyond quantitative metrics of pay and international certifications. Of course, she focuses on that too – her company pays their workers much higher than the government standard minimum wage in China. She has also moved away from large volume production even at the sacrifice of margins, because in the end, workers will be hurt the most from producing at huge volumes and reduced prices.
Another thing Bonnie does at their factories is to hire families as much as possible. Turns out, factory work is usually migrant labour, which forces families to seperate. In many countries, there are one to two generations of children growing up without parents being present full-time, sometimes even only getting to see them once every year! For Bonnie it’s about hiring as many families as possible, whether it’s husband and wife, or siblings. She also tend to house her managers not in factory dormitories but in their own apartments, so that they can stay with their children and partners, and go home to them every day.
Last but not least, Bonnie chooses to partner herself with like-minded brands, such as Lady and the Butler, who understand the focus on environmental and social production. Their brand Better Off Alone adheres very much to the social responsibility standards Bonnie operates her supply chain with, so you could be sure you’re supporting a brand that is both environmentally and socially conscious.
My Thoughts
The brand addresses an immediate need, but the brand sees themselves growing beyond the pandemic as people’s habits change and there is a growing love for long-lasting classic wardrobes staples and “everyday uniforms”. Better Off Alone never sees themselves as a company that produces new trendy items each season, but instead one that produces versatile coverups and garments that will be worn for many years to come.
I love how comfortable the garments feel and fit – not only are they stylish and have a cool workwear vibe, they also have an additonal layer of protection. I can’t wait to bring this on my next flight (which hopefully comes soon!)
Final Tip
All items from Better Off Alone are machine washable! They suggest washing at 30’c or low temperatures, as this cleans the garments just as well, is better for the planet, and makes the clothing more long-lasting.