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Whenever a new fashion brand reaches out for promotion on Setting Mind, I follow two simple steps to ensure their credibility. Firstly, I visit their about webpage to read the why and hows of the company. Next, I check their sustainability webpage (if any). One such brand that recently reached out to me is Rose Boreal, based in Montreal, Quebec.
Led by Co-Founder and CEO Maxime Morin, Rose Boreal specializes in activewear said to “prioritize eco-conscious materials and ethical practices.” Upon examining their about webpage, their core company values such as environmental accountability standards, collective approach, and community are listed. However, I felt that the information on its sustainability webpage was lacklustre with no data or numbers provided.
Digging further, Rose Boreal is B Corp certified, so that’s reassuring. Their products are also made locally in Quebec. Apparel manufacturing in Canada is quite rare, so it comes as a genuine surprise that Rose Boreal chose to keep production close and not overseas. Although overseas garment manufacturing is relatively cheaper than local and therefore more profitable, this comes at the price of additional carbon emissions and potential environmental damage.
As for their materials, they use TENCEL™ Modal, their in-house EcoLight fabric made from 80% recycled plastic bottles, and organic cotton, among others. According to their website, not all but many of Rose Boreal’s fibres are OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified. The sample piece I got, the Panorama Shorts, is made of 47% TENCEL™ Modal, with 47% polyester and 6% spandex for performance. Technically, not all the materials are sustainable, considering the fact polyester and spandex are synthetic plastic fibres derived from petroleum.
As for the Panorama Shorts themselves, it was super light, airy, soft to the touch, and comfortable. Not having pockets was kind of a bummer but these shorts were designed more for running, hiking, and other casual althetics.
In summary, I like Rose Boreal’s overall aesthetic and quality garments, and their company fundamentals look great. There is slight room for improvement in regards to transparency and materials, but I’m sure they will work it out. The sustainabe fashion industry is quite competitive and margins can be slim with all the added costs, so whether Rose Boreal can succeed and survive is another question.
All images in this article are courtesy of Rose Boreal.
